Kücsük Mehmed magyarországi tevékenységéhez
Some remarks to the activity of Küçük Mehmed in Hungary

Summary/Abstract: The paper deals with the sometimes misinterpreted activity and functions of Küçük Mehmed in Hungary during the Köprülü-era, from 1661 till 1672. Mehmed was appointed beglerbeg of Jenõ-Temesvár (Yanova-Temişvar) in 1661. As a serdar he protected Mihály Apafi, the newly created vassal prince of Transylvania, and, in the battle of Nagyszõllõs (January 23, 1662), he completely defeated the army of Prince János Kemény, the ally of the Hapsburg emperor. In spite of his military success he was not popular in Transylvania because of his extortion and greediness during his long stay. He was transferred to Várad (Varadin) as a defender of the fortress in August of 1663 and as a beglergbeg of Várad from the beginning of 1664. He took part in the war between the Ottoman and the Hapsburg empires in 1663-1664 on the northern front. He was sent to the defense of the newly conquered Érsekújvár (Yeni Kale) and was defeated by a Hapsburg army led by Louis de Souches at Zsarnóca (May 16, 1664). In spite of rumours, he had not been killed in this battle, but while he was away from Várad, it was attacked, but without success. After the peace of Vasvár, Küçük Mehmed was transferred to Érsekújvár, where he spent two years as beglerbeg (1665-1666). He was sent back to the scene of his earlier victory when in 1667, he was appointed beglerbeg of Temesvár (Temesvár was the old centre of the province of the Vilayet of Temesvár-Jenõ). After a while, in 1669 he got back to Érsekújvár as beglerbeg, then in 1671-1672 he filled again the post of beglerbeg in Várad. Küçük Mehmed led an adventurous life, had many enemies, who hoped that he would be dismissed from office or spread rumours about his death. He wandered between the eastern and northern vilayets (Temesvár-Jenõ, Várad, Érsekújvár) of Ottoman Hungary as beglerbeg of these provinces spending approximately two years in each appointment.

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