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József Laszlovszky

Central European University, Medieval Studies, Faculty Member

Central European University, Cultural Heritage Studies Program, Faculty Member

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Address: Budapest, Hungary

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University of Oxford

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girolamo fiorentino

University of Salento

Patrick Lowenthal

Boise State University

S. Sadi SEFEROGLU

Hacettepe University

Laurajane Smith

The Australian National University

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Papers by József Laszlovszky

Visegrád pusztulása az oszmán-török hódoltság előtt – az 1541-es földrengés történeti és archeoszeizmológiai nézőpontból

Földtani közlöny, 2023

The Danube Bend was the site of the proposed Nagymaros dam, part of the Gabčikovo-Nagymaros hydro... more The Danube Bend was the site of the proposed Nagymaros dam, part of the Gabčikovo-Nagymaros hydropower complex in Slovakia and Hungary. The dam was designed in the 1970s to resist intensity VI seismic events. We present histori cal and archaeological evidence for an intensity IX earthquake on 21 August 1541, which destroyed buildings in the royal town of Visegrád. Evidence includes vertical fissures cutting through the 30 m high, 13th century donjon Salamon Tower, built on hard rock. Some parts of the 15th century Franciscan friary situated in the town of Visegrád, built on the alluvial plain, collapsed due to liquefaction of the subsoil. The date of a potentially responsible earthquake on 21 August 1541 was recorded in a sermon of the eyewitness Lutheran minister Péter Bornemisza, living at Pest, 35 km away. Taken by the Ottoman army in 1544, the royal town and the palace of Visegrád lost strategic importance, never to be rebuilt. Photographs and drawings of the donjon made three centuries later faithfully reflect the status of 16th century seismic dam age, corroborated by modern archaeological excavations in the ecclesiastic complex. Investigations in historical seismology and archaeoseismology are essential components during planning of critical facilities.

The Mongol Invasion of Hungary in Its Eurasian Context

Historical studies on Central Europe, Dec 17, 2023

This report gives an account of the historiography of the Mongol invasion of Hungary in 1241-1242... more This report gives an account of the historiography of the Mongol invasion of Hungary in 1241-1242, and the ongoing research of the project "The Mongol Invasion of Hungary in its Eurasian Context. " The research has been carried out by an interdisciplinary team comprising representatives of diverse academic institutions and fields. The primary objective of the project was to reassess existing scholarship by comparing it with the findings of the project team members, ultimately generating new scholarly insights. The team members concentrated on various aspects, including archaeology, military history, and the short-and long-term impacts of the Mongol military invasions in the mid-thirteenth century.

Nomád városok és környezetük Mongóliában. Khar Bukh Balgas és kitan települések kutatása a Khi-Land projekt keretében

Magyar régészet, 2024

Laszlovszky E23TA

In memoriam Orsolya Lajkó and Tibor Sabján According to the current legislation in Hungary, finds... more In memoriam Orsolya Lajkó and Tibor Sabján According to the current legislation in Hungary, finds and relics buried before CE 1711, representing material remains of historical periods dating before that, are considered archaeological heritage. In other words, the Middle Ages and a large part of the Early Modern Period are still classified as being of archaeological interest in the legislative environment in Hungary, whereas the end of the Early Modern Period and the Late Modern Period are not. This boundary, which is linked to a specific historical date, is quite different from the legal framework in many European countries, where the time limit for studying, processing and, above all, the protection of archaeological heritage is defined flexibly, always preceding the current date by a hundred years. The archaeology of the Modern Period or even contemporary archaeology has become recognised as a discipline in many countries, and many other fields and heritage management conceptions do not limit archaeology and the exploration of the past to particular historical periods. This article attempts to summarise all the research directions in Hungary where the traditional chronological boundary is no longer taken into consideration in daily practice or even the legislative framework of the particular field. Due to limited space, this summary cannot be comprehensive; nonetheless, it makes a point that, based on the current state of research, +it is problematic to stick to the current chronological framework in legislation.

Újkori és legújabb kori régészet Magyarországon? Lajkó Orsolya és Sabján Tibor emlékének

