magyar CHANGES OF THE MANOR OF NAGYKANIZSA 1914–1945

Abstract

This study examines those changes through the example of a Southern Transdanubia large estate which impacted the Hungarian large estates in the interwar period. The estate of Nagykanizsa was acquired by Count Lajos Batthyány in 1743 which him converted into a free tail together with three other large estates. The estate remained in control of the family until 1945. Since the 1830s the operation of the estate of Nagykanizsa started to differ significantly from other domestic large estates because leasing became an important aspect parallel with production. From 1871 till 1945 the owner kept control of the wooded property; however, he had those fertile lands leased out to local entrepreneurs for long-term periods. In the meantime, the Batthyány family could lease out their buildings and other properties in the city of Nagykanizsa for rather high rental fees. This model provided the long-term profitability of the estate mostly because the demand for forestry goods was always high; meanwhile, the collected rental fees provided a stable income for the duke even in the most trying times. In comparison to other large estates the Batthyány estate was notable for its quality forestry which was nevertheless the result of the highly trained foresters. After the analyses of archive, literature, statistical and news source data it can be surely stated that the high-level estate management, the modern forms of property management, the product chain adoption to the market conditions were proper means to realise above the domestic average profit for the owner.