Városok, birtokosok, társadalmak a folyamtérben : a Duna magyarországi felső szakasza Győr és Buda között - 13. század vége-14. század közepe

This paper aims to give a short overview of the contacts of riverbank societies with the Danube during an important period of the Middle Ages. The end of the 13th century and the following decades represent the revaluation of the importance of the Danube region, with an increasing role of royal power and some ecclesiastical institutions, such as the nunnery on the Island of Rabbits (Margaret Island). The period also saw an increase in the riverspace possessions of some families (e.g. Becsei). Such an increase may partly be explained by the ambition of seeking royal neighbourhood; but these families strived deliberately for riverbank life as well. The appearance and consolidation of privileged communities, mainly German hospes groups, is another essential aspect of riverbank life. Located opposite Visegrád, the settlement of Nagymaros had strong fishing privileges and was entitled to navigate freely on a large section of the Danube. As certain researches have pointed out, the lower water levels of the era indicate that there could be plans in the first half of 14th century to develop at Visegrád Nagymaros a double-waterfront city, such as Buda and Pest. Furthermore, the most important conflicts and changes seem to have occurred in the ferry- and boatmen communities who were compelled to satisfy an increasing demand from the cities and to defend their interests against ecclesiastical institutions, such as the nunnery on the Island of Rabbits or the chapter of Óbuda