A korrupt boszorkányüldöző. Igyártó György prókátori tevékenységéről
The Corrupt Witch-hunter. On the Advocatorial Career of György Igyártó

Summary/Abstract: The study focuses on the advocatorial activity of György Igyártó, a notorious witch-hunter of Kolozsvár/Cluj, from the end of the 16th century. Although previous research has already marked certain aspects of his life, a detailed analysis of his career – based on the data preserved in the town archives – points out some interesting features concerning the possibilities, challenges and diffi culties of an early modern advocats life. It also shows how the career of a single person could affect the whole judicial activity of a town. Born as a member of a burgher family, with no specifi c legal studies, he started his career as advocate of the citizens. As a consequence of his success he was elected offi cial advocate of the town. As procurator of Cluj, he had a determinant role in introducing the practice of the inquisitorial process (inquisitorius processus) in the judicial activity of the town. In the meantime he developed a vast social network, and came in contact with the most prominent members of the town magistrate, and of the state too. In spite of all these he got involved into certain acts of judicial corruption, that marked his career, affecting at the same time the whole judicial system of the town. His case convinced the magistrate to introduce the offi ce of the town’s coroner (director causarum), that gained exclusive competence in intervening on behalf of the town in criminal cases, that jeopardized the citizen’s lives, but were not allowed to plead for citizens in their private legal disputes.

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