The Golden Bull of 1222 was a golden bull, or edict, issued by Andrew II of Hungary. King Andrew II was forced by his nobles to accept the Golden Bull (Aranybulla), which was one of the first examples of constitutional limits being placed on the powers of a European monarch. The Golden Bull was issued at the year 1222 diet of Fehérvár. The law established the rights of the Hungarian nobility, including the right to disobey the King when he acted contrary to law. The nobles and the church were freed from all taxes and could not be forced to go to war outside of Hungary and were not obligated to finance it. This was also a historically important document because it set down the principles of equality for all of the nation's nobility. Seven copies of the edict were created, one for each of the following institutions: to the Pope, to the Knights Templar, to the Knights Hospitaller, to the Hungarian king itself, to the chapters of Esztergom and Kalocsa and to the palatine.
István Werbőczy or Stephen Werbőcz was a Hungarian legal theorist and statesman, author of the Hungarian Customary Law, who first became known as a legal scholar and theologian of such eminence that he was appointed to accompany Emperor Charles V to Worms, to take up the cudgels against Martin Luther. In this letter, Pope Clement VII also commended Werbőczy as scholar for his eminence in canon law and theology during Werbőczy's dispute with Martin Luther at the Imperial Diet of Nuremberg. His interests focused on Roman Law, Canon Law and the Hungarian legal system.
The Lament for the Destruction of Hungary by the Tartars is a prominent piece of medieval Latin Hungarian poetry. It was written in 1242, shortly after the invasion of Hungary by the Tartars of Batu Khan, by a monk in the retinue of King Béla IV.
Ugrin from the kindred Csák was a Hungarian prelate and military leader in the first half of the 13th century, who served as Archbishop of Kalocsa from 1219 until his death at the Battle of Mohi on 11 April 1241. He was also chancellor of the royal court from 1217 to 1219 and from 1230 to 1235.
Biharia is a commune in Bihor County, Crișana, Romania. It is composed of two villages, Biharia and Cauaceu (Hegyközkovácsi). In 2011 it had 4,205 inhabitants, of whom 85.87% were Hungarians, 12.12% Romanians and 1.73% Roma.
Anonymus Bele regis notarius or Master P. was the notary and chronicler of a Hungarian king, probably Béla III. Little is known about him, but his latinized name began with P, as he referred to himself as "P. dictus magister".
Roger of Torre Maggiore or Master Roger was an Italian prelate active in the Kingdom of Hungary in the middle of the 13th century. He was archbishop of Split in Dalmatia from 1249 until his death. His Epistle to the Sorrowful Lament upon the Destruction of the Kingdom of Hungary by the Tatars is a unique and important source of the Mongol invasion of the Kingdom of Hungary in 1241 and 1242.
Bartholomew le Gros or Bartholomew Grossus was a prelate of French origin in the Kingdom of Hungary in the 13th century. He left his homeland for Hungary in the retinue of Yolanda de Courtenay, queen of Andrew II of Hungary in 1216 or 1217. Bartholomew was bishop of Pécs between 1219 and 1251, but he spent a significant part of this period on diplomatic missions. He returned to his family estates in 1247 and resigned from the bishopric some year before his death around 1254.
The Master of the Horse was one of the high officials of the royal household in the Kingdom of Hungary. Masters of the Horse were included among the "true barons" of the realm from around 1220.
The master of the cupbearers or master of the cup-bearers was one of the high officials of the royal household in the Kingdom of Hungary. Masters of the cupbearers were included among the "true barons" of the realm from around 1220.
The master of the stewards or master of the table was one of the high officials of the royal household in the Kingdom of Hungary. Masters of the steward were included among the "true barons" of the realm from around 1220.
The Kingdom of Hungary came into existence in Central Europe when Stephen I, Grand Prince of the Hungarians, was crowned king in 1000 or 1001. He reinforced central authority and forced his subjects to accept Christianity. Although all written sources emphasize only the role played by German and Italian knights and clerics in the process, a significant part of the Hungarian vocabulary for agriculture, religion, and state matters was taken from Slavic languages. Civil wars and pagan uprisings, along with attempts by the Holy Roman emperors to expand their authority over Hungary, jeopardized the new monarchy. The monarchy stabilized during the reigns of Ladislaus I (1077–1095) and Coloman (1095–1116). These rulers occupied Croatia and Dalmatia with the support of a part of the local population. Both realms retained their autonomous position. The successors of Ladislaus and Coloman—especially Béla II (1131–1141), Béla III (1176–1196), Andrew II (1205–1235), and Béla IV (1235–1270)—continued this policy of expansion towards the Balkan Peninsula and the lands east of the Carpathian Mountains, transforming their kingdom into one of the major powers of medieval Europe.
Ladislaus I from the kindred Kán was a powerful Hungarian baron, who held several secular positions during the reign of kings Andrew II and Béla IV.
Denis from the kindred Tomaj was a Hungarian influential baron in the first half of the 13th century, who served as the Palatine of Hungary under King Béla IV from year 1235 to 1241, until his death at the Battle of Mohi.
The first Mongol invasion of Hungary started in March 1241, and the Mongols started to withdraw in late March 1242.
Benedict from the kindred Osl was a Hungarian prelate in the 13th century, who served as Bishop of Várad from 1231 to 1243, then briefly Bishop of Győr from 1243 until his death. He was also called Benedict of Lendva.
James of Pecorara or Giacomo da Pecorara was an Italian monk, cardinal and diplomat.
Nicholas from the kindred Szák was a powerful Hungarian baron in the first decades of the 13th century. As a confidant of King Andrew II, he served as Palatine of Hungary from 1219 to 1222 and for a brief period in 1226. During his first term, he initiated a comprehensive reform of the judicial system.
Simon (I) Nagymartoni was an Aragonese-born Hungarian knight and diplomat in the first half of the 13th century. He and his siblings settled down in Hungary, where the family integrated into the social elite. Simon was a faithful confidant of kings Andrew II and Béla IV.
James was a Hungarian Catholic prelate in the 13th century, who served as Bishop of Nyitra from 1223 until his death.
