Written Communication among the Elite of Transylvanian Society: The Letter from Stephen Báthory of Șimleu to Thomas Nádasdy
Written Communication among the Elite of Transylvanian Society: The Letter from Stephen Báthory of Șimleu to Thomas Nádasdy

Summary/Abstract: In the first part of the 16th century, the Kingdom of Hungary experienced a turbulent period, both politically and culturally. These shifts were also evident in Transylvanian society. Against this backdrop, the use of national languages in written communication increased, and private letters became a primary channel of communication among the Transylvanian elite. Vernacular writing in Transylvania remains a niche subject that has been largely overlooked in our historiography. This study, therefore, examines a private letter written in Hungarian by Stephen Báthory of Șimleu , voivode of Transylvania, and sent to Thomas Nádasdy, the Hungarian vice-governor. Stephen Báthory of Șimleu’s epistle to Thomas Nádasdy is more than a mere exchange of written messages between two high nobles. The voivode’s letter includes both professional and private information, from which we can discern the political developments that took place in Transylvania during the early 16th century. More importantly, however, the text functions as a social bond that sustains their friendship, conveying various sentiments such as respect, camaraderie, and attachment.

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