Castle Hill Receives Its Crown
In the first half of the 13th century, Szigliget came into the possession of Kalián, ispán (county head) of Zala, before reverting to the king, who in 1259 granted it—together with the county—to his son, Prince Stephen. A year later, however, Szigliget gained a new owner. Following the devastating Mongol invasion, King Béla IV resolved to strengthen the country by building stone castles, as only these could withstand similar attacks. This intention is clearly reflected in a charter from 1260, in which the king granted one of the islands of Lake Balaton (Szigliget) to the Benedictine Abbey of Pannonhalma, instructing them to build a fortress where the local population could find refuge in times of danger. Although the Mongol invasion caused less damage in this region, from the mid-13th century onward, a series of castles were erected in the surrounding area at strategically suitable locations (Hegyesd, Csobánc, Tátika, Rezi, Tihany, Sümeg). Abbot Favus of Pannonhalma likely considered the construction of a well-fortified castle important for maintaining connections between the extensive Benedictine estates in Pannonhalma, Tihany, Zalavár, and Somogyvár. The castle was completed within two years. At that time, it was much smaller than the ruins visible today; its present size is the result of later expansions over the centuries. The rapid construction was probably made possible by the work of local quarrymen, lime burners, masons, and craftsmen and serfs from nearby Benedictine estates. King Béla IV was so impressed by the “good and useful” castle—as he described it in one of his charters—that in 1262, shortly after its completion, he reclaimed it from the Benedictines, granting them other lands in exchange. This decision was likely driven by political and strategic considerations: to counterbalance the growing power of regional oligarchs and to curb lawlessness in the area. This is underscored by the fact that between 1275 and 1289, the royal castle of Szigliget was seized by Bishop Péter III of Veszprém, a member of the Héder clan. He removed the valuable ecclesiastical treasures stored there—liturgical garments, banners, ivory caskets, and crystal ornaments—belonging to the monastery of the Pok clan, transporting them to Veszprém. These were only returned in the early 14th century. This was the first recorded attack on the castle, and it was likely taken by stratagem. From this time onward, the fate of the village and the castle became closely intertwined, often to the detriment of the local population and the development of the settlement. Obligations owed to the landlord had to be delivered at the discretion of the castle captain. Contemporary sources paint a clear picture of the hardships faced by the people. According to a charter dated 1300, Acintus, the castellan of Szigliget, plundered neighboring estates, including that of a defenseless widow. Another official, a deputy castellan named Mihály, was excommunicated by the Bishop of Veszprém for assaulting the parish priest and chaplain of Tapolca and for forcibly seizing the bishop’s mill.