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The present paper focuses on the complex ties between the episcopal court of Alba Iulia and the elite of the Bistrița district in the half of century around 1500, based on several unpublished sources, rarely used by previous scholarship.... more
The present paper focuses on the complex ties between the episcopal court of Alba Iulia and the elite of the Bistrița district in the half of century around 1500, based on several unpublished sources, rarely used by previous scholarship. These records highlight a collaboration between the episcopate and the local elite in various aspects, such as the ordination of priests, consecration of liturgical spaces, confirmation of parish priests, collection of church taxes, reinforcement of wills, resolution of disputes under canon law, defense of the kingdom boundaries, and management of relations with other political actors. On the other hand, attempts by the bishops to disregard the right of patronage owned by local communities or to increase the taxation were met with firm resistance, often supported
by other members of the Saxon “spiritual university”. However, these conflicts, which were rather often in medieval Transylvania, did not worsen during the analyzed period and did not seem to indicate the imminent triumph of the Reformation in the Bistrița district.
The paper is an attempt to reconstruct the importance of alimentation for the economic and cultural development of an episcopal town in Medieval Transylvania, by the example of Alba Iulia (Gyulafehérvár, Weissenburg) in the first... more
The paper is an attempt to reconstruct the importance of alimentation for
the economic and cultural development of an episcopal town in Medieval
Transylvania, by the example of Alba Iulia (Gyulafehérvár, Weissenburg) in the first
decades of the 16th century. The inquiry is based mainly on sources from the family
archive of bishop Ferenc Várdai (1513–1524): accountable registers, missives,
testament, etc. The text is divided into three parts, the first traces the provenience of
consumed food, while the second and third one show the personnel and inventory
related to the nourishment of the bishop and his household.
The bishop played an ambivalent part in the economic development of his residence
town. On one hand, he stimulated its development by granting privileges, creating
workplaces and attracting a large number of potential buyers, on the other hand, he
inhibited economic growth by spending relatively small sums on food purchases in
the town, retaining the monopoly of wine trade and imposing taxes.
Sumptuous meals aimed to express the power and wealth of the bishop and thus to
attract more and more people, familiars, into his household. The episcopal household
from Alba Iulia had certainly a significant part in disseminating the Renaissance
lifestyle throughout Transylvania.
This paper is a case study regarding the practices of ecclesiastical governance in Transylvania during the first decades of the 16th century. My first goal is to reconstruct, as far as possible, the synodal constitution of 1520 and... more
This paper is a case study regarding the practices of ecclesiastical governance in Transylvania
during the first decades of the 16th century. My first goal is to reconstruct, as far as possible,
the synodal constitution of 1520 and the context of the canonical visitation initiated two
years later. The research shows bishop Ferenc Várdai, known to previous historiography
especially for his cultural and military activity, as a reformer of his diocese. The prelate used
his well-developed administrative apparatus, the diocesan synod, visitation and ecclesiastical
sanctions in order to grow episcopal revenues and to enhance his control over the clergy and
the lay of his diocese. The paper also confirms that the Lutheran reformation was not yet
widespread in the Transylvanian bishopric during the early 1520s.
This paper outlines the main directions and results of the Romanian scholarship published over the last century, concerning the history of the Medieval Latin Church.
The paper focuses on the late years of Stephanus Taurinus, the Moravian humanist and writer, and his Transylvanian milieu. Previous scholarship was in agreement that Taurinus moved to Transylvania in 1517, becoming archdeacon of Kolozs... more
The paper focuses on the late years of Stephanus Taurinus, the Moravian humanist and writer, and his Transylvanian milieu. Previous scholarship was in agreement that Taurinus moved to Transylvania in 1517, becoming archdeacon of Kolozs (Cluj). This paper argues that Taurinus’ arrival in Gyulafehérvár (Alba Iulia) can be rather dated to the beginning of 1518. At that time, Ferenc Várdai, bishop of Transylvania, appointed him as his vicar and archdeacon of Hunyad (Hunedoara). The cathedral chapter of Gyulafehérvár in the first decades of the 16th century was known to previous scholarship mostly because of its humanist personalities. However, our prosopographical analysis regarding the canons of this chapter in 1519 has shown that the affinity for humanist values did not play a significant part in the allocation of prebends in this period. As in other chapters of Medieval Hungary, canonries could be acquired mostly through personal relationships, or by the virtue of royal or episcopal service.
The main purpose of this paper is to reconstitute the circumstances of the first mass celebrated by Franciscus Várdai, bishop of Transylvania between 1513 and 1524, and a few details regarding the environment in which the invitations for... more
The main purpose of this paper is to reconstitute the circumstances of the first mass celebrated by Franciscus Várdai, bishop of Transylvania between 1513 and 1524, and a few details regarding the environment in which the invitations for this event were written. It seems that Várdai celebrated his first liturgy so late because he considered the possibility of following a political career as a layman. However, the event was a very important one for the entire region, being attended by many dignitaries of Transylvania. Archives of Sibiu and Brașov keep four invitations sent by the bishop to the religious and secular leaders of the Saxon community. The letters adressed to the clergy differ from those sent to lay authorities and refer to an indulgence granted by the pope to those who attend the first episcopal liturgy. The invitations were written by two scribes, each one specialized on one version of the text, under the supervision of an episcopal secretary.
