Az ártatlan oligarcha
The Innocent Oligarch

Summary/Abstract: In the spring of 1294, Roland, son of Tamás, of the Borsa kindred, then voivode of Transylvania, lay siege to the bishop of Várad’s castle at Fenes. The event has hitherto been interpreted as an act of violence committed with the aim of obtaining the castle by Roland Borsa, who was otherwise deeply engaged in the process of building up his own oligarchical power in the county of Bihar. Yet a new analysis of the sources from a different perspective has clearly excluded such an interpretation. The study argues instead that the aim if Roland Borsa was to take revenge for the death of his brother, István, who had been killed by one of the defenders of the castle under obscure circumstances. By attacking Fenes, Roland broke the King’s peace, which led to the armed intervention of King Andrew III (1290–1301), who eventually took Roland’s castle of Adorján by siege. Yet, after his submission, Roland was not punished severely, because the King did not regard the events as a rebellion against royal authority.

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