On October 2–3, 2025, the University of Hradec Kralové and the University of Pardubice held a joint international conference on the early modern period entitled "Three centuries in the heart of Europe. European Aristocracy in the Early Modern Period".
On the first day of the academic symposium in the Czech Republic, Csongor Cziráki, intern at the Fraknói Research Group and scholarship holder at the CPH Hungarica–Vaticana Research Group, also gave a presentation. The title of his presentation was "Trent Reform, Turkish Threat, Family Building. Catholic Prelate on the Frontiers of the Habsburg Empire (Bishop György Széchényi of Veszprém, 1648–1658)." In it, he presented the pastoral work of György Széchényi at the head of the Diocese of Veszprém through his correspondence with Ádám Batthyány, with particular emphasis on his role in the struggle against the Ottomans. He presented the archbishop's role as a dynasty founder and builder by comparing him to his contemporary, Archbishop Ernst Adalbert von Harrach of Prague, thus placing Széchényi in a European context.
In addition to high-quality presentations and fruitful discussions, on the first day of the two-day conference, participants visited the diocesan episcopal archives in Hradec Králové, and on the last day, they took part in a guided tour of the Pardubice Castle.
The presentations will also be published in written form in the journal of the University of Pardubice (Theatrum Historiae).
The slides from the presentation held in English can be viewed here, and the conference program can be viewed here.
(The photos were taken by Lucie Smolková and Radek Plžík.)
