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The Time of Dual Power
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History
  • The Prehistoric Age
  • The Age of the Migration of Nations
  • The Time of the Hungarian Conquest
  • Miskolc and Diósgyőr in the Middle Ages
  • The Flourishing and Decline of the Castle of Diósgyőr
  • The Time of Dual Power
  • Kuruts Times
  • Miskolc in the 18TH Century
  • Miskolc in the 19TH Century
  • Miskolc in the First Half of the 20TH Century
  • Miskolc in the Second Half of the 20TH century
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    After the Turkish victory in the battle of Mohács (1526), Miskolc fell alternately under the control of the Turks and the Hapsburgs. Its role became more important, for it was the scene of events of national significance. The candidates of the thirteen counties standing on King Ferdinand's (1526-1564) side held a Diet in the church on the Avas hill in 1526 and a partial Diet in 1541.

    The battles demanded their victims. The Benedictine monastery, where the graves of the Miskolc family had rested, was destroyed with all of its art treasures and the earliest documents of our city, including the documents of Miskolc family which had been precisely kept until that time. This is the reason why Miskolc has to be one of those Hungarian cities that cannot celebrate the day of its establishment.

    The Turkish conquest did not mean the military occupation of Miskolc in the 16TH century, but in 1544 the pasha Mohamed devastated and burnt the town, causing immeasurable damage. The members of the town council were carried off with other wealthy men were taken captive, studs and herds of cattle driven away. The church on the Avas hill and its chapels were burnt, as well as many of the houses and public buildings.

    Nevertheless, Miskolc survived the invasion. That was the time when most of the population became Calvinist. The church on the Avas was rebuilt according to the new religion in 1569. From the end of the 16TH century, Miskolc was for 90 years under the rule of the Turks, whose center was in Eger. Miskolc was on the edge of the Turkish Empire in the shadow of the Ónod - Diósgyőr - Szendrő line of border castles. The enemy troops often had battles along the border, and the town council of Miskolc had to pay tribute sometimes to the Austrians, sometimes to the Turks. Additionally, they both needed to be kept supplied with food and drink in order to avoid a longer occupation. Through two or three generations the people could learn how to survive living next door to the Turks and how to manage themselves against their "sophisticated" tax-system. A good example for this is a safe-conduct guarantee the town gained from the sultan.

    Under Turkish rule the population of Miskolc increased to 5000. It was an everyday picture to see refugees, chased by foraying troops, seeking shelter behind the walls of Miskolc. Wine cultivation could flourish that time, for Muslims are not allowed to drink wine so it could not be taxed. The Hungarians could harvest on 17 hills of vineyards and could store their wine in nearly half a thousand cellars in the sides of Avas, Bábonyibérc, and Kőporos hills.

    Miskolc became an important centre of economy and trade for its weekly markets. The town had the right to hold four great fairs yearly by the end of the 17TH century.