George Szatmári | |
---|---|
Archbishop of Esztergom Primate of Hungary | |
See | Esztergom |
Appointed | May 1522 |
Term ended | 7 April 1524 |
Predecessor | Thomas Bakócz |
Successor | Ladislaus Szalkai |
Other post(s) |
Bishop of Veszprém Bishop of Várad Bishop of Pécs |
Orders | |
Ordination | 1506 |
Personal details | |
Born |
c. 1457 |
Died | 7 April 1524 Buda, Kingdom of Hungary |
Buried | Esztergom |
Nationality | Hungarian |
Parents | Stephen Szatmári Anna N |
Coat of arms |
George Szatmári de Alsóborsa [1] ( Hungarian: alsóborsai Szatmári György; c. 1457 – 7 April 1524) was the Primate of Hungary. He was Bishop of Veszprém from 1499 to 1501, of Várad (present-day Oradea in Romania) from 1501 to 1505, of Pécs from 1505 to 1522, and Archbishop of Esztergom from 1522 until his death.
George Szatmári was born around 1457 into a wealthy burgher family of German origin in Kassa (present-day Košice in Slovakia). [2] [3] He was the third and youngest son of the merchant Stephen Szatmári and his wife, Anna, also from a family of burghers in Kassa. [4] After his father died in 1464, George was placed under the guardianship of his uncle, Francis Szatmári, the richest citizen of Kassa and mayor of the town in 1477. [4] [5] The Szatmáris had dealings with the Thurzóswho were an influential family of merchants, which facilitated George's career. [4] His family was granted nobility by Matthias Corvinus. [6]
George's wealth financed his studies. [7] He studied at the University of Kraków from 1477 to 1481, [7] then returned to Hungary as a Bachelor of Arts. [7] He knew Filippo Beroaldo, a professor at the University of Bologna, indicating that he also studied at Bologna. [7] Following his uncle's example, he financed renovations at the St. Michael chapel in Kassa. [5]
He started his career at the Royal Chancellery in the early 1490s [7] and became a close assistant of the head of the chancellery, Cardinal Thomas Bakócz. [8] George was made archivist in 1493, and he became one of the two royal secretaries in 1494. [7] [8] He also received prebends (or ecclesiastic benefices). [9] He was canon at the Székesfehérvár Chapter and provost of the St. Nicholas collegiate chapter in the same town in 1495. [9] He was made provost of the Transylvanian Chapter in 1497. [9]
At the demand of the Diet of Hungary, Vladislaus II of Hungary took the royal seals from Thomas Bakócz in 1497. [8] Bakócz retained the title of arch-chancellor, but Szatmári took charge of the Royal Chancellery. [8] He became the provost of the Óbuda Chapter in 1498 or 1499. [9] Although he had not yet been ordained as a priest, Vladislaus appointed him as bishop of Veszprém and provost of the Budafelhévíz Chapter in 1499. [9] The Holy See confirmed his appointment in April 1500, but also allowed him to postpone his consecration. [9] In 1500, the Diet passed a decree that declared that no one except for Szatmári was entitled to hold more than one ecclesiastical office in the Kingdom of Hungary. [9]
The king assigned him to the bishopric of Várad in 1501. [10] The Holy See confirmed the transfer in February 1502. [10] Vladislaus made Szatmári secret chancellor in 1503. [8] Szatmári and Bakócz were the most influential figures of the government, [8] and the two cooperated closely to diminish the influence of the Diet on state administration. [8] The wealthy John Zápolya was his chief opponent. [10] The 1505 Diet passed a resolution that prohibited the election of a foreign king after Vladislaus's dead, although Szatmári and his allies had openly opposed the decision. [9] [11] Instead of accepting the resolution, Szatmári promoted a rapprochement between Vladislaus and Emperor Maximilian I. [7]
After Sigismund Ernuszt, the Bishop of Pécs, was murdered by his retainers in summer 1505, Vladislaus assigned Szatmári to the bishopric of Pécs. [10] Pope Julius II confirmed the king's decision on 19 December 1505. [10] After being ordained priest, Szatmári held his first mass at the St. Elisabeth Cathedral in Kassa in autumn 1506. [10] He appointed Martin Atádi, titular Bishop of Augustopolis, as his coadjutor bishop. [10]
Szatmári began several building projects in Pécs. [5] A new church tabernacle made of red marble was placed in the cathedral, the episcopal palace was enlarged with a Renaissance level and an open staircase, and a new villa was built on the Tettye hill. [5] The chapter house, which was rebuilt during his tenure in Renaissance style, was named Domus Sakmariana after him. [5] He held conferences with the participation of prominent Humanist scholars, including Girolamo Balbi (who was a friend of Erasmus of Rotterdam), and Nicholas Oláh. [12] Szatmári sponsored the publication of the poems of Janus Pannonius, who had been the bishop of Pécs from 1459 to 1472. [6] [13] He also financed the publishing of works by ancient classical authors, including Cicero. [6]
John Zápolya played a key role in crushing the rebellion of the Hungarian peasants in 1514. [14] Taking advantage of his popularity among the noblemen, John Zápolya ensured that Szatmári was dismissed and Gregory Frankopan, Archbishop of Kalocsa, was made chancellor in his stead. [14] To reduce Zápolya's influence, Szatmári began to bring about a reconciliation between Vladislaus II, Vladislaus's brother, Sigismund of Poland, and Emperor Maximilian. [15] The three monarchs met at Vienna and signed a treaty on 19 July 1515. [15] Vladislaus's son, Louis, married Maximilian's granddaughter, Mary, and Vladislaus's daughter, Anne, was betrothed to either Maximilian or his grandson, Ferdinand. [15] Taking advantage of his participation at the conference, Szatmári visited the University of Vienna. [3] Benedict Chelidonius dedicated his Voluptatis cum Virtute disceptatio ("Debate of Desire and Virtue") to Szatmári. [16]
Vladislaus died on 13 March 1516 and was succeeded by his ten-year-old Louis. [15] His tutors, George, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach, and John Bornemissza, Castellan of Buda, were supporters of a pro-Habsburg policy. [15] Gregory Frankopan was dismissed and Szatmári was reinstated as secret chancellor. [17] Ladislaus Szalkai, the Bishop of Vác, was also appointed chancellor in 1517, but Szatmári remained the most influential among the three chancellors. [9] [17] Geronimo Balbi, who stayed in Buda, commented that Szatmári was "the master of all issues" in the kingdom. [17] He could even persuade the Diet to elect his ally Stephen Báthori, the Palatine of Hungary, against John Zápolya in 1519. [9] [17]
Szatmári succeeded Thomas Bakócz as arch-chancellor in June 1521. [12] He was also made Archbishop of Esztergom in spring 1522. [12] With the support of Maximilian of Habsburg, he tried to achieve his appointment as cardinal and papal legate. [12] He died in Buda on 7 April 1524. [12] He was buried in Esztergom. [18]