Briccius (; died January/April 1275) was a Hungarian

Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

prelate in the 13th century, who served as

Bishop of Csanád A bishop is an ordained member of the clergy who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance and administration of dioceses. The role ...

at least from 1259 until his death.

Career

The origins and early ecclesiastical career of Briccius (also Bryccius or Brictius) are unknown. He is first referred to as Bishop of Csanád in 1259; since his last known predecessor

Bulcsú Lád Bulcsú from the kindred Lád (, also known as Blaise or Basil; died after 1254) was a Hungarian Catholic prelate in the 13th century, who served as Bishop of Csanád between 1229 and 1254. Prior to that he functioned as Provost of Győr from 122 ...

is last mentioned in this capacity in 1254, thus Briccius elevated into the position sometime in the period between the two years. Briccius' episcopal term coincided with the domain of younger king

Stephen Stephen or Steven is an English given name, first name. It is particularly significant to Christianity, Christians, as it belonged to Saint Stephen ( ), an early disciple and deacon who, according to the Book of Acts, was stoned to death; he is w ...

, who ruled the eastern counties – including the territory of the Diocese of Csanád – '' de facto'' independent of his father, King

Béla IV of Hungary Béla IV (1206 – 3 May 1270) was King of Hungary and King of Croatia, Croatia between 1235 and 1270, and Duke of Styria from 1254 to 1258. As the oldest son of Andrew II of Hungary, King Andrew II, he was crowned upon the initiative of a group ...

. Their tense relationship turned into a

civil war A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...

by the middle of 1260s. Within the diocese, numerous clergymen supported Stephen's efforts, including provosts

John John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...

and, initially,

Benedict Benedict may refer to: People Names *Benedict (given name), including a list of people with the given name *Benedict (surname), including a list of people with the surname Religious figures * Pope Benedict I (died 579) *Pope Benedict II (635– ...

, but Briccius' affiliation is unknown. The name of Bishop Briccius occurs ("+ BRITIVS – EPIS...OP") on a single 13th century imitation of Friesacher pfennigs minted in Hungary. According to numismatist Márton Gyöngyössy, the coin – can be dated to 1259 or 1260 – was minted by Briccius of Csanád presumably at

Szeged Szeged ( , ; see also #Etymology, other alternative names) is List of cities and towns of Hungary#Largest cities in Hungary, the third largest city of Hungary, the largest city and regional centre of the Southern Great Plain and the county seat ...

. Formerly, Austrian numismatist Bernhard Koch connected the coin to Briccius, Bishop of Vác (1221–1235). He is last mentioned as a living person on 29 January 1275. The Diocese of Csanád was already in the status of ''

sede vacante In the Catholic Church, ''sede vacante'' is the state during which a diocese or archdiocese is without a prelate installed in office, with the prelate's office being the cathedral. The term is used frequently in reference to a papal interre ...

'' by 3 April 1275. His successor

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was elected by 30 May 1275.

References

Sources

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Briccius of Csanad 1275 deaths 13th-century Hungarian people 13th-century Roman Catholic bishops in Hungary Bishops of Csanád