A History of Central Eastern Europe

was NOT satisfied; ISTVÁN forced an agreement on the king and received the right to rule in
TRANSYLVANIA, the EASTERN HUNGARIAN KINGDOM remnant, which included SÁTORALJAÚJHELY.
Trade and handicrafts developed rapidly due to the
privileges granted by the royal charter, the protection
afforded by the castle, and the town’s location on the
eastern trade route between the south and north parts
of Eastern Europe and the town thrived. The castle
lasted until the 16 th century and, though no likeness
has been found, by that time its fortifications had
become outdated and it is doubtful that it could offer
the protection required.
The town was bestowed on “FINTA, a member of the
ABA family” by ISTVÁN’S son LÁSZLÓ IV (1262 –
1290) in 1281. Later it was granted to Croatian
governor JÁNOS BOBONITY (1327-34) by KING KÁROLY RÓBERT (1288 – 1342) of Anjou
probably for military support given to the King. 1351 saw title transferred again when LAJOS I
granted the town to DUKE TÓDOR KORIATOVICS. The duke imported many Ruthenian (Ukrainian)
settlers to hasten repopulating the town. Through the 14 th century it was part of the royal
domains, having reverted to the monarchy after the duke’s tenure was over. In the 15 th century
the land changed owners several times, it belonged to the PÁLÓCZY, the PERÉNYI and then to the
RÁKÓCZI family. The PERÉNYI took possession in 1533. They established the first Protestant
school there, The RÁKÓCZI family were leaders in the Hungarian nationalistic movement; three
were Princes of Transylvania in the 17 th century: ZSIGMOND (1606 – 1608), GYÖRGY I (1630 –
1648), GYÖRGY II (1648 – 1657 and 1660). The county assembly was held here and a new
county hall was erected in 1768. From that time onwards SÁTORALJAÚJHELY functioned as a
county seat (székely) for the district (járás) of the same name and ZEMPLÉN County (megye).
The earliest seal of the town was made in the 16th century; the charges on it were arranged in a
V-shape with a grape-flower in the centre and a few grapes to the left and to the right. These
motives were transformed into a landscape in the 19th century, while in the 1960s communist
symbols: a five-pointed star and a cog-wheel were added to it. This coat-of-arms burdened with a
political message was replaced by a reconstructed one in 1990, based on the original version.
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