Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.22586/ss.24.1.7
Migrations in the Second Half of the 18th Century between Southern Transdanubia and the Croatian Lands
Zoltán Gőzsy
Eldina Lovaš
Abstract
The period after the liberation from Ottoman rule was characterized by various processes, among which during the first decades of the 18th century, the most intense were the migrations of serfs, who, in this new situation and with the change in property relations strove to improve their economic and legal status and attain better living conditions. Mass migrations of dependent serfs had negative effects on the landlords, whom they had left or escaped from, because the landlords were losing a populace fit for labour, and the areas to which they migrated were revitalized thanks to this influx. The migrations and the exodus of serfs equally affected the Croatian and the Hungarian territory; although they were dissimilar as concerns time, the reactions were the same: to try to prevent or stop them through parliamentary regulations and provisions. While the Croatian Parliament strove to solve the migration issue through cooperation with the Krajina authorities, the Hungarians relied on the County officials. Both attempts failed because in practice the migrations of serfs, despite the existing mechanisms, could not be prevented, controlled or stopped.
The transmigration census of the Somogy County, which was probably conducted in 1717 and 1718, provides data on the migrations of serfs from this territory to the territories of adjacent Hungarian counties, as well as to Croatia. While in the territory of Hungary most of them settled in the depopulated estates of the Esterházys in southern Transdanubia in order to acquire various privileges, in Croatia they settled in Podravina, precisely in the territory of the Varaždin Generalate and Križevci County. However, although the census provides no data on the causes of the migrations of serfs, certain conclusions can be drawn. The first cause was the geographical distance given that it concerned the border area: the Somogy County, the Varaždin Generalate and the Križevci County were divided by the Drava River. The second cause can be ascribed to the already existing migration route between the aforementioned areas up to the late 16th century. In addition, after the Treaty of Karlowitz had been signed, this area was no longer the border area with the Ottoman Empire, which led to the stabilization and the beginning of the development of economic activities. Within the Military Frontier, unlike in civil areas, feudal relations did not apply and the inhabitants enjoyed free status and obtained land in exchange for properties. In the territory of Križevci County the majority of serfs settled in villages where the inhabitants had enjoyed free status since the second half of the 17th century.
Keywords
transmigration; serfs; Somogy County; Croatia; 18th century
Hrčak ID:
323179
URI
Publication date:
8.12.2024.
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