Master of the doorkeepers

The Master of the doorkeepers (Hungarian: királyi (fő)ajtónállómester, Latin: Janitourm regalium magister, German: Königlicher Oberst-Türhüter)[1] was a high-ranking official in the Kingdom of Hungary from the beginning of the 11th century to 1945. Formerly, the office was known as Ispán of the keepers (Hungarian: csőszök ispánja, Latin: comes preconum).

Origins and duties

The office-holders supervised the keepers in the royal manors and the court, who were responsible for guarding and had messenger functions. The Master of the doorkeepers cited the subjects of the Crown, with whom the monarch wished to speak, with his ore seal (the "King's citations seal") and using the countrywide messenger network. They also carried the bloody sword across the realm, when the King called to war.

According to the legend of Crown and Sword, the Ispán of the keepers warned Prince Béla to choose the sword instead of the crown before the death bed of his brother Andrew I in 1060.[2] The scene indicates that the Ispán might be also served as Commander of the Royal Guard.

The position was called as "Master of the doorkeepers" first in 1261. He was the magistrate of the royal guards ("doorkeepers") according that source. He had to ensure the safety of the king and the royal family.[3]

The Master of the doorkeepers was one of the lesser barons of the realm, according to the Tripartitum (Article 94) created by István Werbőczy in the 16th century. He was also member of the Royal Council. From the Anjou Age, the actual tasks was conducted by his deputy, usually a familial from the lesser nobility. Later, the office merged with the position of Marshal (Hungarian: udvarmester). After the Battle of Mohács, the office remained and belonged to the Habsburg royal court. Since 1608, the Master of the doorkeepers also oversaw the order of operations the Diet of Hungary. The office-holder was a member of the Upper House until the Hungarian Revolution of 1848 then of the House of Magnates until the Second World War. The office was only a symbolic function after 1848.

List of known office-holders

Ispán of the keepers

Term Incumbent Monarch Notes Source
c. 1250 Trisztán Béla IV from the gens Buzád [2]

Master of the doorkeepers

Medieval Hungary

Term Incumbent Monarch Notes Source
12611270 Tamás Béla IV from the gens Pok [4]
1301 Domonkos from the gens Rátót, ancestor of the Pásztói family; Palatine (13141320) [5]
13381342 Miklós Sirokay Charles I Voivode of Transylvania (13421344) [6]
13431353 Töttös Becsei Louis I from the gens Becse-Gergely (since 1342) [7]
13531358 Tamás Gönyűi Louis I from the gens Csór;[8] Voivode of Transylvania (13501351) [9]
13591373 János Gönyűi Louis I from the gens Csór [10]
13741377 Mihály Cudar Louis I [11]
13781379 István Cudar Louis I brother of Mihály Cudar [12]
13801381 Pál Liszkai Louis I Ban of Macsó (1382) [11]
1382 István Kórógyi Louis I Ban of Macsó (13831385) [11]
13831384 Miklós Telegdi Mary [11]
13851386 Pál Alsáni Mary [11]
13871392 Leusták Jolsvai Sigismund from the gens Rátót; Palatine (13921397) [13]
13921395 László Sárói Sigismund father of Péter Lévai the Czech [14]
13971402 István Kanizsai Sigismund [11]
14031409 Simon Szécsényi Sigismund Judge royal (13951412), Voivode of Transylvania (1401) [15]
14091416 János Tamási Sigismund from the gens Héder; Voivode of Transylvania (14031409) [16]
14171434 László Tamási Sigismund first rule; together with Henrik Tamási (14231434); son of János Tamási [11]
14231434 Henrik Tamási Sigismund first rule; together with László Tamási (14171434); son of János Tamási [11]
14351437 János Marcali Sigismund first rule; together with Imre Marcali (14351436); Ban of Slavonia (1457) [17]
14351436 Imre Marcali Sigismund first rule; together with János Marcali (14351436) [17]
14371438 Imre Marcali Albert second rule [17]
14381444 Henrik Tamási Albert
Vladislaus I
second rule; together with László Tamási (14381439) and István Berzevici (14381443); son of János Tamási [11]
14381439 László Tamási Albert second rule; together with Henrik Tamási (14381444) and István Berzevici (14381443); son of János Tamási [11]
14381443 István Berzevici Albert
Vladislaus I
together with Henrik Tamási (14381444) and László Tamási (14381439) [11]
14441446 László Pálóci Ladislaus V Judge royal (14461470) [11]
14471449 János Marcali Ladislaus V second rule; Ban of Slavonia (1457) [17]
14491451 János Kompolti Ladislaus V [18]
14521453 Szilveszter Tornai Ladislaus V [11]
14541458 Mihály Országh de Guth Ladislaus V together with Pál Bánfi (14561458); Palatine (14581484) [19]
14561458 Pál Bánfi Ladislaus V together with Mihály Országh de Guth (14541458) [19]
14591464 Simon Cudar Matthias I [11]
Imre Hédervári
14641465 Benedek Turóci Matthias I Treasurer (14571465) [11]
14651470 János Thúz Matthias I together with Frigyes Lamberger (14671468); Treasurer (14581459), Ban of Bosnia (1466), Ban of Croatia (14661468), Ban of Slavonia (14661470), Master of the treasury (14781481) [20]
14671468 Frigyes Lamberger Matthias I together with János Thúz (14651470) [20]
14711484 György Parlagi Matthias I [11]
14861489 Péter Geréb Matthias I first rule; Voivode of Transylvania (14781479), Judge royal (14951500), Palatine and judge of the Cuman people (15001503) [11][21]
14921494 Péter Geréb Vladislaus II second rule; together with Miklós Bánfi (14921494); Voivode of Transylvania (14781479), Judge royal (14951500), Palatine and judge of the Cuman people (15001503) [11][21]
Miklós Bánfi together with Péter Geréb (14921494)
15061518 Mózes Buzlai Vladislaus II
Louis II
[22]
15181521 János Pethő de Gerse Louis II together with Péter Korlátkői (15191526)
15191526 Péter Korlátkői Louis II together with János Pethő de Gerse (15181521) and András Trepka (15211526); killed in the Battle of Mohács
15211526 András Trepka Louis II together with Péter Korlátkői (15191526); killed in the Battle of Mohács

