In our study we would like to draw attention to the topographic reconstruction of
the settlement network of the territories under Ottoman occupation. The village of
Orbágyszentgyörgy, once an important settlement in the southern part of the Danube-Tisza
Interfluve Area, was chosen as a model. This settlement was located on the South Slavic–Hungarian
language border during the Ottoman period, making it an ideal example for illustrating
social transformation and the changes in toponyms. Based on field and archival investigations,
we reconstructed the location of the medieval village and some details of its borders.
The largest part of the village of Orbágyszentgyörgy today forms the eastern half
of the town of Hajós. As a result of the changes during the Ottoman era, the former
part of the medieval village, the Kegyesfölde praedium, first became a separate uninhabitated
area (mezraa), under the name Kegyös (later transformed to Köles/Kélös). Subsequently,
in the 20th century, it became part of the newly founded Kéleshalom village, together
with the northern part of Jánoshalma, called Felsőterézhalom. During our research,
we pointed out that a combined, in-depth examination of medieval charters and Ottoman
sources is necessary to provide unknown details about vanished settlements and their
medieval belongings.
