Editing Pécs (section)

== History ==
{{Infobox UNESCO World Heritage Site
| WHS         = Early Christian Necropolis of Pécs (Sopianae)
| Image       = Pécs - Early Christian Mausoleum 01.JPG
| Caption     = Remnants of a [[Paleochristian]] church, 4th century AD
| Criteria    = Cultural: iii, iv
| ID          = 853
| Year        = 2000
| Area        = 3.76 ha
| Buffer_zone = 4.87 ha 
}}

=== Ancient Roman city ===
{{Main|Early Christian Necropolis of Pécs}}
[[File:Pécs - Early Christian Mausoleum 02.JPG|thumb|left|Early Christian Necropolis of Pécs (Sopianae)]]

The area has been inhabited since ancient times, with the oldest archaeological findings being 6,000 years old. Before the Roman era, the area was inhabited by [[Celts]].

The city of '''''Sopianae''''' was founded by [[Roman Empire|Romans]] at the beginning of the 2nd century, in an area peopled by Celts and [[List of ancient tribes in Illyria#Pannonian tribes|Pannoni]] tribes. 

In the early 2nd century, when much of today's western Hungary was a province of the [[Roman Empire]] named [[Pannonia]], the Romans founded several wine-producing colonies under the collective name of Sopianae where Pécs now stands.

The centre of Sopianae was where the Bishop's Palace now stands. Some parts of the [[Roman aqueduct]] are still visible. When the Roman province of Pannonia was divided into four administrative divisions, Sopianae was named the capital of the division named Valeria.

By the 4th century, Sopianae became the capital of [[Pannonia Valeria|Valeria province]] and a significant [[early Christian]] centre. The early Christian [[necropolis]] in the city dates back to this era, and the Christian tombs there are unique in their architectural design, consisting of underground burial chambers below above-ground memorial chapels, and are highly decorated with Christian murals.<ref name= unesco>{{cite web |title= Early Christian Necropolis of Pécs (Sopianae) |website= UNESCO World Heritage Convention |publisher= United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization |url= https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/853 |access-date= 14 May 2023}}</ref> These tombs became a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]] in December 2000.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pécs, a kultúra városa|url=http://www.pecs.hu/index.php?foid=1&oldal=koszonto|access-date=2010-04-05|archive-date=2008-04-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080424162830/http://www.pecs.hu/index.php?foid=1&oldal=koszonto|url-status=live}}</ref> By the end of the century, Roman rule weakened in the area, mostly due to attacks by various [[Barbarian#In classical Greco-Roman contexts| Barbarian]] peoples, more prominently the [[Huns]].

=== Early-medieval city ===
When [[Charlemagne]] arrived in the area in 791, it was ruled by the [[Pannonian Avars|Avars]]. Charlemagne, after conquering the area, annexed it to the [[Holy Roman Empire]],<ref name= Gubcsi/> where it belonged to the [[Diocese of Salzburg]].<ref name= Kleindel>Kleindel (2004). ''Österreich, Zahlen – Daten - Fakten'', Sonderausgabe A&M, {{ISBN|3-902397-49-7}}.</ref>

A document written in [[Salzburg]] in 871 is the first one mentioning the early-medieval city under the name ''Quinque Basilicae''.<ref name= ggl/> During the 9th century, the city was inhabited by [[Slavs]] and Avars, and was part of the [[Balaton Principality]], a [[Franks|Frankish]] vassal state.<ref name= Gubcsi/>

=== The Hungarian city in the Middle Ages ===
[[File:Pécs - Castle 01.jpg|thumb|left|The Barbakán]]
[[File:Crypt. Pécs Cathedral4.jpg|thumb|Crypt of the cathedral from the [[Middle Ages]]]]
[[File:Shield runic.jpg|thumb|Stone shield pattern of Pécs with [[Old Hungarian script]] (circa 1250 AD)]]

According to [[György Györffy]]'s theory of place names, after the Hungarians [[Conquest of Hungary|conquered the Carpathian Basin]], they retained a semi-nomadic lifestyle, changing pastures between winter and summer. [[Árpád]]'s winter quarters – clearly after his occupation of Pannonia in 900 – were perhaps in Pécs.<ref name= Gubcsi>Gubcsi, Lajos (2011). [http://mek.oszk.hu/09100/09132/09132.pdf Hungary in the Carpathian Basin] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200312171632/http://mek.oszk.hu/09100/09132/09132.pdf |date=2020-03-12 }}, MoD Zrínyi Media Ltd</ref> Later, when the [[Counties of Hungary (1000–1920)| Comitatus]] of Baranya was established, the capital of the comitatus was not Pécs but a nearby castle, [[Branjin|Baranyavár]] ('Baranya Castle'). Pécs, however, became an important religious centre and episcopal seat. In Latin documents, the city was mentioned as ''Quinque Ecclesiae''. Around 1000, the area was inhabited by the [[Black Magyars]]. The Deed of Foundation of the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Pécs|Diocese of Pécs]] was issued in 1009.