Magyar régészet, 2023

Lajkó Orsolya és Sabján Tibor emlékének A jelenleg érvényes szabályozás szerint Magyarországon a ... more Lajkó Orsolya és Sabján Tibor emlékének A jelenleg érvényes szabályozás szerint Magyarországon a régészeti örökségnek az a kulturális emlékanyag tekinthető, amely 1711-et megelőzően került a földbe, és az ezt megelőző korszakok tárgyi emlékeihez tartozik. Vagyis a magyar jogszabályi környezetben a középkor és a kora újkor még a régészeti korok közé sorolandó, az újkor és a legújabb kor azonban nem. Ez a konkrét történeti évszámhoz kapcsolódó korszakhatár jórészt idegen számos európai ország szabályozásától, ahol százéves időhatárt húztak meg a régészeti emlékanyag kutatásának, feldolgozásának és főként védelmének időbeli határaként. Az újkori, sőt a legújabb kori (jelenkori) régészet sok helyen általánosan elfogadottá vált, és számos olyan tudományterület és örökségvédelmi koncepció van, amely nem köti a régészet múltfeltáró munkáját egy konkrét történeti időhatárhoz. A jelen cikk arra tesz kísérletet, hogy összefoglalja mindazokat a hazai kutatási területeket, ahol az említett hagyományos korszakhatáron már túllépet a gyakorlat, sőt egyes esetekben egy régészeti részterület szabályozása is. Terjedelmi okok miatt az összefoglalás nem lehet teljeskörű, de ezekkel a példákkal is rá akarunk mutatni arra, hogy a jelenlegi törvényi szabályozás kronológiai kerete nehezen tarható fenn a tudományos kutatások alapján. A régészettudomány története leírható egy olyan folyamatként, amely során egyre több történeti korszak vonatkozásában vált elfogadottá, hogy a régészet módszertana és megközelítési rendszere alapvetően járul hozzá a különböző korok megismeréséhez. Míg az őskor és az ókor vonatkozásában ez már évszázadokkal ezelőtt általános elképzelés volt, addig a középkor esetében (beleértve a kora középkort, illetve a népvándorláskort is) csak jóval később, leginkább csak a 20. században vált tudományos alapkoncepcióvá. Az elmúlt évtizedekben a nemzetközi kutatásban általánosan elfogadottá vált, hogy az újkor, a legújabb kor, sőt a jelenkor is kutatható régészeti módszerekkel és ez a megközelítés jelentős új eredményeket hoz

Fama sanctitatis and the Emergence of St. Margaret’s Cult in the Rural Countryside

Bibracte/Mont-Beuvray (Nièvre et Saône-et-Loire). Le couvent des cordeliers

Archéologie médiévale, 1999

Beck Patrice, Laszlovszky Josef. Bibracte/Mont-Beuvray (Nièvre et Saône-et-Loire). Le couvent des... more

The Crusades and the military orders : expanding the frontiers of Medieval Latin Christianity

The 34 essays by specialists from 15 countries present various facets of the struggles waged for ... more

Archaeology of the Modern era and contemporary archaeology in Hungary?

Hungarian archaeology, 2023

In memoriam Orsolya Lajkó and Tibor Sabján According to the current legislation in Hungary, finds... more In memoriam Orsolya Lajkó and Tibor Sabján According to the current legislation in Hungary, finds and relics buried before CE 1711, representing material remains of historical periods dating before that, are considered archaeological heritage. In other words, the Middle Ages and a large part of the Early Modern Period are still classified as being of archaeological interest in the legislative environment in Hungary, whereas the end of the Early Modern Period and the Late Modern Period are not. This boundary, which is linked to a specific historical date, is quite different from the legal framework in many European countries, where the time limit for studying, processing and, above all, the protection of archaeological heritage is defined flexibly, always preceding the current date by a hundred years. The archaeology of the Modern Period or even contemporary archaeology has become recognised as a discipline in many countries, and many other fields and heritage management conceptions do not limit archaeology and the exploration of the past to particular historical periods. This article attempts to summarise all the research directions in Hungary where the traditional chronological boundary is no longer taken into consideration in daily practice or even the legislative framework of the particular field. Due to limited space, this summary cannot be comprehensive; nonetheless, it makes a point that, based on the current state of research, +it is problematic to stick to the current chronological framework in legislation.

Book review: Havasok keblében rejtező szép Csík. A Csíki-medence középkori településtörténete [Beautiful Ciuc Hiding in the Mountains. The Medieval Settlement History of the Ciuc Basin] by István Botár

Hungarian archaeology, 2020

The Ciuc Basin stands out even amongst the enchanting regions of Transylvania due to its natural ... more The Ciuc Basin stands out even amongst the enchanting regions of Transylvania due to its natural beauty and the villages with their prominent church steeples visible from far away laying at the feet of the Ciuc Mountains. However, it is not by chance that one of the first scholarly researchers into Székely Land and the discoverer of its treasures, Balázs Orbán, called this area hidden. This is particularly true of its medieval period, but we can form a picture of these centuries through written texts, surviving monuments and the objects that have been fortunately preserved in treasuries, collections and churches. However, fate has treated historians of Transylvania's eastern sections poorly, because although these sources are available to us, they only exist in small numbers and cover the area unevenly. In terms of the earliest centuries of the medieval Kingdom of Hungary, these sources are almost entirely lacking. Thus, it is no accident that it is primarily the surviving churches that spring to mind in connection with the medieval monuments of Ciuc for those researching this era in this region. However, if we only depended on these, the Hungarian settlement here and the histories of the villages that came to life would forever remain obscured. The written sources and official documents also let us down, if for example we would like to outline the history here during the Árpád period, since we cannot shed light on the period before the 14th century with the aid of surviving texts. This is not even to mention that if we investigate the time preceding this in the area, we are looking for traces from the stormy centuries of the Great Migrations period. Fortunately, through archaeology utilizing the remains of material culture and examining the material legacies of the various eras, it is possible to gain an insight even into periods where the written texts are silent. Therefore, it is possible to outline the early history of this hidden region through work that is based upon every possible source, and it is even possible to shed more light on those periods when the highly visible white churches of Ciuc and the villages around them were constructed, defining the appearance of the landscape here for centuries.

