Obraz mesta Šahy v zrkadle vybraných historických a historicko-demografckých prameov 1 Dávid Jablonský – Taána Součková Mgr. Dávid Jablonský, PhD. University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius Faculty of Arts Department of Historical Sciences and Central European Studies Nám. J. Herdu 2 917 01 trnava slovakia e-mail: david.jablonsky@ucm.sk https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9535-3682 Mgr. Taána Součková, PhD. University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius Faculty of Arts Department of Historical Sciences and Central European Studies Nám. J. Herdu 2 917 01 trnava slovakia e-mail: tatana.souckova@ucm.sk https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5225-0368 Populačné štúdie Slovenska 15:1:5-20 The image of the town of Šahy in the mirror of selected historical and historical-demographic sources The image of the town of Šahy in the mirror of the works of Nicolaus Istuanfus, Matthias Belius, Ignaz Aurelius Fessler, András Vályi, Elek Fényes and Samu Borovszky points out that the frst written records in the preserved documents were mentioned in the frst half of the 13 th century and the history of the town was closely connected with the Hunt-Poznan family or the local Premonstratensian convent. the activities of the Premonstratensian monks, the gradual acquisition of various city rights and the increase in population during the High and Late Middle Ages strengthened the strategic importance of the town step by step. However, this positive trend disrupted the Ottoman invasion. Its devastating effects along with events of 1552 led to an escape of the inhabitants, to burning of the town or to relocation of the convent archives. The town has long been suffering from the negative effects of the Ottoman presence and the political or religious fragmentation of the Kingdom of Hungary, even after the expulsion of the Ottomans from the country. The 19 th century contributed to the effective modernization of the town. As Šahy became the administrative center of the Hont county, new institutions and various associations were established and intellectual milieu was stimulated. However, the 19 th century also had its downsides. Despite advancing health education and improving health care, the fght against 1 Štúdia vznikla v rámci riešenia projektu APVV-18-0196: Vedomosti Nitrianskej stolice M. Bela (interpre- tácia a aplikácia). 5