the newly founded Diocese of Győr. The city suffered during the war between King Sámuel Aba and Holy Roman Emperor Henry III, between 1042 and 1044.
Szombathely was destroyed during the Mongol invasion of Hungary in 1241–1242 but was rebuilt shortly after and was granted Free royal town status in 1407. In 1578 it became the capital of Vas comitatus. The city prospered. In 1605 it was occupied by the armies of István Bocskai.
Szombathely in modern times
During the Ottoman occupation of Hungary the Ottomans invaded the area twice, first in 1664, when they were defeated at the nearby town Szentgotthárd, and again in 1683, during the Battle of Vienna. The city walls protected Szombathely both times. A peaceful period followed the retreat of the Turks until Prince Rákóczi's rebellion against the Habsburgs in the early 18th century. During the rebellion the city supported the prince. It was occupied by Habsburg armies in 1704, freed in November 1705, then occupied alternately by the two armies over the next years.
In June 1710, more than 2000 people lost their lives in a plague, and on May 3, 1716 the city was destroyed by a fire. The new settlers who came were chiefly Germans, and the city had a German majority for a long time. The city began to prosper again. With the support of Ferenc Zichy, Bishop of Győr, a high school was built in 1772. The Diocese of Szombathely was founded in 1777 by Maria Theresa. The new bishop of Szombathely, János Szily did much for the city: he had the ruins of the castle demolished and had new buildings built, including a cathedral, the Episcopal palace complex and a school (opened in 1793).
In 1809 Napoleon's armies occupied the city and held it for 110 days, following a short battle on the main square. In 1817 two thirds of the city was destroyed by fire. In 1813 a cholera epidemic claimed many lives.