Demographic Issues in Late Medieval Hungary: Population, Ethnic Groups, Economic Activity

Saint-Léger-sous-Beuvray (Saône-et-Loire). Le Mont Beuvray : couvent des Cordeliers

Archéologie médiévale, 1998

Beck Patrice, Laszlovszky Josef. Saint-Léger-sous-Beuvray (Saône-et-Loire). Le Mont Beuvray : cou... more

Nicholaus clericus: a Hungarian student at Oxford University in the twelfth century

Journal of Medieval History, 1988

In the twelfth century a Hungarian cleric studied at Oxford, but it is unclear when, how and why ... more In the twelfth century a Hungarian cleric studied at Oxford, but it is unclear when, how and why he came to England. It is very unlikely that Nicholaus got his scholarship because of his services in the release of Richard I, as suggested by a former generation of scholars. The contacts between Hungary and some western European countries were strengthened under the rule of Bela III. In this process his marriage with Margaret of France (1186) was an important milestone which also led to closer relations between England and Hungary. In the second half of the twelfth century Hungarians often visited the University of Paris, and in the 1190s Hungarian students and scholars appeared in Oxford and Lincoln. They must have come with English scholars from Paris, where they studied in the same natio and have left Paris because of the war between Richard I and Philip II. All this made possible the studies in England of Nicholaus clericus, who became one of the first foreign students, and certainly the first Hungarian...

‘A castle once stood, now a heap of stones…’ the Site and Remains of Óbuda in Medieval Chronicles, National Epics, and Modern Fringe Theories

BRILL eBooks, 2016

Óbuda has been subjected to a fringe argument that denies its very existence. Rather than merely ... more Óbuda has been subjected to a fringe argument that denies its very existence. Rather than merely dismissing these claims as being historically erroneous, this study examines how they arose in order to comprehend how such unhistorical viewpoints persist. The case of Óbuda, while being unique, is a suitable example how use of the medieval past has resulted in misunderstanding the evidence. The modern belief that Óbuda is of minor importance in comparison to another settlement – the undiscovered Ősbuda (Hungarian: Ancient Buda), is built upon previous historical constructions. The confusion of the medieval nomenclature for Óbuda is additionally linked to modern Hungarian nationalism. This derives its content from nineteenth-century romantic literature, which misread medieval chronicles, particularly in respect of the early history of Hungarian settlement. The result is an imagined Óbuda, which exists in stark contrast to the medieval remains.

Fémkeresős kutatások a muhi csatatéren : Közösségi régészet, hadszínterek vizsgálata és a kapcsolódó módszertani kérdések

Magyar régészet, 2020

3 A tanulmány a Nemzeti Kutatási Fejlesztési és Innovációs Hivatal támogatásával a "Tatárjárás Ma... more

Historical monuments of the Teutonic Order in Transylvania

The kingdom of Hungary

Változás és változatlanság. Kérdések az Alföld késő középkori és kora újkori erdősültségéről

Magyar Nyelvjárások

A DEBRECENI EGYETEM MAGYAR NYELVTUDOMÁNYI TANSZÉKÉNEK LEKTORÁLT FOLYÓIRATA Változás és változatla... more A DEBRECENI EGYETEM MAGYAR NYELVTUDOMÁNYI TANSZÉKÉNEK LEKTORÁLT FOLYÓIRATA Változás és változatlanság Kérdések az Alföld késő középkori és kora újkori erdősültségéről* PINKE ZSOLT-FERENCZI LÁSZLÓ-LASZLOVSZKY JÓZSEF-MAJLÁTHNÉ SIPOS CSILLA-SZABÓ BEATRIX-F. ROMHÁNYI BEATRIX * A kutatás a 134547 számú projekt keretében a Nemzeti Kutatási Fejlesztési és Innovációs Alapból biztosított támogatással, az FK_20 "OTKA" Fiatal kutatói kiválósági pályázati program finanszírozásában valósult meg. 1 E diskurzus összefoglalóját nyújtja GUNST 2005. 2 Az Alföld legnyugatabb tájegységén, a Dráva-síkon már a korai Pleisztocénban (1-1,5 millió éve) is nagy faji variabilitással mutatható ki a túzok jelenléte (JÁNOSSY 1992).

