A kolozsvári református egyházközség úriszéke (1676-1695)
The Manorial Court of the Reformed Church in Cluj (1676-1695)

Summary/Abstract: The procedures of the Transylvanian manorial courts in early-modern age were not defi ned by the contemporary laws, therefore they can be studied only based on the documents of the litigations. The research however is impeded by the fact that the amount of the historical resources concerning this issue is insuffi cient, and they have not been published, yet. The reformed church in Cluj received certain properties in eight neighboring villages during the 17th century, at by the end, it owned approximately 100 serfs. The stewards as landlords exercised their jurisdiction over the serfs via the manorial court. According to the few documents on the topic kept in the archive of the reformed church in Cluj, similarly to most manorial courts in Transylvania, this court had also limited jurisdiction: the serfs were judged for all their offences except those punishable by death. This court was presided by the steward supported by offi cials or noblemen, and the cases were heard in the presence of an offi cer representing the county and occasionally of the counsel for the defense.

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