Pilisszentkereszt
Encyclopedia
Pilisszentkereszt
Pilisszentkereszt ' onMouseout='HidePop("96643")' href="/topics/Pilis">Pilis
" is a village in Pest county, Budapest metropolitan area
, Hungary
, some 20 km from Budapest
in the Pilis Mountains
.
The village was established by Hungarians in the 12th century around a Benedictine abbey, which itself was established at May 27, 1184. The abbey, as well as the village was destroyed during the Turkish occupation
of the region, in an attack at September 7, 1526. Some Benedictines may have lived here after the attack, until about 1541, when they finally left the uttering Turkish rule. After the reconquista of Ottoman Hungary
, in 1747, a group of Slovak migrants arrived at the scene to reestablish it, from neighbouring Pilisszántó
. Later more Slovaks arrived from all around the Kingdom of Hungary
, but many left in 1782. To fill the gaps, some German
(mainly Swabian
) settlers arrived in 1785.
Not long before the reestablishment, a controversy broke out between the Benedictine
and Paulist
orders about the ruins of the abbey, that whether it was Paulist or Benedictine. While it was later proved that it was a Benedictine one and was wrongly identified as a Paulinist, named "Saint Cross", at that time the then future town and its surroundings were granted to the Paulinist order. They gave the name Sancta Crux (Saint Cross) to the place, which is still in its Hungarian name (as "-szentkereszt"), with the prefix "Pilis
-", referring to the surrounding Pilis Hills, to distinguish it from the other places which has "szentkereszt" in their names. (for example from Szentkereszt, which now bears the same name but in its Slovak translation). The Paulists started building the settlement and they called in the settlers whom arrived at 1747.
On January 11, 1945, at the close of World War II
, the village was the site of bitter fighting during Operation Konrad II, an unsuccessful offensive by the SS Wiking Division to relieve German troops occupying Budapest
.
In the 2001 census 54,6% of the total population or approximately 1170 people declared themselves ethnic Slovaks
, being the only settlement in Hungary where ethnic Slovaks are forming a majority.
(d. 1213) is buried in the graveyard of Pilisszentkereszt Abbey.
Pilisszentkereszt ' onMouseout='HidePop("96643")' href="/topics/Pilis">Pilis
Pilis
-History:It was inhabited in the prehistoric times, but later it was abandoned at the end of the Roman rule. The town was then first mentioned in 1326. It was destroyed during the ottoman rule in the 16th century, and was reestablished only in 1711, by János Beleznay, the local landlord. He brought...
" is a village in Pest county, Budapest metropolitan area
Budapest metropolitan area
The Budapest Metropolitan Area is a metropolitan area in Central Hungary. It consists of Budapest capital and the surrounding suburbs. It has a population of 2.525 million...
, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, some 20 km from Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
in the Pilis Mountains
Pilis Mountains
The Pilis Mountains is a mountainous region in the Transdanubian Mountains with a beautiful landscape. Its highest peak is the Pilis with . It is a popular vacation destination in Hungary.-References:...
.
History
The territory of Pilisszentkereszt and the surrounding lands were inhabited in the prehistoric times, living in the nearby caves, but later they left the area. During the Roman times logging was common in the nearby woods.The village was established by Hungarians in the 12th century around a Benedictine abbey, which itself was established at May 27, 1184. The abbey, as well as the village was destroyed during the Turkish occupation
Ottoman Hungary
History of Ottoman Hungary refers to the history of parts of the Ottoman Empire situated in what today is Hungary, in the period from 1541 to 1699.-History:...
of the region, in an attack at September 7, 1526. Some Benedictines may have lived here after the attack, until about 1541, when they finally left the uttering Turkish rule. After the reconquista of Ottoman Hungary
Ottoman Hungary
History of Ottoman Hungary refers to the history of parts of the Ottoman Empire situated in what today is Hungary, in the period from 1541 to 1699.-History:...
, in 1747, a group of Slovak migrants arrived at the scene to reestablish it, from neighbouring Pilisszántó
Pilisszántó
Pilisszántó is a village in Pest county, Budapest metropolitan area, Hungary. It has a population of 2,365 .-References:...
. Later more Slovaks arrived from all around the Kingdom of Hungary
Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
, but many left in 1782. To fill the gaps, some German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
(mainly Swabian
Swabian
Swabian may refer:* to the German region of Swabia ; or* to Swabian German, a dialect spoken in Baden-Württemberg in south-west Germany and adjoining areas See also:...
) settlers arrived in 1785.
Not long before the reestablishment, a controversy broke out between the Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
and Paulist
Paulists
Paulists, or Paulines, is the name used for several Roman Catholic Orders and Congregations taken in honour and under the patronage of St. Paul the Hermit....
orders about the ruins of the abbey, that whether it was Paulist or Benedictine. While it was later proved that it was a Benedictine one and was wrongly identified as a Paulinist, named "Saint Cross", at that time the then future town and its surroundings were granted to the Paulinist order. They gave the name Sancta Crux (Saint Cross) to the place, which is still in its Hungarian name (as "-szentkereszt"), with the prefix "Pilis
Pilis
-History:It was inhabited in the prehistoric times, but later it was abandoned at the end of the Roman rule. The town was then first mentioned in 1326. It was destroyed during the ottoman rule in the 16th century, and was reestablished only in 1711, by János Beleznay, the local landlord. He brought...
-", referring to the surrounding Pilis Hills, to distinguish it from the other places which has "szentkereszt" in their names. (for example from Szentkereszt, which now bears the same name but in its Slovak translation). The Paulists started building the settlement and they called in the settlers whom arrived at 1747.
On January 11, 1945, at the close of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the village was the site of bitter fighting during Operation Konrad II, an unsuccessful offensive by the SS Wiking Division to relieve German troops occupying Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
.
In the 2001 census 54,6% of the total population or approximately 1170 people declared themselves ethnic Slovaks
Slovaks
The Slovaks, Slovak people, or Slovakians are a West Slavic people that primarily inhabit Slovakia and speak the Slovak language, which is closely related to the Czech language.Most Slovaks today live within the borders of the independent Slovakia...
, being the only settlement in Hungary where ethnic Slovaks are forming a majority.
Famous people
Queen Gertrude of MeraniaGertrude of Merania
Gertrude of Merania was the first wife of King Andrew II of Hungary and thereby Queen consort of Hungary from 1205 until her assassination.-Family:...
(d. 1213) is buried in the graveyard of Pilisszentkereszt Abbey.
External links
- Official website (in Hungarian)