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Stephen (II) from the kindred Báncsa (; died 1278) was a Hungarian prelate in the 13th century, who served as
Archbishop of Kalocsa In Christian denominations, an archbishop is a bishop of higher rank or office. In most cases, such as the Catholic Church, there are many archbishops who either have jurisdiction over an ecclesiastical province in addition to their own archdioc ...
from 1266 until his death. He was a staunch supporter of
Stephen V of Hungary Stephen V (, , ; before 18 October 1239 – 6 August 1272) was King of Hungary and King of Croatia, Croatia between 1270 and 1272, and Duke of Styria from 1258 to 1260. He was the oldest son of King Béla IV and Maria Laskarina. King Béla ...
.


Early life

He was born around 1240 into the ''gens'' (clan) Báncsa, an original settler family from
Bács County BACS is the Bankers Automated Clearing Services, a scheme for the electronic processing of financial transactions. BACS or Bács may also refer to: Organisations * Bay Area Christian School, in League City, Texas, US * Boston Archdiocesan Choi ...
(today
Bač, Serbia Bač ( sr-cyrl, Бач, ; ) is a town and municipality located in the South Bačka District of the autonomous province of Vojvodina, Serbia. The town has a population of 4,405, while the municipality has 11,431 inhabitants. The entire geographica ...
). He was one of the two sons of
Vincent Vincent (Latin: ''Vincentius'') is a masculine given name originating from the Roman name ''Vincentius'', which itself comes from the Latin verb ''vincere'', meaning "to conquer." People with the given name Artists *Vincent Apap (1909–2003) ...
, who served as ''
ispán The ispánRady 2000, p. 19.''Stephen Werbőczy: The Customary Law of the Renowned Kingdom of Hungary in Three Parts (1517)'', p. 450. or countEngel 2001, p. 40.Curta 2006, p. 355. (, , and ),Kirschbaum 2007, p. 315. deriving from title of župan, ...
'' of
Esztergom County Esztergom County (, , , ) was an administrative county of the Kingdom of Hungary, situated on both sides of the Danube river. Its territory is now divided between Hungary and Slovakia. The territory to the north of the Danube is part of Slovakia, ...
around 1244, and an unidentified daughter of nobleman Keled Kórógyi.Engel: ''Genealógia'' (Genus Báncsa) His namesake uncle was Stephen Báncsa,
Archbishop of Esztergom In Christian denominations, an archbishop is a bishop of higher rank or office. In most cases, such as the Catholic Church, there are many archbishops who either have jurisdiction over an ecclesiastical province in addition to their own archdioc ...
, who became the first Hungarian cardinal. Stephen II also had a brother Cletus, who is mentioned only once in 1278 and married an unidentified daughter of Michael Rosd. Under the guidance of his uncle, who was created cardinal by
Pope Innocent IV Pope Innocent IV (; – 7 December 1254), born Sinibaldo Fieschi, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 25 June 1243 to his death in 1254. Fieschi was born in Genoa and studied at the universities of Parma and Bolo ...
in December 1251, Stephen had the opportunity to begin his ecclesiastical career in
Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...
. The cardinal hired a Hungarian tutor, a certain cleric Matthias the Pecheneg () to educate his nephews, including Stephen and Orbász. Between around 1254 and 1261, during the pontificate of
Pope Alexander IV Pope Alexander IV (1199 or 1185 – 25 May 1261) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 12 December 1254 to his death. Early career He was born as Rinaldo di Jenne in Jenne, Italy, Jenne (now in the Province of Rome ...
, Báncsa was made canon of Fenton by cardinal
Ottaviano degli Ubaldini Ottaviano or Attaviano degli Ubaldini (1214 – 1273) was an Italian cardinal, often known in his own time as simply ''Il Cardinale'' (''The Cardinal''). Life Born at Florence into a noble local Ghibelline family, he was appointed Archbishop of B ...
, his uncle's ally within the
Roman Curia The Roman Curia () comprises the administrative institutions of the Holy See and the central body through which the affairs of the Catholic Church are conducted. The Roman Curia is the institution of which the Roman Pontiff ordinarily makes use ...
. Meanwhile, Stephen had been a student in the
University of Bologna The University of Bologna (, abbreviated Unibo) is a Public university, public research university in Bologna, Italy. Teaching began around 1088, with the university becoming organised as guilds of students () by the late 12th century. It is the ...
, where he studied
canon law Canon law (from , , a 'straight measuring rod, ruler') is a set of ordinances and regulations made by ecclesiastical jurisdiction, ecclesiastical authority (church leadership) for the government of a Christian organization or church and its membe ...
. By 1263, he became Provost of Pressburg (today
Bratislava Bratislava (German: ''Pressburg'', Hungarian: ''Pozsony'') is the Capital city, capital and largest city of the Slovakia, Slovak Republic and the fourth largest of all List of cities and towns on the river Danube, cities on the river Danube. ...
,
Slovakia Slovakia, officially the Slovak Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east, Hungary to the south, Austria to the west, and the Czech Republic to the northwest. Slovakia's m ...
) and papal chaplain. In early 1263, the Cathedral Chapter of Zagreb nominated him bishop. His appointment was petitioned to the Roman Curia, where
Pope Urban IV Pope Urban IV (; c. 1195 – 2 October 1264), born Jacques Pantaléon, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 29 August 1261 to his death three years later. He was elected pope without being a cardinal; he was the fi ...
requested the opinion of Stephen's namesake uncle, Cardinal Báncsa. After consultations, Báncsa's nomination was refused confirmation on 24 September 1263, because he was under the minimum age for a bishop. Instead of him, the cardinal suggested the chamberlain of his household,
Timothy Timothy is a masculine name. It comes from the Greek language, Greek name (Timotheus (disambiguation), Timόtheos) meaning "honouring God", "in God's honour", or "honoured by God". Timothy (and its variations) is a common name in several countries ...
to become the Bishop of Zagreb. In 1264, Báncsa received exemption from the age limit by Pope Urban, later also confirmed by his successor
Pope Clement IV Pope Clement IV (; 23 November 1190 – 29 November 1268), born Gui Foucois (; or ') and also known as Guy le Gros ( French for "Guy the Fat"; ), was bishop of Le Puy (1257–1260), archbishop of Narbonne (1259–1261), cardinal of Sabina ( ...
.


