The Čeklís Branch of the Hungarian Noble Family of the Esterházys in their Čeklís Manor (Bernolákovo, Slovakia) in the Mirror of Book Culture

Abstract

The Esterházy family is among the most important aristocratic families of the Kingdom of Hungary, not only in the public, but also in the cultural life of the country. Members of the family built one of the largest and most significant libraries in the history of the Kingdom of Hungary in the 17th–19th centuries, internationally known as the Esterhasiana Biblioteca. The activities of the Esterházys in the field of cultural policy, patronage of art, science, and literature, and enhancing literacy in the country were highly influential. This study focuses on the activity of the Čeklís branch of the Esterházy family in the field of culture, literature, and book culture. It is based on the research of archival records, biographical materials, and other published sources, library catalogs, and preserved books from the aristocratic library of the Čeklís mansion (present-day Bernolákovo, Slovakia). The main aim is to examine the character and use of the aristocratic library of Jozef Esterházy (1682–1748), a prominent member of the Esterházy family, who was a high-ranking Hungarian official and provincial judge at the Čeklís manor. This is examined against the backdrop of the cultural and social conditions of the Kingdom of Hungary in the 18th century. The study analyzes acquisition motivations and the library’s influence on the activities of Slovak Enlightenment scholars.