An insight into the most typical civil cases concerning children in Szabolcs County between 1806 and 1848

Abstract

The article “An insight into the most typical civil cases concerning children in Szabolcs County between 1806 and 1848” is based on research of archival documents. This article is written by a local author from Nyíregyháza, and it is unpublished so far. Firstly, the history of Szabolcs County is briefly reviewed from a geographical, administrative, and demographic point of view, starting with the fortress built in the 10th century by Szabolcs, the leader of the region. Then the legislative system of Habsburg-Hungary is analysed, especially the regional court as the most widespread court, its bodies and tasks are described. The author clarifies who was considered a minor in the 19th century according to István Werbőczy’s “Tripartitum” and notes that children were under paternal authority or were cared for by a guardian in the absence of the father (by will, legal guardianship or appointment). He then describes the typical types of civil litigation involving children (lien, debt, class differentiation) and analyses 13 specific legal cases using archival sources to draw conclusions from the research.