Prelate

Smaragd of Kalocsa Smaragd (III) from the kindred Smaragd (; died July 1265) was a Hungarian prelate in the 13th century, who served as archbishop of Kalocsa from 1257 to 1265. Early career Smaragd III was born into the ''gens'' (clan) Smaragd (or Smaragdus). Acco ...
was murdered in mid-1265. Some members of the chapter elected
Demetrius Demetrius is the Latinization of names, Latinized form of the Ancient Greek male name, male Greek given names, given name ''Dēmḗtrios'' (), meaning "devoted to goddess Demeter". Alternate forms include Demetrios, Dimitrios, Dimitris, Dmytro, ...
, archdeacon of Bars as their new archbishop. Demetrius was considered King
Béla IV Béla may refer to: * Béla (crater), an elongated lunar crater * Béla (given name), a common Hungarian male given name See also * Bela (disambiguation) * Belá (disambiguation) * Bělá (disambiguation) Bělá may refer to: Places in the Cze ...
's loyal servant, who led a delegation to Rome to protest against Timothy's election in the same time, commissioned by the king. When Demetrius resided in Italy, other canons of the chapter elected Stephen Báncsa as archbishop, neglecting the previous procedure. The dispute was judged over by Pope Clement, who asked for evidences from both parties by 6 December 1266. As the representatives of Demetrius did not present before the Curia, Clement confirmed the election of Báncsa on 11 December 1266. However after the decision, Demetrius' envoys, provost James and canon Elias appeared in the Roman Curia to complain the confirmation, citing Báncsa's young age, "illiteracy" and the "unlawful method" of the election. Clement commissioned three cardinals, John of Toledo, Matteo Rosso Orsini and Guillaume de Bray to investigate the case, who found the charges regarding the allegations of his minor age against Báncsa was unfounded. In his judgment letter on 11 February 1267, Pope Clement explained Báncsa's erudition and science skills at length (mentioning his studies at Bologna) and maintained his decision. Historians Tibor Almási and László Koszta considered Báncsa's election to contest the pro-Béla Demetrius was due to the intervention of Duke Stephen, who ruled the eastern parts of the kingdom after the brief civil war with his father Béla IV. Formerly, the nephews of Cardinal Báncsa could not profit their knowledge and talent in Hungary, as the relationship between him and Béla IV was tense since the mid-1240s, for instance because of the sale of domestic ecclesiastical goods by Báncsa. Stephen Báncsa became a staunch supporter of Duke Stephen after his appointment as archbishop. Stephen adopted the title of junior king in 1262. After their civil war, Béla and Stephen signed the peace treaty on 23 March 1266, which fixed the existing political situation and boundaries. Báncsa served as chancellor in Stephen's ducal court from 1266 until 1270, when the duke succeeded his father as King of Hungary, who died on 3 May, without difficulties. Following that, Báncsa functioned as chancellor in the royal court, holding the office until Stephen V's death in 1272. The ''hospes'' (foreigner) gold miners of Rimaszombat (today Rimavská Sobota,
Slovakia Slovakia, officially the Slovak Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east, Hungary to the south, Austria to the west, and the Czech Republic to the northwest. Slovakia's m ...
), who belonged to the Archdiocese of Kalocsa, were granted privileges of free election of judges (i.e. community leaders), masses in their native languages and release from warfare by Báncsa in his 1268 and 1270 charters. When Stephen V and
Ottokar II of Bohemia Ottokar II (; , in Městec Králové, Bohemia – 26 August 1278, in Dürnkrut, Austria, Dürnkrut, Lower Austria), the Iron and Golden King, was a member of the Přemyslid dynasty who reigned as King of Bohemia from 1253 until his death in 1278 ...
reached an agreement in Pressburg on 2 July 1271 after their brief war, Báncsa was among the signatories. Stephen stated in the document, if he breaks the treaty, archbishops
Philip Türje Philip from the kindred Türje (, ; – 18 December 1272), also known as, albeit incorrectly, Philip of Szentgrót () was a Hungarian prelate in the 13th century, who served as Bishop of Zagreb from 1247 or 1248 to 1262, and as Archbishop of Eszt ...
and Stephen Báncsa will be given the mandate for
excommunication Excommunication is an institutional act of religious censure used to deprive, suspend, or limit membership in a religious community or to restrict certain rights within it, in particular those of being in Koinonia, communion with other members o ...
. The minor Ladislaus IV ascended the throne after his father's sudden death in August 1272. During his minority, the era of feudal anarchy emerged, when many groupings of barons fought against each other for supreme power. In addition, Philip Türje died on 18 December 1272, leading to the status of seven years of vacancy in the
