In a picturesque valley to be surrounded by the Krupinská uplands in the north, by the
Börzsöny hills in the south and on both sides of the Ipeľ river is situated town Šahy.
The first written mention of town Šahy comes from the 13th century in a pergamen of the
King Béla IV from the year 1237. Town was mentioned under the name Saag. Šahy in this
time was a part of the Hontianska stolica (country) where the administrative centre was
the castle Hont. Formation of country system comes from the beginning of the XI century
during the reign of the King St Stephan.
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town hall
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Beginnings of doing the autonomous and public functions in history of Šahy reach to the
era of premonstrate order. The Premonstrates had been living in the monastery founded by
Márton in 1238. Character of a town, Šahy obtained during the reign of the King Zigmund
who awarded the right to market in 1405 and two years later right to sword. Šahy has
already obtained right to toll since 1266. The monastery had a great importance as a
trustworthy town (a medieval public notary - locus exediblis) from its foundation to the
Turks ocupation in the half of the 16th century. College of provosts was a trustworthy
place not only for the Hontianska country, also for the countries Novohradská,
Zvolenská, Tekovská, Gemerská. In the year 1657 was founded the parish registry
(registry office was founded in 1896). Except church duties the mundane services were
carried out here.
Since the half of the 16th century after the Turks invasion into Hungary the Hontianska
country had not had its permanent seat and had met in Banská Štiavnica, Bátovce,
Sebechleby, Vinica, Krupina. Since 1751 seat of the country had become village Kemence.
When the country's house in Kemence burnt out in 1806, it was decided to move the seat
to Šahy. This new position of Šahy as the seat of the Hontianska country brought an
economical, cultural and social development. Town has become an administrative centre
of Hont. In 1848 "stolica" name was cancelled and was replaced by the name "župa".
The Austrian-Hungarian settlement in 1867 brought some administrative changes in the
Hontianska župa, too. Instead of four districts there were five: Šahy, Krupina, Veľká
Čalomija, Bátovce and Szob. The important position of districts results from the
principle of these new countries ("župa"). The main representative was a governor
("župan") appointed by monarch. The superior authority of country was the General
Assembly which members were meeting four times a year. The superior elected official
was vice-governor - head of the General Assembly and representative of the country.
Holders of individual offices were country's dignitaries. The direct executors of
verdicts were the district's officers, the head was the elected principal. This period
brought an extraordinary development and expansion in the history of town.
Desintegration of the Austrian-Hungarian monarchy and foundation of the Czechoslovak
Republik in 1918 - these aspects were demostrated in the territorial reorganization of
the countries. After signing the Trianon agreement on July 14, 1920 the Hontianska
country was divided into two parts. A bigger part fell to Czechoslovakia and a smaller
part to Hungary. Town Šahy became the frontier town of Czechoslovakia, was the seat of
the northern part of the Hontianska country and the district till the administrative
reform on January 1, 1923. Since this day Šahy has not already been the seat of country
and district. There was established an expositure of the district Krupina.
The era from 1919 to 1922 is the last stage of country development as forms of public
administrations of the old committee formation. Following the government decree No.
310/1922Zb. from historical 16 countries were formed 6 big countries - "veľžupa". Area
of the Hontianska country belonged to the Pohronská (Zvolenská) country. This country
system existed till 1927. Following the law No. 125/1927Zb. countries ("župa") were
replaced by regional formation and the governors ("župan") by district chiefs
subordinated to the regional president.
According to the Munich agreement from the year 1938 Šahy became a part of Hungary.
After World War II the Great Powers had decided the renewal of frontiers according to
the Trianon agreement in August 1945 and Šahy was affiliated to the Czechoslovak
Republik.
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beach swimming pool
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The era of a new form of public-administrative bodies - the national committee began.
Šahy belonged to the district Krupina, and the expositure of the district national
committee was reopened. There was established the Local national committee. On
January 1, 1949 Šahy became the district till the year 1960, then the district Šahy was
cancelled and town Šahy was affiliated to Levice. In connection with the administrative
reform in 1960 in Šahy founded the Municipal national committee was founded. Later were
established other municipal institutions - the Municipal educational centre, the
Technical services of the town, the Municipal library and so on.
Because of political decisions in the 1980s came to village integration. There were
founded the common national committees and smaller villages were affiliated to towns.
In 1980 Hrkovce and Preseľany nad Ipľom became the part of Šahy. Village Tešmák was
affiliated to Šahy in 1986. After changes of social system village Hrkovce made itself
independent (1998).
Fundamental change not only in the social system also in system of public administration
arises after the Velvet revolution in 1989. Following the law No. 369/1990 Zb. of
municipal formation the national committees stopped their activities and the autonomies
of towns and villages were established. In the first really democratic election citizens
voted for the mayor of town and deputies of the Municipal Representation. The first
mayor of town became JUDr. Ernest Zsolnay elected again in the following elections in
the years 1994 and 1998. According to the law of municipal formation was established
the Municipal Office in Šahy as the executive body of the Municipal Represenation and
of the mayor. Simultaneously were established: the Municipal Council and Committees of the Municipal Representation.
Following the reform of public administration in 1990 were formed local offices operated
as detached workplaces of the district offices. Seat of the local office, the labour
office and the tax office moved to Šahy. In 1996 were formed new districts, number of
them is 79. Request of Šahy and its natural region to be the district town again, was
not accepted.
Nowadays is prepared an another legislative modification of the public administration.
It is speculating about cancellation the district and country offices and about
strenghtening autonomy's position and establishment of two-level autonomy's bodies. At
the beginning of the third millenium Šahy is a developed town with democratic and
progressive thinking people who are able and ready to take destiny of their town in
their hands.
Translation: Hošková
