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Rebels and Ottomans – The Habsburg Monarchy Makes Peace (1606)

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8. The Hungarians do not wish that the Jesuits should be allowed to reside or own property in the kingdom of Hungary. His Majesty nevertheless maintains His royal rights.

9. and 10. The Holy Imperial and Royal Majesty shall staff Hungary and the subsidiary realms –Slavonia, Croatia, and Dalmatia – plus any affiliated lands with native Hungarians. He will also appoint qualified Hungarians and persons from the Hungarian lands to the kingdom's lesser offices, to the military commands on the borders and diplomatic posts, according to proposals from the Hungarian council and without regard to religion. If, however, His Imperial and Royal Majesty thinks it good, He will appoint at His own discretion two qualified foreigners from the neighboring provinces to border commands.

11. Plaintiffs may seek redress as the law allows, and no one shall be punished who has not been properly cited before a court and prosecuted.

Concerning the person and demands of Sir Bocskay (2):

He shall possess Transylvania and the parts of Hungary formerly possessed by Sigmund Bathory (3), plus Castle Tokay with all of its furnishings, together with the entire Comitats of Ugocsa and Bereg and Castle Szatmar with its county [Comitat]. [ . . . ] In order that this all be enforced more effectively and every danger of mistrust in the hearts of Sir Bocskay's supporters be completely assuaged, so that this treaty will last longer, the Holy Imperial and Royal Majesty will issue to him a public certificate, together with the promise to honor it, and it shall be guaranteed by the kingdom of Bohemia, the archduchy of Austria, the margraviate of Moravia, the duchy of Silesia, and the most illustrious Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria, together with the duchy of Styria (4). [For their part, the Hungarian estates shall issue to their neighbors a letter of assurance.]

If an honorable peace cannot be concluded with the Ottomans, and if the Ottomans shall insist on terms and demands detrimental, dangerous, and harmful to the kingdom of Hungary and its neighboring provinces, [the Hungarian estates] will join forces with His Imperial and Royal Majesty against [the sultan] as the common foe of the Christian name and homeland, according to the kingdom's laws, and they shall do so with zeal, avoiding all excuses, and witnessing their loyalty.


(2) István (Stephan) Bocskay (1557-1606), a Hungarian noble (briefly prince of Transylvania), who in 1604-06 led an anti-Habsburg uprising (in alliance with the sultan) in Royal Hungary (now eastern Slovakia) – trans.
(3) István (Stephan) Báthory (1533-86), Hungarian nobleman, prince of Transylvania (1571) and king of Poland (1576) – trans.
(4) Archduke Ferdinand (1578-1637), later (Ferdinand II, r. 1619-37) Holy Roman emperor – trans.



Source of German translation from the Latin original: Bernd Roeck, ed., Gegenreformation und Dreißigjähriger Krieg 1555-1648. Deutsche Geschichte in Quellen und Darstellung, edited by Rainer A. Müller, Volume 4. Stuttgart: P. Reclam, 1996, pp. 121-27.

Translation from German to English: Thomas A. Brady Jr.

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