Archdiocese of Esztergom In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associated ...
, when the feudal anarchy infiltrated into the church organization. Under such circumstances, Stephen Báncsa acted as '' de facto'' head of the Catholic Church in Hungary. However, Báncsa stayed away from the events and the secular affairs, which resulted the disintegration of the Church's unity in these chaotic years. Báncsa was invited by
Pope Gregory X Pope Gregory X (;  – 10 January 1276), born Teobaldo Visconti, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 1 September 1271 to his death and was a member of the Third Order of St. Francis. He was elected at the ...
to participate in the
Second Council of Lyon The Second Council of Lyon was the fourteenth ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic Church, convoked on 31 March 1272 and convened in Lyon, Kingdom of Arles (in modern France), in 1274. Pope Gregory X presided over the council, called to ...
in 1274. The council drew up plans for a crusade to recover the
Holy Land The term "Holy Land" is used to collectively denote areas of the Southern Levant that hold great significance in the Abrahamic religions, primarily because of their association with people and events featured in the Bible. It is traditionall ...
, and the pope ordered Báncsa to organize the armies in his towns on 26 September 1275, but he remained passive. When
Peter Monoszló Peter (II) from the kindred Monoszló (; 1240s – 27 November 1307) was a Hungarian prelate, who served as the Bishop of Transylvania from 1270 until his death. The current St. Michael's Cathedral in Gyulafehérvár (today Alba Iulia, Romania) w ...
,
Bishop of Transylvania The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Alba Iulia (); ) is a Latin Church archdiocese in Transylvania, Romania. History It was established as a bishopric, the diocese of Transylvania also called Erdély (in Hungarian), or Karlsburg alias Siebenbür ...
intended to extend the bishopric's influence over the provostry of
Szeben Szeben was an administrative county (comitatus) of the Kingdom of Hungary. Its territory is now in central Romania (southern Transylvania). The capital of the county was Nagyszeben (present-day Sibiu). Geography Szeben County shared borders wi ...
(today Sibiu,
Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, Moldova to ...
) in 1277, he had to face with a widespread revolt among the
Saxons The Saxons, sometimes called the Old Saxons or Continental Saxons, were a Germanic people of early medieval "Old" Saxony () which became a Carolingian " stem duchy" in 804, in what is now northern Germany. Many of their neighbours were, like th ...
. The rebellion spread quickly, the infuriated Saxons stormed into the newly built St. Michael's Cathedral, see of the diocese on 21 February, looted the treasury, desecrated the shrines and massacred there about 2,000 asylum seekers, including canons, archdeacons and other priests. The Saxons also scorched and burned churches in the surrounding countryside. Báncsa considered the revolt as "ethnically motivated" which was strengthened by the Saxons' "wistfulness for robbery". On 30 May, he summoned an ecclesiastic ''congregatio'' in
Buda Buda (, ) is the part of Budapest, the capital city of Hungary, that lies on the western bank of the Danube. Historically, “Buda” referred only to the royal walled city on Castle Hill (), which was constructed by Béla IV between 1247 and ...
, where seven bishops participated, and excommunicated the Saxon rebels. The prelates also ordered them to pay reparations for their "devilish fury rampage". Báncsa was present, when Ladislaus IV held a "general assembly" for seven counties along the River
Tisza The Tisza, Tysa or Tisa (see below) is one of the major rivers of Central and Eastern Europe. It was once called "the most Hungarian river" because it used to flow entirely within the Kingdom of Hungary. Today, it crosses several national bo ...
in early summer of 1278. On 19 June, he accompanied the king to
Csanád Csanád, also Chanadinus, or Cenad, was the first head ''(comes)'' of Csanád County in the Kingdom of Hungary in the first decades of the 11th century. Csanád defeated and killed Ajtony who had ruled over the region now known as Banat (in R ...
(present-day Cenad, Romania), when the rebellious Stephen Gutkeled swore loyalty. Stephen Báncsa died in that year.


References


Sources

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Bancsa, Stephen 02 1240s births 1278 deaths Archbishops of Kalocsa Stephen 02 University of Bologna alumni 13th-century jurists 13th-century Roman Catholic archbishops in Hungary 13th-century Hungarian Roman Catholic priests