Stone Masonry Material of a Medieval Monastic Glass Production Centre, Pomáz (Hungary)

Engineering Geology for Society and Territory - Volume 8, 2014

A ruined medieval monastic glass production centre (church, workshop buildings) is located in Cen... more A ruined medieval monastic glass production centre (church, workshop buildings) is located in Central North Hungary a few kilometres North of Budapest. The recent archaeological excavations exposed the walls of the church of the monastic estate and also found a large complex providing evidence for the workshop buildings. This site has a primary importance since it is one of the best preserved glass making facilities in Central Europe, in Hungary. The present paper provides a brief overview of the history and development of the building, the construction activities by using computer aided reconstruction of the walls and masonry structures. It also outlines the most important stone types and binders of the walls. The masonry is composed of various lithologies. Cut blocks of andesite tuffs and rounded cobbles of andesite from a significant part of the masonry walls. Sedimentary rocks such as sandstone and a few blocks of travertine ware also identified. The historic binder, a lime-based mortar was also identified in the structure. This site represents a unique religious and industrial heritage structure in Europe that was constructed by medieval methods by using local stones.

The Economy of Medieval Hungary

Visegrád pusztulása az oszmán-török hódoltság előtt – az 1541-es földrengés történeti és archeoszeizmológiai nézőpontból

Földtani közlöny, 2023

The Danube Bend was the site of the proposed Nagymaros dam, part of the Gabčikovo-Nagymaros hydro... more The Danube Bend was the site of the proposed Nagymaros dam, part of the Gabčikovo-Nagymaros hydropower complex in Slovakia and Hungary. The dam was designed in the 1970s to resist intensity VI seismic events. We present histori cal and archaeological evidence for an intensity IX earthquake on 21 August 1541, which destroyed buildings in the royal town of Visegrád. Evidence includes vertical fissures cutting through the 30 m high, 13th century donjon Salamon Tower, built on hard rock. Some parts of the 15th century Franciscan friary situated in the town of Visegrád, built on the alluvial plain, collapsed due to liquefaction of the subsoil. The date of a potentially responsible earthquake on 21 August 1541 was recorded in a sermon of the eyewitness Lutheran minister Péter Bornemisza, living at Pest, 35 km away. Taken by the Ottoman army in 1544, the royal town and the palace of Visegrád lost strategic importance, never to be rebuilt. Photographs and drawings of the donjon made three centuries later faithfully reflect the status of 16th century seismic dam age, corroborated by modern archaeological excavations in the ecclesiastic complex. Investigations in historical seismology and archaeoseismology are essential components during planning of critical facilities.

The Mongol Invasion of Hungary in Its Eurasian Context

Historical studies on Central Europe, Dec 17, 2023

This report gives an account of the historiography of the Mongol invasion of Hungary in 1241-1242... more This report gives an account of the historiography of the Mongol invasion of Hungary in 1241-1242, and the ongoing research of the project "The Mongol Invasion of Hungary in its Eurasian Context. " The research has been carried out by an interdisciplinary team comprising representatives of diverse academic institutions and fields. The primary objective of the project was to reassess existing scholarship by comparing it with the findings of the project team members, ultimately generating new scholarly insights. The team members concentrated on various aspects, including archaeology, military history, and the short-and long-term impacts of the Mongol military invasions in the mid-thirteenth century.

Nomád városok és környezetük Mongóliában. Khar Bukh Balgas és kitan települések kutatása a Khi-Land projekt keretében

Magyar régészet, 2024

Laszlovszky E23TA

In memoriam Orsolya Lajkó and Tibor Sabján According to the current legislation in Hungary, finds... more In memoriam Orsolya Lajkó and Tibor Sabján According to the current legislation in Hungary, finds and relics buried before CE 1711, representing material remains of historical periods dating before that, are considered archaeological heritage. In other words, the Middle Ages and a large part of the Early Modern Period are still classified as being of archaeological interest in the legislative environment in Hungary, whereas the end of the Early Modern Period and the Late Modern Period are not. This boundary, which is linked to a specific historical date, is quite different from the legal framework in many European countries, where the time limit for studying, processing and, above all, the protection of archaeological heritage is defined flexibly, always preceding the current date by a hundred years. The archaeology of the Modern Period or even contemporary archaeology has become recognised as a discipline in many countries, and many other fields and heritage management conceptions do not limit archaeology and the exploration of the past to particular historical periods. This article attempts to summarise all the research directions in Hungary where the traditional chronological boundary is no longer taken into consideration in daily practice or even the legislative framework of the particular field. Due to limited space, this summary cannot be comprehensive; nonetheless, it makes a point that, based on the current state of research, +it is problematic to stick to the current chronological framework in legislation.

