A torockószentgyörgyi vár középkori története
The history of the castle of Colţeşti/Torockószentgyörgy in the Middle Ages

Summary/Abstract: Situated on the watershed between the River Mureş and Arieş, Rimetea and Colţeşti are two Hungarian villages with specific ethnographical tradition in a region populated mostly by Romanians. Since the 13th century both villages were in the possession of the Torockai family, which gradually extended its estates in this area. The family built its first castle after the Mongol invasion of Hungary (1241 —42) in the neighbourhood of Torockó, on a high rock later called Székelykő. This was a fortification specific for that period, suitable especially to shelter people as it was built and maintained together with the neighbouring population. Later on the family showed no interest in that castle used basically by the surrounding communities. At the beginning of the 14th century the family got a higher social rank: Ehellős Torockai was appointed vice voivode of Transylvania. During the confused period of history of Hungarian Kingdom he took possession of the Szádkő castle, that was in the property of the Transylvanian Chapter. Situated at the edge of his private land properties, the castle was intended to be the new residence of the family. However, when Charles of Anjou solved the interior conflicts of the country, Ehellős Torockai was compelled to give back the castle to its legitimate owner. For the following time the family remained in the background and only after the change of the Hungarian ruler could obtaining new privileges. In 1366, when King Louis the Great stayed for a longer period in Transylvania, the Torockais got the ius gladii and probably that was the moment when they were authorized to build a new castle. Late written sources mention even the builder of the castle: Elek Torockai. It was built north to Torockószentgyörgy, and became the centre of the family's land properties. At the beginning it was a donjon like fortification consisting of a solid tower, a ditch, and probably some other architectural components. Probably still in the 14th century it was extended with a new tower, and the two towers were linked by a curtain wall. Basically this is the first significant building phase of the castle. The castle was brought up to date in the mid-15th century when on the southern side a new palace wing was erected. In a document dated in 1470 this was called novum edificium. The family could not enjoy for a long time the new residence because some of its members were engaged in a rebellion against King Matthias in 1467. After that the Torockais lost their castle, and some of their lands, which entered first in the property of the Transylvanian voivode, Miklós Csupor, and later under the possession of János Kis, Péter Derzsi, voivode János Pongrác and his son, Mátyás, János Corvin and others. The family achieved to get back the lost properties only in 1516 when the king of Hungary issued a new diploma for the Torockais, granting ownership of the estate and the castle. During the period when the castle was owned by different families it was many times improved, which resulted the lower and the upper castle. The lower one was consisted of the donjon and some new apartments on the southern part. The upper castle was extended with a bastion and a large courtyard. The two castles were unified when the Thorockai family regained them in 1516. This was already the century when the these type of castles were gradually given up and new types of residences were built. The castle was partially used until the beginning of the 18"1 century when it was completely destroyed by the Habsburg army.

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