|
Kežmarok was given the town privileges from the Hungarian King, Bela IV., in 1269. In the 15th century it received various political and economic rights, e.g. the right to organize two annual markets, the right of sword, the right to use the coat of arms.
There was a town mayor on the top of the town elected for a one-year period. Inner Town Council consisted of 12 councilors-senators. The Inner Town Council was elected by External Council, composed of 50 members. Every council´s member administered special sector of town´s life, i.e. mills, brick factories, wine house, vineyard etc.
The exhibits displayed in this room come from the former Kežmarok town hall located in the centre of the town (currently the seat of the municipality). On the wall left to the door there is a facsimile of the armorial deed from 1463 by King Mathias Corvinus. Along with the armorial privilege the town received the right of using the red sealing wax.
The painting Allegory of Justice is a copy of a picture which once decorated the Town Hall´s exterior. Dealing with the town hall´s furniture only a few pieces have been preserved up today, namely a table, chairs, armchairs, bench, cases, cabinets to archival.
Among other exhibits there is one interesting piece, namely a machine used for sealing documents from 1802, a ballot box and a sworn cross from 1713, donated to the town by Martin Dévay, the Town Mayor at that time. Beside the sword there is also a Bible and an executioner´s sword, i.e. the sworn attributes of a newly elected town mayor.
The two exhibited swords with wavy blades, so-called fire swords, were being attributed a symbolic function. These were put to the town of the top of the town hall to warn the town citizens in distress. The red handled sword symbolized enemies and war and the black one stood for plague, cholera etc.
