Budai Nagy Antal revolt

The Budai Nagy Antal revolt, or Bobâlna revolt (Hungarian Erdélyi paraszt felkelés, that is Transylvanian peasant revolt, Romanian: Răscoala de la Bobâlna meaning Bobâlna Revolt), of 1437 in Transylvania, was the only significant popular revolt in the Kingdom of Hungary prior to the great peasant war of 1514. The event is named after the leader of the revolt, Antal Nagy de Buda, or is simply called the "Transylvanian Peasant revolt".

Events leading to the revolt

In order to tackle financial burdens resulting from the Hussite wars and military campaigns against the Ottoman Empire, King Sigismund put lower value silver coins into circulation in Hungary. György Lépes, the Bishop of Transylvania, decided in 1434 not to collect taxes until this money was used; however, he demanded the arrears of the tithes in one sum three years later, in 1437, when valuable golden coins were issued again by the royal treasury. The peasants, having received revenues in silver coins earlier, were not able to pay taxes in the new valuable currency. When the peasants refused to pay, the bishop excommunicated them. The peasants were also aggrieved over the unwillingness of their lords to respect their right of free movement. Furthermore, the bishop required payments from petty noblemen and even from Vlach (Romanian) peasants who did not belong to the Roman Catholic Church.