1222

 Béla III. died in 1196- 2 sons: András/Andrew

and Imre } conflict
 Andrew started to donate land to get
support -> political influence of the nobles
grew
 after getting the throne->
continued donations
 Donated lands were not fiefs,
lords didn't owe military service
in return
 Royal county system couldn't
fulfil its role -> not enough
income for the upkeep of Royal
Court or for Military expeditions
 Couldn't fulfil military tasks ->
king had to use the nobles'
private armies -> in return he had
to give money or further
donations
 took part in the Crusades
+ led military expedition
to Halics } all these caused
the Crisis of Treasury
 Increase his income:
 Increased taxes and
wanted them in money
not crops
 Devaluated money
 Gave the rights of tax
collection and salt-trade
to the Jewish+Ismaelites
 These increased tension and discontent
 Wife: Gertrud from Germany -> German
knights who received donated lands too
 1213. Gertrud was assassinated by Bánk Bán
in the Pilis-forest
 Feudal lords who didn't get lands
 Servients ( knights owed loyalty and military
service, they were personally free,
subordinated only to the king and under the
king’s jurisdiction) -> donations threatened
their positions (becoming serfs)
 Castle serfs had the same problem
 Church also was dissatisfied -> influence
decreased fear of losing privileges
 All these led to the movement, which forced
the king to issue the Golden Bull in 1222 at
the diet of Székesfehérvár
 The most Important document of the age of
feudalism written in Latin
 Ornated document with a golden seal
attached to it -> Consisted of 31. articles
 Majority dealt with the rights of Servients:
privileges of old nobility extended to them
 They were allowed to inherit land
 Exempted (kivett) from paying taxes
 Obliged to give military service only in case of
defence -> if they had to fight abroad, the
king had to pay
 Right to legal procedures : couldn't be
imprisoned without itnobles were
protected from arbitrary arrest
 Prohibited the donations of entire counties
 Offices could not be hereditary
 Offices couldn't be accumulated
 Article about the devaluation of money
 Foreigners were not allowed to receive
donated land without the agreement of the
Royal Court
 Church was not allowed to collect the tithe in
money
 Legal processes: annually one day should be
held in Székesfehérvár-> palatine=chief judge
 Bishops and nobles could resist the king's
ideas without being accused of
treason(árulás)
 In practice the situation didn't change
because of the Golden Bull
 Golden Bull - didn't say anything about the
interests of the church
 1231. Church forced the King to supervise and
modificate some articles of the GoldenBull
 New version: -Nothing about the tithe -> it could
be money
 Palatine couldn't judge over the clergy
 Right of lawful resistance extended to the
Archbishop of Esztergom
 Still nothing changed
 Increasing power of lords remained -> use the
title "Baron"
 Servients started a movement to gain power
within the county:
 1231. started in Zala county
 1232. Document of Kehida : demanded rigth
for own judges
 Beginning of Noble county system in
Hungary: Self governing assemblies of nobles
 These assemblies elected the county officials
and magistrates
 No nobleman may be arbitrarily arrested, nor can he be oppressed by the desire of any higher
power.
 The Noblemen are declared to be exempt from the payment of taxes, nor will money be collected
from their treasuries. Neither will their residences be occupied, nor their villages, and these may
only be visited by those who have been invited. No taxes will be levied on the Church.
 If any nobleman dies without a male heir, his daughter will receive a quarter of his possessions; the
remainder of his property shall be given to others, but if, as a result of their deaths, they cannot
take possession of these properties, then these properties shall pass into the hands of their closest
living relative; if this is not possible, then the King shall inherit them.
 If the King wishes to send his armies outside of the Kingdom the Noblemen will not be under
obligation to go with him, if the monarch doesn't pay them. However, if an invading army enters in
the Kingdom, all of them must serve to expel it.
 The Hungarian Palatine may judge everyone in the Kingdom without any differentiation; but he
cannot take try any nobleman without the King's approval.
 If foreigners arrive in the Kingdom, they must not receive honors and public positions without the
Royal Council's approval.
 No title or public charge can be inherited.[
 No Jew or Ismaelite can hold a public position (job). The Nobles of the Chamber, those working with
monies, tax collectors and toll-keepers may only be Hungarian noblemen.
 Hungarian properties cannot be given to foreigners.
 No-one, besides the Hungarian Palatine, the governors of Croatia and Slavonia, the King and the
Queen Consort, can have more than one title or honor.
 In order for this document to be lawful, and implemented in the future, seven copies of it will be
made, each sealed with the Golden Seal. The first will be sent to the Pope, the second to the Knights
of Saint John, the third to the Templar Knights, the fourth to the King, the fifth to the archbishop of
Esztergom, the sixth to the Archbishop of Kalocsa and the seventh to the Hungarian Palatine, so
that these writings won't be falsified or confused.