Habsburg Hungary

Term Incumbent Monarch Notes Source
15261536 Imre Országh de Guth Ferdinand I
15391556 Imre Tarnóczi Ferdinand I
15561573 László Bánffy Ferdinand I
Maximilian I
15741576 János Balassa Maximilian I
15771587 Mihály Révay Rudolf
15871598 Ferenc Révay Rudolf son of Palatinal Governor Ferenc Révay
15991615 Miklós Istvánffy Rudolf
Matthias II
Palatinal Governor (15811608)
16151617 László Pethe Matthias II
16181625 Menyhért Alaghy Matthias II
Ferdinand II
Judge royal (16251631)
16251631 Pál Rákóczi Ferdinand II son of Sigismund Rákóczi, Prince of Transylvania; Judge royal (16311636)
16311643 István Nyáry Ferdinand II
Ferdinand III
Captain General of Upper Hungary
16431649 László Csáky Ferdinand III Judge royal (16491655)
16491650 Gábor Erdődy Ferdinand III
16501662 Miklós Pálffy Ferdinand III
Leopold I
16621681 Miklós Draskovich Leopold I son of Palatine János Draskovich; Judge royal (16811687)
16811690 István Zichy Leopold I Master of the treasury (16901693)
16921728 Márk Czobor Leopold I
Joseph I
Charles III
17301735 György Esterházy Charles III
17351774 Károly Pálffy Charles III
Maria Theresa
17771799 Lipót Pálffy Maria Theresa
Joseph II
Leopold II
Francis
17991806 József Erdődy Francis Lord High Steward
18061826 Mihály Nádasdy Francis
18271830 József Esterházy Francis
18301834 Antal Amade Francis
18351837 Nepomuk János Malonyay Francis
Ferdinand V
18381848 Ferenc Zichy Ferdinand V

See also

References

  1. Fallenbüchl 1988, p. 146.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Györffy 1983, p. 242.
  3. Fügedi 1986, pp. 48-49.
  4. Fügedi 1986, p. 117.
  5. Markó 2006, p. 250.
  6. Markó 2006, p. 417.
  7. Fügedi 1986, pp. 212, 224 , 239, 246, 248.
  8. Fügedi 1986, pp. 206.
  9. Markó 2006, p. 410.
  10. Fügedi 1986, pp. 247-248.
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 11.7 11.8 11.9 11.10 11.11 11.12 11.13 11.14 11.15 11.16 11.17 Fallenbüchl 1988, p. 89.
  12. Fügedi 1986, pp. 252, 407.
  13. Fügedi 1986, pp. 299, 412.
  14. Markó 2006, p. 414.
  15. Markó 2006, p. 293.
  16. Fügedi 1986, pp. 299, 354.
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 Markó 2006, p. 457.
  18. A Kompoltiak - Sulinet Tudásbázis
  19. 19.0 19.1 Markó 2006, p. 244.
  20. 20.0 20.1 Markó 2006, pp. 366-367.
  21. 21.0 21.1 Markó 2006, p. 228.
  22. A Csák nemzetségtől a Buzlai családig (Sulinet.hu)

Sources