1514 as a turning Point? Migration of Serfs in Hungary, before and after the Prohibition of Serf-moving

This study delves into a pivotal aspect of legally consolidated serfdom in Hungary, which took shape around the mid-14th century, focusing primarily on the personal freedom it granted. A notable characteristic of Hungarian serfdom during the Middle Ages was the serfs‘ autonomy in choosing their landlords. This independence also extended to their ability to relocate under certain conditions, allowing them to move to another lord’s estate or even to a free city. By the 14th century, legal frameworks were in place to facilitate the peasantry’s free movement. From the reign of Sigismund of Luxembourg onwards, royal authority staunchly upheld this right of mobility, thereby protecting the interests of all parties involved – including both the original and the new landlords, as well as the migrating serf. This policy, however, underwent a transformation towards the end of the Middle Ages. Under Mátyás Hunyadi’s rule, the government occasionally imposed limitations on this right to move. A significant turning point in this regard occurred post the peasant uprising led by György Dózsa in 1514. The parliament of that year responded to the rebellion by broadly criminalizing the rebellious peasantry and revoking their right to relocate. This paper examines the impact of these changes on serf migration. It investigates whether the stringent regulations enacted post-1514 were effectively implemented and explores how these legal changes influenced the migration patterns of the peasantry in comparison to the period prior to these enactments.