The [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Pécs]] was founded in 1009 by [[Stephen I of Hungary|Stephen I]], and the first university in Hungary was founded in Pécs in 1367 by [[Louis I of Hungary|Louis I the Great]]. (The largest university, with about 34,000 students, is still based in Pécs.)<ref>[http://www.okm.gov.hu/main.php?folderID=1488&articleID=233289&ctag=articlelist&iid=1 www.okm.gov.hu, Oktatási és Kulturális Minisztérium oldala, Az Oktatási Évkönyv 2008/2009 letölthető PDF-formátumban.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070625120920/http://www.okm.gov.hu/main.php?folderID=1488 |date=2007-06-25 }}</ref>

[[Peter Orseolo]], the second king of Hungary, was buried in the cathedral in 1046. The location of his grave is unknown. This is because the cathedral burnt down shortly after Pécs hosting the 1064 [[Easter]] celebrations by King [[Solomon of Hungary |Solomon]], after him making peace with his cousin, the later King [[Géza I of Hungary|Géza I]]. The cathedral was rebuilt in the second half of the 11th century and stands until today.

Several religious orders settled down in Pécs. The [[Benedictine order]] was the first in 1076. In 1181, there was already a hospital in the city. The first [[Dominican order|Dominican]] monastery of the country was built in Pécs in 1238.

King Louis I the Great founded a university in Pécs in 1367, following the advice of [[Bishopric of Pécs |the city's bishop]], William, who was also the king's chancellor. It was the first university in Hungary. The founding document is almost word for word identical with that of the [[University of Vienna]], stating that the university has the right to teach all arts and sciences, with the exception of [[theology]].

In 1459, [[Janus Pannonius]], the most important medieval poet of Hungary became the bishop of Pécs. He strengthened the cultural importance of the city.

The great [[Humanism|humanist]] poet, bishop [[Janus Pannonius]], developed Pécs into one of the cultural and arts centres of the country.<ref>[http://www.dravanet.hu/hunor/frame-pecs%20hun.htm Pécs kulturális központ] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090315062531/http://dravanet.hu/hunor/frame-pecs%20hun.htm |date=2009-03-15 }}</ref>

=== Ottoman rule ===
{{See also|Ottoman Hungary}}
[[File:Pécs - Mosque Church 01.jpg|thumb|left|The mosque of Gázi Kászim pasa (pasha Qasim the Victorious)]]
[[File:Pécs - Yakovali Hassan Mosque 01.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Yakovalı Hasan Paşa Mosque]]]]

After the 1526 [[Battle of Mohács]], in which the invading Ottoman army defeated the armies of [[Louis II of Hungary |King Louis II]], the armies of [[Suleiman the Magnificent |Suleiman]] occupied Pécs. Not only was a large part of the country occupied by the Ottomans, the public opinion of who should be the king of [[Kingdom of Hungary| Hungary]] was divided, too. One party supported [[Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor| Ferdinand of Habsburg]], the other party crowned [[John Zápolya]] in [[Székesfehérvár]].{{cn|date=March 2023}} The citizens of Pécs supported Ferdinand, but the rest of Baranya county supported John. In the summer of 1527, Ferdinand defeated the armies of Zápolya and was crowned king on November 3. Ferdinand favoured the city because of the support of its citizens, and granted Pécs tax exemption. The city was rebuilt and fortified.{{cn| date=March 2023}}

