Voivodeship of Transylvania

Who rules

Name

Legforus

Title

Voivode of Transylvania (voivoda), King Emeric's governor beyond the forest

Since

Named as voivode in a royal charter of 1199, the first to give him the title. The last voivode named before him is Leustach of the Rátót kindred (in office from 1176, known only from a charter of 1230).

Born

Not known

Family

Not known. No kindred, wife, children or estates are recorded for him.

Confidence

medium

The lists of voivodes in en.wikipedia (Voivode of Transylvania, after Zsoldos 2011, Kristó 2003 and Curta 2006) and hu.wikipedia (Erdélyi vajda) give Legforus 1199-1200 under Emeric, then Eth (Ete, Écs) of the Geregye kindred in 1200, who was also count of Fehér, then Gyula of the Kán kindred in 1201 (also count of Fehér), Nicholas (1201) and Benedict son of Korlát (1202-1206). Makkai (History of Transylvania I) confirms that the voivode was also count of Fehérvár in 1200 and 1201. No dated charter of January 1200 settles which of Legforus and Eth held office that morning: the lists carry Legforus into 1200 and Eth's only voivode's charter is of 1200, so Legforus is the likelier holder on 1 January.

Overlord

King Emeric of Hungary. The voivode is a royal officer, appointed and removed at the king's will, not a hereditary prince. Granting land, levying taxes and tolls and striking coin stay with the king.

What the realm holds

• The county of Fehér (Fehérvár) round Gyulafehérvár, held by the voivode himself (recorded 1200 and 1201); counts of Fehérvár are named in 1177 and 1183
• The county of Torda with the salt of Torda: the castle is named in 1075, but no count of Torda ever appears in a royal charter; the first county placed directly under the voivode
• The castle of Küküllő (named 1177) and its land; a count of Küküllő appears only in 1214
• The counties of Kolozs (counts recorded 1177, 1183, 1201) and Doboka (count first recorded 1164), whose counts still answer to the king directly in 1200
• The Transylvanian lands of Szolnok county round Dés with the salt of Désakna, the king's own (count Marton in 1201); Szolnok passes under the voivode only in 1263
• The western march along the Maros: Déva, Hunyad, Hátszeg and the road to the Iron Gate; no county of Hunyad until 1265
• The German guests of the Hermannstadt provostry (the Altland: the chapters of Hermannstadt, Leschkirch and Großschenk), with their own provost since 1191
• German guests in the bishop's own parishes at Szászváros (Broos) and along the Maros (Krakkó, Igen and Romos are called the first guests of the realm in 1206)
• The Székelys: border warriors of the Udvarhely and Kézd country, with groups at Sebes, Orbó and Medgyes
• The Vlachs of the southern mountains and the Olt land, and Pecheneg border guards (first dated records 1202-1211)
• The Burzenland (Barcaság): frontier land toward the Cumans, called deserted and uninhabited in the grant of 1211
• The salt mines of Torda, Kolozs (Kolozsakna), Szék, Dés (Désakna) and Vízakna
• Gold washing in the Aranyos and Ompoly valleys round Zalatna and Abrud (not documented for 1200); silver at Radna (German miners recorded before 1241, not pinned for 1200)
• The passes: the Red Tower on the Olt, Törcsvár (Bran), Tömös (Predeal), the Bodza (Buzău), Ojtoz, Úz, Gyimes, Borgó, Radna, the Vulcan and the Iron Gate

How it was acquired

Stephen I defeated the Transylvanian Gyula (1002 or 1003) and organised royal counties round castles in the 11th century; a count of Doboka is recorded in 1164 and of Fehérvár in 1177. Géza II (1141-1162) carried royal control to the Carpathian crests and settled German guests on the land of the Olt and the Cibin from about 1147-1150. Béla III's reign saw the Hermannstadt provostry founded (confirmed by Celestine III on 20 December 1191).

The voivode's title appears at the end of the century.

Allies and rivals

The voivode is King Emeric's man, and no Transylvanian is recorded among Duke Andrew's partisans; Andrew's bishops (Boleslaus of Vác, Elvin of Várad) are in Hungary, Várad on the western road into Transylvania (campaign notes, Part 6 H). The bishop of Transylvania, Adrian, is not named on either side (Church map record). The provost of Hermannstadt and the bishop are rivals over the Germans' parishes and tithes (1191-1192).

Beyond the mountains: the Cumans of the Moldavian and Wallachian plains, allies of Kaloyan's Bulgarian-Vlach tsardom; beyond Máramaros, Roman Mstislavich of Halych and Volhynia (since 1199).

The realm that morning

On the morning of 1 January 1200 Transylvania is quiet and firmly King Emeric's. His voivode, most likely Legforus, commands the south from Gyulafehérvár, where he is also count of Fehér, with Torda, Küküllő and the Maros march under him. North of the Maros the counts of Kolozs and Doboka hold their castle counties for the king directly, and the king's county of Szolnok holds Dés and the Szamos salt. The German guests of the Altland live under their own village heads and their own provost; the Székelys keep the eastern marches; Vlach and Pecheneg guards keep the southern mountains.

