Esterházy Pál’s action against the protestants of pápa, Hungary, in 1660

Abstract

The study describes the counter-reformation of Count Pál Esterházy, who took action against the Protestants living in the town of Pápa, Veszprém county, Hungary, in 1660. The source material for the research is provided by the family archives of Count Esterházy, which offer a deeper insight into the situation of the town and the local Protestants. On the basis of a military interrogation report and the registers and lists of names compiled during the actions of Pál Esterházy, this study presents a well-documented case of the counter-reformation carried out by feudal lords, describing the insults suffered by the Protestants, the confiscation of the church building from the Reformed congregation, and the actions taken by the Protestants of Pápa.