Boleslaus, Bishop of Vác
Boleslaus | |
---|---|
Bishop of Vác | |
Installed | 1193 |
Term ended | 1212 |
Predecessor | Job |
Successor | James |
Personal details | |
Born | 1130s |
Died | 1212 or 1213 |
Nationality | Hungarian |
Denomination | Catholic |
Boleslaus (
Early life
Boleslaus was born in the 1130s into a prominent noble family, but his parentage and origin is unknown.[1] He had a brother (or at least, relative; frater) Elvin, also a prelate, who served as Bishop of Várad (present-day Oradea, Romania) from 1189 to 1200.[2] Based on the geographical location of their landholdings, historian Vince Bunyitay considered that both of them belonged to the gens (clan) Becsegergely.[3] Other historians – including Samu Borovszky and Ferenc Chobot – accepted his interpretation.[4] Boleslaus' godfather was the reigning monarch, Béla II of Hungary (r. 1131–1141) at his birth, according to later documents. Boleslaus was granted the royal estate of Lelesz (present-day Leles, Slovakia) as a christening gift by Béla II (before that Lelesz belonged to the surrounding estates of Zemplén Castle).[5]
By the reign of
Boleslaus participated in the Hungarian military campaign to the Principality of Halych in 1188, when Béla III of Hungary (r. 1172–1196) invaded the principality and installed his son Andrew as Prince of Halych. For his participation, Béla III granted the king's share (one third part) of the port duty of Szolnok along the river Tisza to Boleslaus, who also acquired the village of Kabala with the approval of the monarch. Later, Boleslaus handed over this land to his nephew, Marhard in exchange for his portion at Lelesz. Boleslaus also owned a settlement, Árpád in Bihar County (present-day Arpășel, Romania), which he exchanged for the village of Kanyár in Szabolcs County with Lawrence, abbot of Gyulamonostor (today Mănăstirea, Romania) with the approval of Vata (or Wasca), the Bishop of Várad.[7]
Bishop of Vác
Foundation of the Lelesz Provostry
Boleslaus was first styled as Bishop of Vác in 1188, when Béla III donated the third quarter portion of the local fair duty to the cathedral chapter of Esztergom.[8] However this royal charter proved to be a forgery, although its list of dignitaries – where Boleslaus' name appeared – is reliable. Boleslaus was first referred to as bishop by an authentic document only in 1193. His last known predecessor was Job, who held the position a decade earlier and was later elevated into the Archdiocese of Esztergom.[9] Immediately after his election, Boleslaus requested the permission of Pope Celestine III to hold annual diocesan synods on 8 September (Nativity of Mary), who approved in 1193. In order to financially support his bishopric, Boleslaus waived his share (a quarter, called quarta episcopi) of the tithe in favor of the lower clergy and vicars.[4]
According to a royal charter of
Andrew's charter does not refer to Boleslaus as founder of the provostry. Its establishment was a lengthy process with series of land donations. This culminated into the 1214 establishing charter. According to the document, Boleslaus donated and bequeathed large-scale landholdings in Zemplén – Királyhelmec (Kráľovský Chlmec), Kisdobra (Dobrá), Pólyán (Poľany), Csernyő (Čierna), Kisgéres (Malý Horeš), Agárd, Vajdácska –, Szabolcs (Kanyár) and Ung – Nagykapos (Veľké Kapušany), Kiskapos, Sislóc, Lakárd (Lekárovce), Trask, Szalóka and Viszoka (Vysoká nad Kysucou) – counties to the newly established convent continuously since the early 1190s, which acts were confirmed by Andrew II in a single document, in accordance with contemporary tradition to avoid later possible disagreements. The monastery of Lelesz, dedicated to the Holy Cross, was consecrated by Katapán, the Bishop of Eger in 1214.[12] The provostry became one of the most important places of authentication in Northeast Hungary, which operated in this function until the 16th century.[13]
Confrontation with King Emeric
"[...] It really got to Our ears, that in the first week of the past
Apostolic See. [...]"
"[...] Because Your Holiness have supreme power and authority after God [...], We will reveal to Your Highness the injustices committed against Our Majesty by some disingenuous [...] prelates, who stirred up Our brother [Andrew] [...] against Us. Among them, [Bishops] Boleslaus, Elvin and John of Veszprém stand out from the rest in terms of their perfidy, [they] raged more fiercely and more openly against Us. One of them, Bishop [Boleslaus] of Vác, ahead of Our grounded complaint on violation of Our person, lied that [..., see above], in a false way, of course. Since, the said bishop was caught many times in the sin of betrayal, and we were informed [the following] on the part of his owns [prelates]: letters written for the purpose of causing confusion against Us, which were sent by Our brother and other unfaithful ones, or their reply letters from the bishop himself; in addition he [Boleslaus] keeps the money collected for Our brother. Investigating the truth of these things, We go to the church of Vác along with Our courtiers. [...] We peacefully asked to open the chamber [treasury] which was said to have hidden the treasure of the unfaithful. After [Boleslaus] did not comply with Our request, greater suspicion arose within Us. That is why We strongly warned him to open the chamber to overcome the suspicion of infidelity. [...] Not only did he refuse to open the chamber, but he even offended Our Royal Majesty with a number of insults and blasphemous words, insomuch he even called Us an evildoer. After that, We instructed the treasurer to open the chamber; leaving the treasures of the church completely intact in the presence of the canons, We found the letters written for Our peril and took them to Ourselves, and sent to you by the couriers of the present letter. [...]"
