Kárpátalja középkori és kora újkori várainak kutatsá

Abstract

The three main periods in the construction of the Medieval fortifications in the Transcarpathian Region have been defined based on reliable local findings. The first period, the late-13th century (Bron’ka, Nevyts’ke and Sil’ce) and the second one, mid-14th century (Korolevo, Khust and Nevyts’ke) were connected to the construction of the network of castles in the Hungarian Kingdom. Their construction was motivated by the threat coming from the south and took place among the conditions of the post-Mongol economic recovery. The round shaped keeps have been typical for the first period and the square shaped towers for the second one. Both periods are characterised by small territory occupied by the fortifications and thin cultural horizon. This makes possible to argue about their dominating and controlling function at that time. Situation has changed drastically in the second half of the 15th - early-16th century, when fire weapons became widely spread. It generated massive reconstruction of the existing (Korolevo, Vynohradiv and Nevyts’ke) and construction of new powerful fortifications (Seredne, Kvasovo). The castle in Bron’ka has been used as a controlling one at that time (Pl. I). Most of the castles, except for Uzhhorod, Mukachevo and Khust, ceased to function in the 17th-18th century.