A History of Central Eastern Europe

Who counts and who Counts: the difference between a Comitatus and a county
The word comitate (pl comitatus) is commonly translated as "county" and some maintain there
are valid reasons to question this, but I am not convinced. In England the county head is a count
(Graf in German); the post came with specific duties and obligations to inhabitants and to the
king. In the Kingdom of Hungary there were two posts while, seemingly alike, were in fact, not:
a comes who was the county head and a gróf who often did very similar activities, just not for a
county, per se. Szepes county had the comes z Szepes (Count of Szepes) as county head who was
appointed by the king. At the same time there was also a Gróf von Zipser (Count of Szepes) who
performed the same functions but for a unit not subject to the counties jurisdiction, the
ZipserBund. The ZipserBund had to have the same things done everyone else did; they also had
to pay taxes and duties just like everyone else. So, why not put them under county jurisdiction?
Because the king made more money from these groups, why else?! These groups existed for 2
reasons: to increase the kings’ income in exchange for having a level of self-determination not
available to the average citizen. One way the self-determination manifested was in the direct
election of the Gróf by the citizens. This wasn’t a one-time thing either – there were at least 3
other such groups within Szepes such as the Sedes Superior for the Nobles of the 10 Lances.
It seems then the problem does not lie with the translation of “comitate” into “county” but the
usage of the same word in different languages at the same time and in the same place. Or with
the imprecise application of titles: the Gróf von Zipser wasn’t the Gróf von Zipser, he was the
Gróf von ZipserBund. Or the problem may be that, instead of finding out if there is a difference
between a German Graf and a Hungarian Gróf, the (incorrect) assumption is made that there is
none. Be glad this is a only a problem for historians, and only those historians that want
accuracy. But remember – though the subject matter might be different, the process still works –
make sure that the “problem” to be solved is really the problem before trying to solve it.
Definitions & derivations
comitatus (Latin) derived from comes; meaning “companion” or “retinue member.” The basic
administrative unit of the Kingdom of Hungary, in use from 1000 until 1949; also called a
vármegye or megye. The noble title comes meant, in the Kingdom of Hungary, "county head."
medja (Slavic) close to “territorial border.” Derivations: medza (Slovak) and megye (Hungarian;
alternative may be the Latin mega) meaning, specifically, a county border.
župan (Slavic): tribal leader. Derivations: župan (Slovak) and ispán (Hungarian) county head.
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