[[Habsburg–Ottoman wars in Hungary (1526–1568)#1530s |In 1529]], the Ottomans captured Pécs again, and went on a campaign against Vienna. The Ottomans forced Pécs to accept King John (who was allied with them) as their ruler. John died in 1540. In 1541, the Ottomans occupied the castle of [[Buda]] and ordered [[Isabella Jagiello|Isabella]], the widow of John, to cede Pécs to them, due to the city's strategic importance.{{cn| date=March 2023}} The citizens of Pécs defended the city against the Ottomans and swore loyalty to Ferdinand.{{cn| date=March 2023}} The emperor helped the city and defended it from further Ottoman attacks, but his advisers persuaded him into focusing more on the cities of [[Székesfehérvár]] and [[Esztergom]] instead of Pécs. Pécs was preparing for the siege, but a day before, [[Flemish people| Flemish]] and [[Walloons |Walloon]] mercenaries fled from the city and raided the nearby lands. The next day, in June 1543, the bishop himself went to the Ottomans with the keys of the city.{{cn| date=March 2023}}

After occupying the city, the Ottomans fortified it and turned it into a truly Ottoman city. The churches were turned into [[mosque]]s, complete with [[minaret]]s; [[Turkish bath]]s and  were built, [[Qur'an school]]s were founded, and there was a [[bazaar]] in place of the market.{{cn|date=March 2023}} For one hundred years the city was an island of peace in a land of war. It was the central city of a [[sanjak]], at first in the [[Budin Province, Ottoman Empire |Budin Eyalet]] and later, as "Peçuy", in the [[Kanije Province, Ottoman Empire |Kanije Eyalet]].

The Ottoman era resulted in numerous landmarks, such as the [[Mosque of Pasha Qasim| mosque of Pasha Qasim the Victorious]] at [[Széchenyi square (Pécs)| Széchenyi Square]], the tomb of İdris Baba, and the [[Yakovalı Hasan Paşa Mosque]].

The Ottoman chronicler [[İbrahim Peçevi]] (Ibrahim of Pécs), whose work forms the main body of reference for Ottoman history between 1520 and 1640, was a native of the city.<ref>[https://hrcak.srce.hr/file/93102 İbrahim Peçevi (Ibrahim Pečevija), an Ottoman Historian from Pécs Writing on Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina] (in Croatian). [[University of Zagreb]]. Retrieved 2 June 2023</ref>

In 1664, [[Croat]]-[[Hungarians |Hungarian]] nobleman [[Nikola Zrinski| Nicholas Zrínyi]] arrived in Pécs with his army. Since the city was well into the Ottoman territories, they knew that even if they occupied it, they could not keep it for long, so they planned only to pillage it. They ravaged and burned the city but could not occupy the castle. Mediaeval Pécs was destroyed forever, except for the wall encircling the historical city, a single [[bastion]] (Barbakán), the network of tunnels and [[catacombs]] beneath the city (partially closed down, and partially in possession of the famous Litke champagne factory, which can be visited today). {{cn| date=June 2008}} Several Turkish structures also survived, namely three mosques, two minarets, remnants of a bath over the ancient Christian tombs near the cathedral, and several houses, one with a stone cannonball embedded in the wall.{{cn| 
date=March 2023}}

In the 1686 [[Siege of Pécs]], the Austrian army finally recovered the city from the Ottoman Turks. After wresting the castle of Buda from Ottoman rule, the Christian armies went on to capture Pécs. The vanguard managed to break into the city and pillaged it.{{cn |date= March 2023}} The Ottomans saw that they could not hold the city, burnt it and withdrew into the castle. The army led by [[Louis of Baden]] occupied the city on 14 October and destroyed the [[aqueduct (water supply)| aqueduct]] leading to the castle. The Ottomans had no other choice but to surrender, which they did on 22 October.

