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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 Empire — when he was elected and appointed as a Prince of Transylvania by the Sublime 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-Region) 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 continued his father’s ‘vineyard policy’. In 1616, he married Princess Susanne Löräntffy (1600-1660) whose magnate family had possessed the estate of Sérospatak, containing several famous vineyards, yielding aszü-wines, since the very beginning 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 Transylvania. 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