Újkori és legújabb kori régészet Magyarországon? Lajkó Orsolya és Sabján Tibor emlékének

Magyar régészet, 2023

Lajkó Orsolya és Sabján Tibor emlékének A jelenleg érvényes szabályozás szerint Magyarországon a ... more Lajkó Orsolya és Sabján Tibor emlékének A jelenleg érvényes szabályozás szerint Magyarországon a régészeti örökségnek az a kulturális emlékanyag tekinthető, amely 1711-et megelőzően került a földbe, és az ezt megelőző korszakok tárgyi emlékeihez tartozik. Vagyis a magyar jogszabályi környezetben a középkor és a kora újkor még a régészeti korok közé sorolandó, az újkor és a legújabb kor azonban nem. Ez a konkrét történeti évszámhoz kapcsolódó korszakhatár jórészt idegen számos európai ország szabályozásától, ahol százéves időhatárt húztak meg a régészeti emlékanyag kutatásának, feldolgozásának és főként védelmének időbeli határaként. Az újkori, sőt a legújabb kori (jelenkori) régészet sok helyen általánosan elfogadottá vált, és számos olyan tudományterület és örökségvédelmi koncepció van, amely nem köti a régészet múltfeltáró munkáját egy konkrét történeti időhatárhoz. A jelen cikk arra tesz kísérletet, hogy összefoglalja mindazokat a hazai kutatási területeket, ahol az említett hagyományos korszakhatáron már túllépet a gyakorlat, sőt egyes esetekben egy régészeti részterület szabályozása is. Terjedelmi okok miatt az összefoglalás nem lehet teljeskörű, de ezekkel a példákkal is rá akarunk mutatni arra, hogy a jelenlegi törvényi szabályozás kronológiai kerete nehezen tarható fenn a tudományos kutatások alapján. A régészettudomány története leírható egy olyan folyamatként, amely során egyre több történeti korszak vonatkozásában vált elfogadottá, hogy a régészet módszertana és megközelítési rendszere alapvetően járul hozzá a különböző korok megismeréséhez. Míg az őskor és az ókor vonatkozásában ez már évszázadokkal ezelőtt általános elképzelés volt, addig a középkor esetében (beleértve a kora középkort, illetve a népvándorláskort is) csak jóval később, leginkább csak a 20. században vált tudományos alapkoncepcióvá. Az elmúlt évtizedekben a nemzetközi kutatásban általánosan elfogadottá vált, hogy az újkor, a legújabb kor, sőt a jelenkor is kutatható régészeti módszerekkel és ez a megközelítés jelentős új eredményeket hoz

Fama sanctitatis and the Emergence of St. Margaret’s Cult in the Rural Countryside

Bibracte/Mont-Beuvray (Nièvre et Saône-et-Loire). Le couvent des cordeliers

Archéologie médiévale, 1999

Beck Patrice, Laszlovszky Josef. Bibracte/Mont-Beuvray (Nièvre et Saône-et-Loire). Le couvent des... more

The Crusades and the military orders : expanding the frontiers of Medieval Latin Christianity

The 34 essays by specialists from 15 countries present various facets of the struggles waged for ... more

Archaeology of the Modern era and contemporary archaeology in Hungary?

Hungarian archaeology, 2023

In memoriam Orsolya Lajkó and Tibor Sabján According to the current legislation in Hungary, finds... more In memoriam Orsolya Lajkó and Tibor Sabján According to the current legislation in Hungary, finds and relics buried before CE 1711, representing material remains of historical periods dating before that, are considered archaeological heritage. In other words, the Middle Ages and a large part of the Early Modern Period are still classified as being of archaeological interest in the legislative environment in Hungary, whereas the end of the Early Modern Period and the Late Modern Period are not. This boundary, which is linked to a specific historical date, is quite different from the legal framework in many European countries, where the time limit for studying, processing and, above all, the protection of archaeological heritage is defined flexibly, always preceding the current date by a hundred years. The archaeology of the Modern Period or even contemporary archaeology has become recognised as a discipline in many countries, and many other fields and heritage management conceptions do not limit archaeology and the exploration of the past to particular historical periods. This article attempts to summarise all the research directions in Hungary where the traditional chronological boundary is no longer taken into consideration in daily practice or even the legislative framework of the particular field. Due to limited space, this summary cannot be comprehensive; nonetheless, it makes a point that, based on the current state of research, +it is problematic to stick to the current chronological framework in legislation.

Book review: Havasok keblében rejtező szép Csík. A Csíki-medence középkori településtörténete [Beautiful Ciuc Hiding in the Mountains. The Medieval Settlement History of the Ciuc Basin] by István Botár