No fighting of the brothers' war is recorded here: Andrew was beaten at Rád in Somogy in 1199 and had fled to Austria. Beyond the mountains the Cumans, who raided Byzantine Thrace in the spring and autumn of 1199, are turned south, and no raid on the Transylvanian passes is recorded that winter, so no raiding belt is drawn. Across the borders: to the west the Hungarian royal counties of Bihar (with Várad), Kraszna, Közép-Szolnok, Szatmár, Zaránd, Arad and the Temes and Krassó country; to the north the royal forest of Máramaros, and beyond it Galicia under Roman Mstislavich; to the east and south, over the Carpathian crests, the Cumans of the Moldavian and Wallachian plains, with Vlach shepherds among them.

Wealth

Salt above all. The king's salt is dug at Torda, Kolozsakna, Szék, Désakna and Vízakna and goes down the Maros on rafts and boats to the plain (Arad, Csanád, Szeged), and, it seems, down the Szamos from Dés, and by road over the Meszes Gate toward Bihar; Hungarian churches drew Transylvanian salt from the king's mines by royal grant, a practice older than 1200 (the individual grants are not listed here). Gold is washed in the Aranyos (its name means 'golden') and round Zalatna in the Ompoly valley, and German miners worked silver at Radna before 1241 (not pinned for 1200).

The German guests pay the king a yearly sum and owe armed men: Béla III's revenue list counts the Transylvanian guests among his main sources of income. The Székelys pay no tax but give oxen on great royal occasions. The counts keep a third of the dues of the castle folk. Cattle, horses and sheep from the uplands, hides, furs and wax. Minting is the king's; no Transylvanian mint is recorded for 1200.

Military

The voivode leads the hosts of the southern counties, the castle warriors (várjobbágyok) and castle folk (várnépek) of Fehér, Torda and Küküllő, with his own retinue; the counts of Kolozs and Doboka lead their own. The Székelys are light horse archers who ride in the van and the rear of the royal army (Olšava 1116, the Fischa 1146), known for the feigned retreat. The German guests owe armed men led by their gerébs (the Andreanum of 1224 later fixes the quota).

Pecheneg and Vlach border guards keep the southern passes. The castles are earth-and-timber county castles (Doboka, Küküllővár, the old castle of Kolozsvár, Torda, Dés) and the Roman walls of Gyulafehérvár; the passes are closed by border earthworks and watch posts (the gyepű), which Makkai names at Salgó, Pétervár, Talmács, Halmágy, Miklósvár, Bálványos, Görgény and Vécs (not each pinned for 1200). No figures for 1200.

Threats

• The Cumans beyond the eastern and southern passes, allies of Kaloyan of Bulgaria: quiet toward Transylvania in 1199-1200, but the Barca, Tömös and Bodza passes were their old roads in
• A new rising by Duke Andrew: the bishop of Várad, Andrew's man, sits on the western road at the Meszes and Királyhágó gates
• The quick turnover of voivodes: Legforus, Eth, Gyula, Nicholas and Benedict in four years
• The quarrel between the bishop of Transylvania and the Hermannstadt provost over the German guests' parishes and tithes
• Galicia under Roman Mstislavich (master of Halych since 1199) beyond the Radna passes and Máramaros

Court and officers

• Voivode: Legforus (royal charter of 1199). Eth (Ete, Écs) of the Geregye kindred is voivode and count of Fehér in a charter of 1200; Gyula of the Kán kindred in 1201 (also count of Fehér); Nicholas in 1201; Benedict son of Korlát 1202-1206 (en.wikipedia and hu.wikipedia after Zsoldos 2011)
• Count of Fehér (Fehérvár): the voivode himself (1200, 1201); earlier counts of Fehérvár are recorded in 1177 and 1183
• Count of Kolozs: recorded 1177, 1183 and 1201 (names not pinned here)
• Count of Doboka: first recorded 1164 (name not pinned here)
• Count of Küküllő: first recorded 1214
• Count of Torda: never recorded in royal charters
• Count of Szolnok: Marton, 1201
• Bishop of Transylvania: Adrian (Adorján), attested 1192-1201, at Gyulafehérvár (Church map record)
• Provost of Hermannstadt (praepositus Cibiniensis): the German guests' own church head, exempt from the bishop and subject to Esztergom since 1191 (name not pinned for 1200)
• No count of the Székelys is recorded before 1228 (Bogomer son of Szoboszló) and no count of Hermannstadt before 1210 or 1211 (Joachim)

What the year holds

What happened next, if nothing in play changes it. Each event carries what it depends on and what would stop it.

