Page 153 [153]
three times, coming from powerful, very highborn, and aristocratic families who
possessed huge promontories in Iokaj Wine-Region." Ihus, in 1599, he received
the possession of country-town Tarcal as a privilege from the Royal Court, which
contained two court-houses, two large wine cellars, and a dozen of well-talented
vineyards.’ At a time, Sigismund Rakéczi’s political carrier followed on and his
influence extended to Transylvania — controlled politically by the Ottoman Em¬
pire — when he was elected and appointed as a Prince of Transylvania by the Su¬
blime Port in Istanbul, (Constantinople), (and by consent of the Viennese Court,
too) in 1607. 3
Prince Sigismund Räköczi enjoyed his rule over Transylvania very briefly
(1607-1608): he died of cancer in the next year, 1608. His property, including
the vineyards, was inherited by his sons, namely George I (1593-1648) and Paul
Rakéczi (1596-1636). In addition, the afore-mentioned Louis Räköczi passed
away childless and all his properties (and of course vineyards in Tokaj Wine-Re¬
gion) were succeeded by the late Prince Sigismund Rak6czi’s sons.’
Among the Rakéczi boys, the elder one, George Rákóczi I became a more
influential person concerning possession of vineyards. In this respect, he conti¬
nued his father’s ‘vineyard policy’. In 1616, he married Princess Susanne Löränt¬
ffy (1600-1660) whose magnate family had possessed the estate of Sérospatak,
containing several famous vineyards, yielding aszü-wines, since the very begin¬
ning of the 17" century (1602) such as Kirdlyhegy, Megyer, and Oremus.” So,
by this marriage, this estate became the Rak6éczi family’s ownership in practice."
By the early 17° century, George Räkéczi I became a strong political supporter
and votaress of Gabriel Bethlen (1580-1629, Prince: 1613-1629), Prince of Tran¬
sylvania. In 1625, Prince Bethlen donated to him a greater courthouse and five
vineyards in the market town of Tokaj.!? At that time, it was obvious that could
be Prince Bethlens heir to the principal throne in Iransylvania, which came true
soon: in 1631, George Rákóczi I (Prince: 1631-1648) was appointed as a Prince
of Transylvania by the athname of the Sublime Port in Istanbul. Years later, a
newer important event happened in George Rak6czi’s life. After short debates, he
inherited the famous Regéc-estate from the Hungarian Royal Court, containing
huge vineyards found neighbouring the country towns of Abaújszántó, Mad, and
6 MNL-OL A 57. Vol. 4. No. 527.
7 MNL-OL A 57. Vol. 1. No. 698.; MNL-OL A 57. Vol. 6. No. 45/2.
8 TrocsAnv1, Zsolt, Rákóczi Zsigmond. Egy dinasztia sziiletése [Sigimsund Rakoczi. Birth of Dynasity] = A
Debreceni Dery Müzeum Évkönyve [The Annuals of Museum Déry in Debrecen], 1978, Debrecen, Déry
Müzeum, 1979, 57-113; SzaBo, Andras, Rákóczi Zsigmond (1544-1608). Kiegészítések egy eletrajzhoz
[Sigismund Rakoczi 1544-1608. Additions to a Biography], = Torténelmi Szemle 1986, No. 2., 341-350.
° MNL-OL A 57. Vol. 6. No. 159/a., No. 248/b. No. 251/a., No. 290.; MNL-OL E 156 (= Magyar Udvari
Kamara Archivuma/ Archive of Hungarian Royal Court’s Chamber. UC (= Urbaria et Conscriptiones).
No. 39:1/d., No. 78:15/a.
1 Nacy, Kornél, , Vagyon egy Oremus nevű szőóllő, fő bort termő." A sátoraljaújhelyi Oremus szőlő történetéhez
[ There is a Vineyard Called Oremus, Yielding Aszu and Prime Wine.’ Ont he History of the Vineyard Oremus’
at Sátoraljaújhely], - Törtenelmi Szemle, 56, 2014, No. 1., 91-106.
1 MNL-OL E 156. UC. No.11:1., No. 22:21., No. 40:35., No. 41:3., No. 87:56.
2 MNI-OL A 57. Vol. 7. No. 307., No. 317., No. 561.
151