— King Emeric's reply letter to Pope Innocent III[15]
Following the death of Béla III on 23 April 1196, his elder son Emeric succeeded him on the Hungarian throne. Emeric's whole reign was characterized by his struggles for the supreme power against his rebellious younger brother, Duke Andrew, who used the funds that he inherited from his father to recruit supporters among the Hungarian lords (for instance,
The confrontation between Emeric and Boleslaus reached its peak on 10 March 1199. According to Boleslaus' complaint to the
In accordance with the contemporary records, Boleslaus no longer played an active role in the rebellion of Duke Andrew during the remaining regnal years of King Emeric. Boleslaus was granted tax exemption from the king as a compensation; the king usually collected extraordinary taxes at Christmas, Easter, and St. Stephen's Day (20 August) each year, which he refrained from collecting in the Diocese of Vác. The bishop also acquired
Last years
Boleslaus regained his influence at the royal court, when Andrew II ascended the Hungarian throne in May 1205.[18] Boleslaus received the privilege to baptize Andrew's firstborn son Béla, future King of Hungary, in 1206, which indicates the close alliance between him and the monarch. As a christening gift, the infant Béla was granted the right of patronage over the Lelesz monastery by Boleslaus. In addition, the bishop also donated some of his lands to the provostry, including Hagymás – which he previously bought from Mercurius, a former Ban of Slavonia –, Kisgéres, Fancsal and Királyhelmec. Andrew II handed over two salt-carrying ferries along the river Maros (Mureș) and two portions of salt income at Dés (present-day Dej, Romania) to Boleslaus, who also granted tax exemption at delivery in every Pentecost.[1]
Boleslaus last appeared as a living person in a contemporary document in 1212. He was succeeded by James in the upcoming year.[9] Andrew II, on his journey for a new campaign against Halych in summer 1213, resided in Lelesz, when he was informed of the murder of his wife, Queen Gertrude. Andrew buried a part of his wife's body there and donated the other half portion of Micske to the monastery, previously owned by Boleslaus' nephew, comes Othmar, who lost the estate because of his disloyalty.[1]
References
- ^ a b c Érszegi 2003, p. 16.
- ^ Zsoldos 2011, p. 98.
- ^ Kovács 2017, p. 104.
- ^ a b c d Galla 1970, p. 109.
- ^ a b Érszegi 2003, p. 14.
- ^ Kubinyi 1975, p. 98.
- ^ a b c Érszegi 2003, p. 15.
- ^ Galla 1970, p. 108.
- ^ a b Zsoldos 2011, p. 96.
- ^ a b Kovács 2017, p. 105.
- ^ a b Érszegi 2003, p. 18.
- ^ Érszegi 2003, p. 19.
- ^ Érszegi 2003, p. 13.
- ^ a b Thoroczkay 2018, pp. 357–358.
- ^ Thoroczkay 2018, pp. 360–361.
- ^ Szabados 1999, pp. 102–103.
- ^ Szabados 1999, p. 105.
- ^ a b c Galla 1970, p. 110.
- ^ Thoroczkay 2018, pp. 359–360.
- ^ Szabados 1999, p. 104.
Sources
- Érszegi, Géza (2003). "A leleszi monostor alapítóleveléről (1214) [The Establishing Charter of the Monastery of Lelesz (1214)]". In Henzsel, Ágota (ed.). Szabolcs-Szatmár-Beregi Levéltári Évkönyv XVI (in Hungarian). Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg Megyei Levéltár. pp. 13–28. ISSN 0866-0530.
- Galla, Ferenc (1970). "A váci egyházmegye püspökei [The Bishops of the Diocese of Vác]". In Bánk, József (ed.). Váci egyházmegyei almanach Szent István millénium évében (in Hungarian). Roman Catholic Diocese of Vác. pp. 103–201.
- Kovács, Viktória (2017). "Lelesz patrónusai [The Patrons of Lelesz]". Történelmi Szemle (in Hungarian). 59 (1). ISSN 0040-9634.
- Kubinyi, András (1975). "Királyi kancellária és udvari kápolna Magyarországon a XII. század közepén [Royal Chancery and Court Chapel in Hungary in the Middle of the 12th Century]". Levéltári Közlemények (in Hungarian). 46 (1). ISSN 0024-1512.
- Szabados, György (1999). "Imre és András [Emeric and Andrew]". Századok (in Hungarian). 133 (1). ISSN 0039-8098.
- Thoroczkay, Gábor, ed. (2018). Írott források az 1116–1205 közötti magyar történelemről [Written Sources of the Hungarian History between 1116 and 1205] (in Hungarian). Szegedi Középkorász Műhely. ISBN 978-615-80398-3-3.
- Zsoldos, Attila (2011). Magyarország világi archontológiája, 1000–1301 [Secular Archontology of Hungary, 1000–1301] (in Hungarian). História, MTA Történettudományi Intézete. ISBN 978-963-9627-38-3.