1. During 1200 (month not pinned)Eth (Ete, Écs) of the Geregye kindred appears as voivode of Transylvania and count of Fehér, replacing Legforus. By 1201 Gyula of the Kán kindred holds both offices, then Nicholas, then Benedict son of Korlát (1202-1206).Depends on: King Emeric's choice: voivodes serve at his will and rarely more than a few years. Stopped by: Emeric keeping Legforus, or a change at court that brings another man.
2. During 1200 (month not pinned)Emeric and Duke Andrew are reconciled through the papal legate, a cardinal named Gregory: Andrew gets back his duchy of Croatia and Dalmatia and both brothers are to go on crusade. Transylvania stays the king's and is not part of the bargain.Depends on: Both brothers accepting the legate's terms (hungary realm record). Stopped by: Andrew rising again or Emeric refusing; then the Transylvanian hosts would be called out for Emeric.
3. 1200 to March 1201The Cumans keep to the south: with Kaloyan's Bulgaria they press Byzantium (Constantia destroyed and Varna taken in March 1201), and in 1201 Roman of Galicia invades their own lands and drives them home. No raid on Transylvania is expected.Depends on: Kaloyan's war with Byzantium holding the Cumans' attention. Stopped by: A Hungarian or Galician blow against the Cumans, or a break between them and Kaloyan, which could turn their raids north over the Barca, Tömös, Bodza or Ojtoz passes.

Places of note

• Gyulafehérvár: the castle of Fehér in the walls of the Roman fort, the bishop's cathedral of St Michael: Seat of the voivode as count of Fehér and of the bishop of Transylvania
• Marosszentimre (Sântimbru): Where voivodes and their deputies first held their courts (date of the practice not pinned)
• The Meszes Gate (Porta Mesesina) by the ruins of Porolissum: The western gate of the border zone on the road from Bihar into Transylvania, the salt road (on the Hungarian side of the gate)
• The Red Tower pass (Vöröstorony) on the Olt: The southern pass from Hermannstadt to the Cumans' Wallachia
• The Törcsvár (Bran) pass: Pass from the Burzenland south; the castle is later (1377)
• The Ojtoz pass: Eastern pass to the Cumans' Moldavia
• The Borgó pass: North-eastern pass from the Beszterce land
• The Iron Gate of Transylvania (Vaskapu): Pass from the Hátszeg basin to the Temes and Krassó country

Where the sources disagree

• The assignment lists Hunyad among the royal counties. Hunyad county is first recorded in 1265 (as Hungnod, in the papal tithe register: en.wikipedia, Hunyad County), and Makkai calls it a later creation; on 1 January 1200 the Hunyad and Hátszeg land is drawn as the voivode's western march, not as a county.
• The campaign notes do not name the bishop of Transylvania. en.wikipedia gives Adrian, 1192-1201 (Church map record).
• The voivode on 1 January 1200 is not pinned by a dated charter: Legforus is attested 1199 (and carried into 1200 by the lists), Eth only in 1200.
• Makkai dates the count of Hermannstadt's campaign beyond the Carpathians to 1211 and holds the Teutonic Order's charter of 1222 (which mentions the land of the Vlachs and of the Székelys) to be a forgery of 1231; most other accounts give 1210 and treat the 1222 charter as genuine. Both are later than 1200 and do not change the 1200 picture.
• en.wikipedia (Voivode of Transylvania) says the counts of Doboka, Hunyad, Kolozs, Küküllő and Torda stopped witnessing royal charters at the start of the 13th century, which would imply counts of Hunyad and Torda before 1200; Makkai says no count of Torda ever appears in royal charters, a count of Küküllő first in 1214, and Hunyad county is later. These records follow Makkai.
• en.wikipedia (History of Transylvania) says the word voivode first appears in 1193; the voivode lists (after Zsoldos 2011 and Kristó 2003) make Legforus's charter of 1199 the earliest naming a voivode with the title, and Makkai says only 'at the end of the 12th century'. Not settled here.

Evidence: Only 27 documents from before 1200 mention Transylvania. The voivode is known from one charter of 1199; the counties from scattered royal charter witness lists (1164, 1177, 1183, 1201); the peoples mostly from charters of 1206-1224 and the 1250 account of the 1210 or 1211 campaign, read backwards. Where the later charter is the only evidence the records say so.

On the map: Royal control ran to the Carpathian crests from Géza II's time, but much of the eastern and northern rim (Csík, Gyergyó, Háromszék, the Burzenland, the upper Szamos and the Radna mountains) was forest, frontier or thinly settled in 1200. Borders with Bihar, Kraszna, Közép-Szolnok, Zaránd, Arad and the Temes country follow the later county lines along the western mountains.

Primary sources for this realm

Chronicles, registers, sagas and inscriptions written in or near 1200 that cover this entry. Each has its own page with editions, translations and where to read it.

• The Deeds of the Hungarians, by the Anonymous Notary of King Béla, Anonymus (P. magister) (about 1200 to 1210, the date disputed). Not a record of events but a picture of the kingdom's nobility and geography as a courtier of about 1200 wished to see it: the clans and their lands, the castles and counties, the Vlachs, Cumans and other peoples of the Carpathian basin, all projected back onto the conquest. Read online
• Hungarian royal charters: Fejér's Codex diplomaticus and Szentpétery's critical calendar of the Árpád kings (documents of the 11th to 13th centuries; Fejér published 1829 to 1844, Szentpétery vol. 1 in 1923). The documentary base for Hungary in 1200: King Emeric's grants to Pannonhalma, the bishops, the Templars and Hospitallers, Duke Andrew's acts in Croatia and Dalmatia, and the papal letters of 1200 to Emeric about his brother's rebellion and about heresy in Bosnia. Read online