Hungarian archaeology, 2020

The Ciuc Basin stands out even amongst the enchanting regions of Transylvania due to its natural ... more The Ciuc Basin stands out even amongst the enchanting regions of Transylvania due to its natural beauty and the villages with their prominent church steeples visible from far away laying at the feet of the Ciuc Mountains. However, it is not by chance that one of the first scholarly researchers into Székely Land and the discoverer of its treasures, Balázs Orbán, called this area hidden. This is particularly true of its medieval period, but we can form a picture of these centuries through written texts, surviving monuments and the objects that have been fortunately preserved in treasuries, collections and churches. However, fate has treated historians of Transylvania's eastern sections poorly, because although these sources are available to us, they only exist in small numbers and cover the area unevenly. In terms of the earliest centuries of the medieval Kingdom of Hungary, these sources are almost entirely lacking. Thus, it is no accident that it is primarily the surviving churches that spring to mind in connection with the medieval monuments of Ciuc for those researching this era in this region. However, if we only depended on these, the Hungarian settlement here and the histories of the villages that came to life would forever remain obscured. The written sources and official documents also let us down, if for example we would like to outline the history here during the Árpád period, since we cannot shed light on the period before the 14th century with the aid of surviving texts. This is not even to mention that if we investigate the time preceding this in the area, we are looking for traces from the stormy centuries of the Great Migrations period. Fortunately, through archaeology utilizing the remains of material culture and examining the material legacies of the various eras, it is possible to gain an insight even into periods where the written texts are silent. Therefore, it is possible to outline the early history of this hidden region through work that is based upon every possible source, and it is even possible to shed more light on those periods when the highly visible white churches of Ciuc and the villages around them were constructed, defining the appearance of the landscape here for centuries.

Demographic Issues in Late Medieval Hungary: Population, Ethnic Groups, Economic Activity

Saint-Léger-sous-Beuvray (Saône-et-Loire). Le Mont Beuvray : couvent des Cordeliers

Archéologie médiévale, 1998

Beck Patrice, Laszlovszky Josef. Saint-Léger-sous-Beuvray (Saône-et-Loire). Le Mont Beuvray : cou... more

Nicholaus clericus: a Hungarian student at Oxford University in the twelfth century

Journal of Medieval History, 1988

In the twelfth century a Hungarian cleric studied at Oxford, but it is unclear when, how and why ... more In the twelfth century a Hungarian cleric studied at Oxford, but it is unclear when, how and why he came to England. It is very unlikely that Nicholaus got his scholarship because of his services in the release of Richard I, as suggested by a former generation of scholars. The contacts between Hungary and some western European countries were strengthened under the rule of Bela III. In this process his marriage with Margaret of France (1186) was an important milestone which also led to closer relations between England and Hungary. In the second half of the twelfth century Hungarians often visited the University of Paris, and in the 1190s Hungarian students and scholars appeared in Oxford and Lincoln. They must have come with English scholars from Paris, where they studied in the same natio and have left Paris because of the war between Richard I and Philip II. All this made possible the studies in England of Nicholaus clericus, who became one of the first foreign students, and certainly the first Hungarian...

‘A castle once stood, now a heap of stones…’ the Site and Remains of Óbuda in Medieval Chronicles, National Epics, and Modern Fringe Theories

BRILL eBooks, 2016

Óbuda has been subjected to a fringe argument that denies its very existence. Rather than merely ... more Óbuda has been subjected to a fringe argument that denies its very existence. Rather than merely dismissing these claims as being historically erroneous, this study examines how they arose in order to comprehend how such unhistorical viewpoints persist. The case of Óbuda, while being unique, is a suitable example how use of the medieval past has resulted in misunderstanding the evidence. The modern belief that Óbuda is of minor importance in comparison to another settlement – the undiscovered Ősbuda (Hungarian: Ancient Buda), is built upon previous historical constructions. The confusion of the medieval nomenclature for Óbuda is additionally linked to modern Hungarian nationalism. This derives its content from nineteenth-century romantic literature, which misread medieval chronicles, particularly in respect of the early history of Hungarian settlement. The result is an imagined Óbuda, which exists in stark contrast to the medieval remains.

Fémkeresős kutatások a muhi csatatéren : Közösségi régészet, hadszínterek vizsgálata és a kapcsolódó módszertani kérdések

Magyar régészet, 2020

3 A tanulmány a Nemzeti Kutatási Fejlesztési és Innovációs Hivatal támogatásával a "Tatárjárás Ma... more

Historical monuments of the Teutonic Order in Transylvania

The kingdom of Hungary

Változás és változatlanság. Kérdések az Alföld késő középkori és kora újkori erdősültségéről

Magyar Nyelvjárások

A DEBRECENI EGYETEM MAGYAR NYELVTUDOMÁNYI TANSZÉKÉNEK LEKTORÁLT FOLYÓIRATA Változás és változatla... more A DEBRECENI EGYETEM MAGYAR NYELVTUDOMÁNYI TANSZÉKÉNEK LEKTORÁLT FOLYÓIRATA Változás és változatlanság Kérdések az Alföld késő középkori és kora újkori erdősültségéről* PINKE ZSOLT-FERENCZI LÁSZLÓ-LASZLOVSZKY JÓZSEF-MAJLÁTHNÉ SIPOS CSILLA-SZABÓ BEATRIX-F. ROMHÁNYI BEATRIX * A kutatás a 134547 számú projekt keretében a Nemzeti Kutatási Fejlesztési és Innovációs Alapból biztosított támogatással, az FK_20 "OTKA" Fiatal kutatói kiválósági pályázati program finanszírozásában valósult meg. 1 E diskurzus összefoglalóját nyújtja GUNST 2005. 2 Az Alföld legnyugatabb tájegységén, a Dráva-síkon már a korai Pleisztocénban (1-1,5 millió éve) is nagy faji variabilitással mutatható ki a túzok jelenléte (JÁNOSSY 1992).