The main purpose of the paper is to present the biography of Dionysius Gyalui (+ 1526), parish priest of Gyalu (Gilău, Julmarkt) and Szászfenes (Florești, Fenesch), who became in a few decades precentor of the cathedral chapter and... more
The main purpose of the paper is to present the biography of Dionysius Gyalui (+ 1526), parish priest of Gyalu
(Gilău, Julmarkt) and Szászfenes (Florești, Fenesch), who became in a few decades precentor of the cathedral chapter
and suffragan of the Transylvanian bishop. His biography sheds light on the steps which one had to take in order to
become a canon in the Transylvanian chapter. Although Gyalui obtained his canonry from the palatine of Hungary, who
held the right of patronage as tutor of his minor son, the bishop of Transylvania, it seems that the idea of making him
a canon was formulated inside the chapter. Gyalui was one of the most important members of the cathedral chapter,
despite being a man of humble origin, this fact proves that the origin of a canon didn’t infl uence his relationship with
his fellows. His carreer contradicts the spreaded stereotypes about clergy in the 16th century, in his last years Gyalui
gave up his incomes and possessions to become a Pauline friar.
Research Interests:
This paper aims to verify the scholarly theories concerning the foundation of the medieval bishopric of Transylvania. It concentrates on three main issues: the time of foundation, connection between the original residence of the bishops... more
This paper aims to verify the scholarly theories concerning the foundation of the medieval bishopric of Transylvania. It concentrates on three main issues: the time of foundation, connection between the original residence of the bishops and their first properties, and the origin of the bishopric’s unusual name, which could be explained by a Greek Oriental tradition, according to some scholars. The foundation of the bishopric could eventually have been a long-lasting process, initiated by King Saint Stephen of Hungary in the first years of the eleventh
century and finalized at the end of the same, or at the beginning of the following century, when the first cathedral of Alba Iulia (Gyulafehérvár, Weissenburg) was built and the first known Transylvanian bishop was mentioned. Because of the lack of sources, we don’t know if this process was a continuous one or not. There is no evidence for placing the first residence of the bishopric elsewhere then in Alba Iulia. The first certainly datable cathedral in Alba Iulia is not earlier than the end of the eleventh century, so it seems that initially in Transylvania a missionary
bishopric functioned without a constant residence. This theory explains also the name of the bishopric. There is no evidence that a diocese of Greek rite existed in eleventh-century Transylvania.
The paper aims to determine the correct date of a document issued by pope Boniface in the sixth year of his pontificate. Various authors stated that the document was issued by pope Boniface VIII in 1300, or Boniface IX in 1395. The... more
The paper aims to determine the correct date of a document issued by pope Boniface in the sixth year of his pontificate. Various authors stated that the document was issued by pope Boniface VIII in 1300, or Boniface IX in 1395.
The solution is given by an almost identical document, which mentions Laurentius Csete. This document was the subject of a similar debate.  So, the second aim of this paper is to reconstruct the biography and career of Laurentius Csete and to separate him of other nobleman called Laurentius, for which he was mistaken by several scholars. Laurentius Csete was a Hungarian nobleman who lived around 1300, so on this ground we can state that both documents were issued by Boniface VIII. The analysis of the two documents reveals some details regarding the history of the bishopric and chapter of Transylvania in the last years of the Arpadian dynasty.
This study aims to reconstruct the founding of the episcopal manors in Transylvania at the end of the 13th century. It also presents bishop Peter Monoszlós efforts to "modernize" the ecclesiastical administration of his diocese.
Research Interests:
Bishop Peter Monoszló’s family had solid political relationships, and himself was a very skillful politician. These facts allowed him to have the status of a magnate. The Transylvanian bishop supported always the strongest candidate for... more
Bishop Peter Monoszló’s family had solid political relationships, and himself was a very skillful politician. These facts allowed him to have the status of a magnate. The Transylvanian bishop supported always the strongest candidate for the crown, knowing that a solid central government is a vital interest of his bishopric. Similarly to the other
Hungarian bishops of his time, he fought persistently against king Ladislas IV, which he considered to be a pagan. He kept good relationships with Transylvanian voyvodes and the local nobility, being in the same time ready to fight anytime for the rights of his bishopric. He had similar relations with his fellow bishops. To consolidate his military
power he built two stone fortresses. Thanks to Peter Monoszló’s activity the fortune and prestige of the Transylvanian bishopric grew considerably. That’s why, after his death, voyvode Ladislas Kán wanted at any price to have his own man as a bishop. His memory inspired the Transsylvanian chapter to elect a magnate bishop decades later.
We don’t have too many sources to illustrate bishop Peter’s religious feelings, but we may consider – knowing his activity – that his main intrest was in keeping and enlarging his bishopric’s rights and freedoms. His priorities are very well illustrated by the arenga citated in title of an episcopal document.