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
1261–1270 Tamás Béla IV from the gens Pok [4]
1301 Domonkos from the gens Rátót, ancestor of the Pásztói family; Palatine (1314–1320) [5]
1338–1342 Miklós Sirokay Charles I Voivode of Transylvania (1342–1344) [6]
1343–1353 Töttös Becsei Louis I from the gens Becse-Gergely (since 1342) [7]
1353–1358 Tamás Gönyűi Louis I from the gens Csór;[8] Voivode of Transylvania (1350–1351) [9]
1359–1373 János Gönyűi Louis I from the gens Csór [10]
1374–1377 Mihály Cudar Louis I [11]
1378–1379 István Cudar Louis I brother of Mihály Cudar [12]
1380–1381 Pál Liszkai Louis I Ban of Macsó (1382) [11]
1382 István Kórógyi Louis I Ban of Macsó (1383–1385) [11]
1383–1384 Miklós Telegdi Mary [11]
1385–1386 Pál Alsáni Mary [11]
1387–1392 Leusták Jolsvai Sigismund from the gens Rátót; Palatine (1392–1397) [13]
1392–1395 László Sárói Sigismund father of Péter Lévai the Czech [14]
1397–1402 István Kanizsai Sigismund [11]
1403–1409 Simon Szécsényi Sigismund Judge royal (1395–1412), Voivode of Transylvania (1401) [15]
1409–1416 János Tamási Sigismund from the gens Héder; Voivode of Transylvania (1403–1409) [16]
1417–1434 László Tamási Sigismund first rule; together with Henrik Tamási (1423–1434); son of János Tamási [11]
1423–1434 Henrik Tamási Sigismund first rule; together with László Tamási (1417–1434); son of János Tamási [11]
1435–1437 János Marcali Sigismund first rule; together with Imre Marcali (1435–1436); Ban of Slavonia (1457) [17]
1435–1436 Imre Marcali Sigismund first rule; together with János Marcali (1435–1436) [17]
1437–1438 Imre Marcali Albert second rule [17]
1438–1444 Henrik Tamási Albert
Vladislaus I		 second rule; together with László Tamási (1438–1439) and István Berzevici (1438–1443); son of János Tamási [11]
1438–1439 László Tamási Albert second rule; together with Henrik Tamási (1438–1444) and István Berzevici (1438–1443); son of János Tamási [11]
1438–1443 István Berzevici Albert
Vladislaus I		 together with Henrik Tamási (1438–1444) and László Tamási (1438–1439) [11]
1444–1446 László Pálóci Ladislaus V Judge royal (1446–1470) [11]
1447–1449 János Marcali Ladislaus V second rule; Ban of Slavonia (1457) [17]
1449–1451 János Kompolti Ladislaus V [18]
1452–1453 Szilveszter Tornai Ladislaus V [11]
1454–1458 Mihály Országh de Guth Ladislaus V together with Pál Bánfi (1456–1458); Palatine (1458–1484) [19]
1456–1458 Pál Bánfi Ladislaus V together with Mihály Országh de Guth (1454–1458) [19]
1459–1464 Simon Cudar Matthias I [11]
Imre Hédervári
1464–1465 Benedek Turóci Matthias I Treasurer (1457–1465) [11]
1465–1470 János Thúz Matthias I together with Frigyes Lamberger (1467–1468); Treasurer (1458–1459), Ban of Bosnia (1466), Ban of Croatia (1466–1468), Ban of Slavonia (1466–1470), Master of the treasury (1478–1481) [20]
1467–1468 Frigyes Lamberger Matthias I together with János Thúz (1465–1470) [20]
1471–1484 György Parlagi Matthias I [11]
1486–1489 Péter Geréb Matthias I first rule; Voivode of Transylvania (1478–1479), Judge royal (1495–1500), Palatine and judge of the Cuman people (1500–1503) [11][21]
1492–1494 Péter Geréb Vladislaus II second rule; together with Miklós Bánfi (1492–1494); Voivode of Transylvania (1478–1479), Judge royal (1495–1500), Palatine and judge of the Cuman people (1500–1503) [11][21]
Miklós Bánfi together with Péter Geréb (1492–1494)
1506–1518 Mózes Buzlai Vladislaus II
Louis II		 [22]
1518–1521 János Pethő de Gerse Louis II together with Péter Korlátkői (1519–1526)
1519–1526 Péter Korlátkői Louis II together with János Pethő de Gerse (1518–1521) and András Trepka (1521–1526); killed in the Battle of Mohács
1521–1526 András Trepka Louis II together with Péter Korlátkői (1519–1526); killed in the Battle of Mohács

Habsburg Hungary

Term Incumbent Monarch Notes Source
1526–1536 Imre Országh de Guth Ferdinand I
1539–1556 Imre Tarnóczi Ferdinand I
1556–1573 László Bánffy Ferdinand I
Maximilian I
1574–1576 János Balassa Maximilian I
1577–1587 Mihály Révay Rudolf
1587–1598 Ferenc Révay Rudolf son of Palatinal Governor Ferenc Révay
1599–1615 Miklós Istvánffy Rudolf
Matthias II		 Palatinal Governor (1581–1608)
1615–1617 László Pethe Matthias II
1618–1625 Menyhért Alaghy Matthias II
Ferdinand II		 Judge royal (1625–1631)
1625–1631 Pál Rákóczi Ferdinand II son of Sigismund Rákóczi, Prince of Transylvania; Judge royal (1631–1636)
1631–1643 István Nyáry Ferdinand II
Ferdinand III		 Captain General of Upper Hungary
1643–1649 László Csáky Ferdinand III Judge royal (1649–1655)
1649–1650 Gábor Erdődy Ferdinand III
1650–1662 Miklós Pálffy Ferdinand III
Leopold I
1662–1681 Miklós Draskovich Leopold I son of Palatine János Draskovich; Judge royal (1681–1687)
1681–1690 István Zichy Leopold I Master of the treasury (1690–1693)
1692–1728 Márk Czobor Leopold I
Joseph I
Charles III
1730–1735 György Esterházy Charles III
1735–1774 Károly Pálffy Charles III
Maria Theresa
1777–1799 Lipót Pálffy Maria Theresa
Joseph II
Leopold II
Francis
1799–1806 József Erdődy Francis Lord High Steward
1806–1826 Mihály Nádasdy Francis
1827–1830 József Esterházy Francis
1830–1834 Antal Amade Francis
1835–1837 Nepomuk János Malonyay Francis
Ferdinand V
1838–1848 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