Stone Masonry Material of a Medieval Monastic Glass Production Centre, Pomáz (Hungary)

Engineering Geology for Society and Territory - Volume 8, 2014

A ruined medieval monastic glass production centre (church, workshop buildings) is located in Cen... more A ruined medieval monastic glass production centre (church, workshop buildings) is located in Central North Hungary a few kilometres North of Budapest. The recent archaeological excavations exposed the walls of the church of the monastic estate and also found a large complex providing evidence for the workshop buildings. This site has a primary importance since it is one of the best preserved glass making facilities in Central Europe, in Hungary. The present paper provides a brief overview of the history and development of the building, the construction activities by using computer aided reconstruction of the walls and masonry structures. It also outlines the most important stone types and binders of the walls. The masonry is composed of various lithologies. Cut blocks of andesite tuffs and rounded cobbles of andesite from a significant part of the masonry walls. Sedimentary rocks such as sandstone and a few blocks of travertine ware also identified. The historic binder, a lime-based mortar was also identified in the structure. This site represents a unique religious and industrial heritage structure in Europe that was constructed by medieval methods by using local stones.

The Economy of Medieval Hungary

List of Publications (updated in April 2020)

Promoting the Saints: Cults and Their Contexts from Late Antiquity until the Early Modern Period; Essays in Honor of Gábor Klaniczay for his 60th Birthday.

by Ottó Gecser, József Laszlovszky, Central European University Press, and Benedek Lang

On the cover: Reliquary of a holy bishop from the second half of the fifteenth century. Museo Civ... more

The Economy of Medieval Hungary

by Balázs Nagy, József Laszlovszky, and Andras Vadas

Leiden: Brill, 2018

Angol-magyar kapcsolatok a középkorban

by Zsuzsanna Papp Reed and József Laszlovszky

Two-volume overview of the history and scholarship of Anglo-Hungarian contacts and relations (in ... more

Climate of doubt: A re-evaluation of Büntgen and Di Cosmo’s environmental hypothesis for the Mongol withdrawal from Hungary, 1242 CE

by Zsolt Pinke, Beatrix F. Romhányi, József Laszlovszky, and Stephen Pow

Scientific RePorTS, 2017

In their recent article published in the journal Scientific Reports, Büntgen and Di Cosmo have at... more In their recent article published in the journal Scientific Reports, Büntgen and Di Cosmo have attempted to solve the historical mystery of the sudden Mongol withdrawal from Hungary after a year-long occupation. We cannot share the authors’ viewpoint that environmental circumstances contributed to the decision of the Mongols to abandon Hungary since the hypothesis lacks support from environmental, archaeological and historical evidence. Historical source material in particular suggests that the Mongols were able to settle and sustain their herds in Hungary as is clearly stated in a letter by King Bela IV to the pope. The Mongol army arrived in the kingdom at the end of a severe drought, and we present empirical evidence that the abundant rain in the spring of 1242 CE did not worsen but rather improved their prospects for sufficient food supplies and pasturage. The marshy terrain of the Hungarian Plain likely did not precipitate the Mongol withdrawal as the Mongol high command ultimately stationed their main forces around the marshy Volga Delta. In contrast to what Büntgen and Di Cosmo have suggested, we argue that the reasons for the sudden withdrawal cannot be explained largely by environmental factors.

High precision laser scanning assisting in the service of historical and art historical research. The burial monument of Queen Gertrude (13th century)

by Beatrix Szabó, József Laszlovszky, Gyula Dabrónaki, Reka Lovas, László Pipis, Dóra Surina, and Barnabás Vári

Studies in Digital Heritage, 2017

One of the most important and controversial burial sites of medieval Hungary is the grave of Quee... more One of the most important and controversial burial sites of medieval Hungary is the grave of Queen Gertrude of Meran with its decorated burial monument at the Cistercian Abbey of Pilis. The circumstances of the assassination of the queen is a highly debated event in Hungarian history described in a large number of local and foreign contemporary documents. Archaeological excavations have revealed the fragments of her burial monument with high artistic qualities (human figures, architectural elements, inscriptions, decorated patterns). Over the last three decades, art historical research has discussed the foreign artistic influences of the monument and proposed several reconstructions based on the drawings and photos of the excavated fragments. A full-size sculpted model has also been created on the basis of one of these hypothetical reconstructions.This paper will present the results of a new research project to create the first virtual reconstruction of the burial monument. The fragments of the monument and its previously sculpted physical model were captured by a terrestrial laser scanner and an optical 3D scanner, and consequently, point clouds and meshes were created. Using high-resolution data in CAD environment, a 3D virtual reconstruction model was built showing a possible form of the burial monument. In order to offer a new virtual reconstruction for different research approaches (art historical studies, archaeological interpretations and comparative studies with other monuments) a complex method was required to handle the huge amount of digital data. A database was built from the scanned fragments enabling to manage them easily. High precision 3D models of the fragments allowed to capture their precise geometry and perform the metrical analysis of the fragments, which may provide a basis for alternative reconstruction attempts. By using 3D technology, the results and conclusions derived from the fragments have been made more accessible than through traditional methods. Thus, scholars can use spectacular 3D visualizations in their research and examine many properties of the artifacts. The results are also available for a wider audience, as it has been demonstrated in an exhibition to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the death of Queen Gertrude. The paper demonstrates some of the advantages that 3D technology provides for scholarly research over conventional methods and introduces a method for integrated archaeological, historical and art historical examinations using state of the art technologies.