The city was under [[martial law]] under the command of {{ill|Karl von Thüngen|de|Johann Karl von Thüngen}}. The Viennese court wanted to destroy the city first, but later they decided to keep it to counterbalance the importance of [[Szigetvár]], which was still under Ottoman rule. Slowly the city started to prosper again, but in the [[History of plague#Second pandemic: from 14th century to 19th century |1690s two plague epidemics]] claimed many lives. In 1688, [[Germans of Hungary#Habsburg settlement |German settlers]] arrived. Only about one-quarter of the city's population was Hungarian, the others were Germans or [[Southern Slavs]]. The census of taxpayers from 1698 lists 637 families, for which Janja Živković Mandić concludes that 308 were of Croatian nationality (Catholic [[Croats]], [[Rascians |Racs]], [[Šokci]], [[Bunjevci]], [[Illyrians]], [[Slavs]], [[Bosniaks]]{{clarify |Many of these terms are overlapping. Next sentence: "Serbs" used as a term distinct from Racs! "Illyrians" proper were ancient peoples, not clear what the term was used for in the 17th c., Albanians maybe? Also, as far as I could find out, Racs is a Hungarian term not used in English. |date= January 2025}}) and the remaining 329 were Hungarians, Germans, Serbs or Greeks. According to same census, István Tabo mentions 171 Hungarian, 349 Slavs and 79 Germans while Đuro Šarošac mentions that at that time in the city lived 325 Croats, 139 Hungarians, 92 Germans, 53 [[Vlachs]] and 28 Serbs.<ref>Ladislav Heka (2016). ''The Borders of Baranja Since the Middle Ages Until Today'', http://baza.gskos.hr/Graniceidentiteti.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218132411/http://baza.gskos.hr/Graniceidentiteti.pdf |date=2020-02-18 }}  #page=29</ref> According to 1698 data, [[South Slavs]] comprised more than half of the town's population. Because Hungarians were only a minority, Pécs did not support the revolution against Habsburg rule led by [[Francis II Rákóczi]], and his armies pillaged the city in 1704.

=== Early-modern era ===
{{Unreferencedsect|date=March 2023}}
[[File:Hungary-Pecs Main Place.jpg|left|thumb|upright|Pécs Main Square before 2009]]
[[File:Pécs - County Hall 01.jpg|thumb|[[Baranya County Hall]]]]
[[File:Vasvary House Pecs.jpg|thumb|Vasváry-House]]
[[File:Pécs nattbild BÅn.JPG|thumb|Széchenyi Square]]

A more peaceful era started after 1710. Industry, trade and viticulture prospered, manufactories were founded, a new city hall was built. The feudal lord of the city was the [[Bishop of Pécs]], but the city wanted to free itself from episcopal control. Bishop [[George Klimó]], an enlightened man (who founded the first [[public library]] of the country) would have agreed to cede his rights to the city, but the [[Holy See]] forbade him to do so. When Klimó died in 1777, Queen [[Maria Theresa of Austria|Maria Theresa]] quickly elevated Pécs to [[free royal town]] status before the new bishop was elected. This cost the city 83,315 forints.

According to the first [[census]] (held in 1787 by the order of [[Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor|Joseph II]]), there were 1,474 houses and 1,834 families in Pécs, a total of 8,853 residents, of which 133 were priests and 117 were noblemen.

In 1785, the Academy of [[Győr]] was moved to Pécs. This academy eventually evolved into a law school. The first stonework theatre of the city was built in 1839.
At that time or Maria Theresia and her son Josef II, the [[Danube Swabians]] from Germany was settled in the City.

===  19th century and later ===
The industry developed a lot in the second half of the 19th century. By 1848, there were 1,739 industrial workers. Some of the manufactures were nationally famous. The iron and paper factories were among the most modern ones of the age. Coal mining was relevant. A sugar factory and beer manufactures were built, too. The city had 14,616 residents.

During the [[Hungarian Revolution of 1848|revolution in 1848–49]], Pécs was occupied by Croatian armies for a short time, but it was freed from them by Habsburg armies in January 1849.

After the [[Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867]] Pécs developed, like all the other cities and towns of the country. From 1867, Pécs is connected to the nearby town [[Barcs]] by railway, and since 1882 it is also connected to [[Budapest]]. In 1913, a tram system has been founded, but it was extinguished in 1960.

At the end of [[Hungary in World War I|World War I]], Baranya county was occupied by [[Serbia]]n troops, and it was not until August 1921 that Pécs could be sure that it remains part of Hungary. The University of Pressburg (modern-day [[Bratislava]], [[Slovakia]]) was moved to Pécs after Hungary lost Pressburg according to the [[Treaty of Trianon]].

During [[Hungary in World War II|World War II]], Pécs was captured by [[Red Army|Soviet]] troops of the [[3rd Ukrainian Front]] on 29 November 1944 in the course of the [[Budapest Offensive]]. The city suffered only minor damages, even though a large tank-battle took place {{convert|20|-|25|km|0|abbr=off}} south of the city, close to the Villány area late in the war, when the advancing [[Red Army]] fought its way towards Austria. Until the end of World War II, the majority Inhabitants was [[Danube Swabians]]. Some of the former German settlers was expelled to Germany and Austria in 1945-1948, under the 1945 [[Potsdam Agreement]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://ldu-online.de/die-vertreibung | title=Die Vertreibung – Landsmannschaft der Deutschen aus Ungarn | access-date=2022-01-17 | archive-date=2022-01-16 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116000200/https://ldu-online.de/die-vertreibung | url-status=live }}</ref> [[Germans of Hungary]] are still a minority in the City.

