In 1241 the Mongol “Golden Horde” invaded the region. All of the communities and villages between Raab (Gy?r) and Wieselburg were destroyed. Countless people were massacred and women were raped and carried off. Because of conflicts over their leadership the Mongols soon left and returned home to settle matters. King Bela IV’s response was to order the construction of stone defensive fortresses throughout the land for protection in the future. He did not have the support of the higher clergy and nobles in this undertaking. Nevertheless many fortresses were constructed across Hungary. Following Maurus’ death, Konrad I began to build a fortress at Ungarisch Altenburg and named it Ovár. He took the side of Ottokar II of Bohemia, who was a Habsburg, against the Hungarian King. He allowed Ottokar’s troops free passage through his domains and allowed them to destroy his neighbours’ villages and annexed other peoples’ property and Ottokar recognized his ownership. All of that would shortly change. In 1260 Ottokar married into the Hungarian royal family. Ottokar forgot his friend Konrad and the Hungarian parliament confiscated all of Konrad’s estates in Wieselburg and Pressburg Counties in reprisal for his treason.