Practicing Community in Urban and Rural Eurasia (1000–1600): Comparative Perspectives

by Fabian Kümmeler, Odile Kommer, Kateřina Horníčková, Noha Sadek, and József Laszlovszky

This workshop explores the social practices and symbolical representations of framing, building, ... more This workshop explores the social practices and symbolical representations of framing, building, and enacting community within and beyond urban and rural settlements by comparing case studies from Central and Southeast Europe through the Mediterranean and the Arabian Peninsula to Central Asia (1000 – 1600). Choosing an interdisciplinary approach, the presentations focus on a broad spectrum of everyday interaction as social practice within and in-between communities, discursive and symbolical framing of communities, as well as expressions of community in performance and material culture in different regional and cultural contexts.

2019 EAA Bern Statement: Archaeology and the Future of Democracy

by Thomas Meier, Felipe Criado-Boado, Sophie Hueglin, Stasa Babic, and József Laszlovszky

Statement of the European Association of Archaeologists, adopted at its Annual Meeting in Bern, S... more

Δήλωση της Βέρνης 2019 του Ευρωπαϊκού Συνδέσμου Αρχαιολόγων: Αρχαιολογία και το Μέλλον της Δημοκρατίας

by Thomas Meier, József Laszlovszky, and Sophie Hueglin

2019 EAA Bern Statement - Greek translation

2019 EAA Bern Statement: Archäologie und die Zukunft der Demokratie

by Thomas Meier, Stasa Babic, József Laszlovszky, Felipe Criado-Boado, and Sophie Hueglin

Deutsche Übersetzung

Finding Batu's Hill at Muhi: Liminality between Rebellious Territory and Submissive Territory, Earth and Heaven for a Mongol Prince on the Eve of Battle

by Stephen Pow and József Laszlovszky

Hungarian Historical Review, 2019

This study offers a reconstruction of a crucial event of pan-Eurasian historical significance—nam... more This study offers a reconstruction of a crucial event of pan-Eurasian historical significance—namely, the Battle of Muhi in 1241—by focusing on two primary source accounts of Batu Khan ascending a hill shortly before the battle. The two sources are not related to each other, and they represent two fundamentally different source groups related to the battle. By using a complex analytical approach, this article tries to identify the character and significance of the hill in question—something made difficult by the fact that there are no hills or mountains near the battlefield today. The attested purposes that Mongol rulers and troops had for ascending mountains are explored for clues. A hypothesis emerges according to which Batu likely ascended two different types of hill, one being a small mound (kurgan) of the type which characteristically dotted Hungary’s landscape around the battlefield. The other hill, which he ascended for religious ritual purposes, was probably one of the more prominent features in the area of Szerencs about thirty kilometers from the site of the clash. Several earlier attempts to identify the hill are now revisited in this study with two different types of approaches. Combining a unique range of textual accounts with recent archaeological findings, we suggest a drastic and perhaps more accurate reinterpretation of the course of events leading up to the important battle than the interpretations which have been proposed so far. Furthermore, by looking closely at the different narrative structures of the sources we can identify attempts by medieval authors of Central European and Asian texts to contextualize this event within their general interpretations of the battle. Thus, the main arguments of this article cross real and figurative frontiers in contemporary accounts of the episode and in their modern interpretations. This research forms part of an interdisciplinary research project carried out by a group of scholars dealing with the historical, archaeological, and topographical aspects of the Battle of Muhi.

The Mongols in Central Europe The Profile and Impact of their Thirteenth Century Invasions - Conference

by A tatárjárás Magyarországon és a mongol hódítás eurázsai összefüggései (projekt), József Laszlovszky, and Dorottya Uhrin

Urban governance and civic participation in words and stone. Urbanism in Central Europe 1200-1600 Summer University Course 10-20 July 2022

by Katalin Szende, Susanne Rau, Felicitas Schmieder, József Laszlovszky, and Ferenc Hörcher

Summer University Course, CEU Budapest, 10-20 July 2022, including a 4-day field trip to Brno and... more