A history of Hungary from 1945-1990, "under Soviet domination" can be found in A Concise History of Hungary.<ref>Molnar, Miklos. (2001). A Concise History of Hungary. English translation. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.</ref> After the war, development became fast again, and the city grew, absorbing several nearby towns. In the 1980s, Pécs already had 180,000 inhabitants.

{{Historical populations
|type =
|footnote =
|1870 | 30821
|1890 | 43869
|1900 | 53721
|1910 | 60237
|1920 | 58808
|1930 | 74395
|1941 | 88473
|1949 | 88302
|1960 | 114655
|1970 | 149253
|1980 | 168715
|1990 | 170039
|2001 | 162489
|2011 | 156049
|2022 | 139647
}}

After the end of [[Soviet occupation of Hungary|Socialist]] era (1989–1990), Pécs and its county, like many other areas, were hit hard by the changes, the unemployment rate was high, the mines and several factories were closed, and the war in neighboring [[Yugoslavia]] in the 1990s affected the tourism.

Pécs was also the centre of the [[Nordic Support Group]] (NSG) consisting of units from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Poland, as part of the [[IFOR]] and later [[SFOR]] [[NATO]] deployments, after the Dayton Agreement and following peace in former Yugoslavia; the first units were deployed to Pécs in late 1995 and early 1996. The NSG handled the relaying of supply, personnel and other logistical tasks between the participating countries and their deployed forces in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

In 1998 Pécs was given the UNESCO prize "''Cities for Peace"'' for maintaining its cultural minorities, and also for its tolerant and helping attitude toward refugees of the [[Yugoslav Wars]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hetek.hu/hatter/199804/pecs_a_tolerans_varos|title=Pécs, a toleráns város - Hetek Közéleti Hetilap|website=Hetek Közéleti Hetilap|access-date=2010-04-05|archive-date=2011-07-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721112555/http://www.hetek.hu/hatter/199804/pecs_a_tolerans_varos|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2007 Pécs was third, and in 2008 it was second "''Livable City"'' (The LivCom Awards)<ref>[http://www.livcomawards.com/2009-awards/whole-city-awards.htm www.livcomawards.com, Official site of LivCom awards] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100312042052/http://www.livcomawards.com/2009-awards/whole-city-awards.htm |date=2010-03-12 }}</ref> in the category of cities between 75,000 and 200,000 inhabitants.<ref>[http://www.ddrkh.hu/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=586 www.ddrkh.hu, 2008. november 12. - Pécs második lett az Élhető Települések döntőjében] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305014935/http://www.ddrkh.hu/modules.php?name=News |date=2009-03-05 }}</ref>

In 2010, Pécs was selected to be the [[European Capital of Culture]] alongside [[Essen]] and [[Istanbul]]. The city motto is "The Borderless City". After receiving the title major renewal started in the city.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pbkik.hu/index.php?id=7491&term=|title=BETA – Pécs-Baranyai Kereskedelmi és Iparkamara|website=www.pbkik.hu|access-date=2010-04-05|archive-date=2011-07-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721112355/http://www.pbkik.hu/index.php?id=7491&term=|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bama.hu/baranya/gazdasag/mar-epitik-a-pecsi-buza-teren-a-corsot-123514|title=Már építik a pécsi Búza téren a Corsót - BAMA|access-date=2010-04-05|archive-date=2009-12-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091228163020/http://www.bama.hu/baranya/gazdasag/mar-epitik-a-pecsi-buza-teren-a-corsot-123514|url-status=dead}}</ref> Renewed public places, streets, squares and neighbourhoods, new cultural centres, a concert hall, a new library and centre and a cultural quarter were designed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.peh.hu/index.php?tid=4&act=show&cid=625&o=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241128000011/http://www.peh.hu/index.php?tid=4&act=show&cid=625&o=1|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 28, 2024|title=www.peh.hu, Elindult a Sopianae-terv, épül a Déli Ipari Park}}</ref><ref>[Pécsre áramlik a tőke www.origo.hu, 2008. 07. 17. - Pécsre áramlik a tőke]</ref>