Nicholas II Kőszegi
Nicholas (II) Kőszegi | |
|---|---|
| Master of the horse | |
| Reign | 1318–1321 |
| Predecessor | Peter Csák |
| Successor | Blaise Fonyi |
| Born | before 1299 |
| Died | 1332 or 1333 |
| Noble family | House of Kőszegi |
| Spouse(s) | Elizabeth von Pottendorf |
| Issue | John I Rohonci Ladislaus I Rohonci Henry Rohonci |
| Father | Nicholas I |
Nicholas (II) Kőszegi, also known as Nicholas the Rooster (Template:Lang-hu; died 1332 or 1333), was a Hungarian lord in the early 14th century, who served as Master of the horse from 1318 until 1321.
Background
Nicholas II was born into the senior branch of the powerful and influential Kőszegi family, as the son of Nicholas I. According to genealogist Pál Engel, he had a younger brother John. The exact date of Nicholas' birth is unknown. He was born definitely before 1299, as his father died in that year. Nicholas II frequently appeared in contemporary documents with the nickname "the Rooster".[1]
After the death of his father, Nicholas inherited several domains and villages in Western Transdaubia, especially in Vas and Zala counties. After 1299, he owned the castles of Kanizsa, Szentvid, Léka (present-day Lockenhaus, Austria), Rohonc (present-day Rechnitz in Austria) and Pölöske. The latter fort functioned as his permanent residence.[2] Albeit, he was considered a prominent lord in the region, his wealth and influence were far behind his uncles, Ivan and Henry II, who had established oligarchic provinces independently of the monarch at the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries, which significantly restricted Nicholas' expansion potential. This probably created serious contrasts between the branches of the Kőszegis. In 1309 and 1312, when there was cooperation between the family members during a political resolution, Nicholas, who had reached adulthood by then, was omitted from the documents.[3]
Career
Nicholas was first mentioned by contemporary records in March 1314, when he and Ivan's grandson Andrew returned the previously seized Sobor to their familiares, the members of the gens (clan) Osl, including Lawrence.[3] In the autumn of 1315, Charles I launched his first large-scale campaign against Nicholas' cousins, John and Peter (Henry II's sons) and their territory. Charles personally led his troops into Tolna County. However John sought assistance from his relatives, Andrew, who administered Western Transdanubia and Nicholas II; they represented the other two branches of the Kőszegi family.[4] The united Kőszegi troops managed to expel the royal army from the region.[5] In February 1316, Nicholas issued a letter of donation to his familiaris, Stephen Vönöcki for his loyalty and role in the victorious campaign against the royal troops.[4]
There was a political turnaround in Nicholas' career in the upcoming months. When Stefan Uroš II Milutin invaded the Syrmia, Charles I launched a counter-campaign across the river Száva and seized the fortress of Macsó (present-day Mačva, Serbia) in the winter of 1317. Nicholas pledged allegiance to the king and also participated in the campaign, according to Pál Engel. Taking advantage of the king's absent, Andrew Kőszegi attacked the royalist towns of Sopron and Győr and, simultaneously, he unsuccessfully besieged Léka and Rohonc too, the castles of Nicholas II. In retaliation, Charles launched a punitive expedition against Andrew's territory in the summer of 1317, while Austrian duke Frederick the Fair also attacked from the borderlands. Andrew's dominion collapsed within months. Charles' cease-fire conditions resulted the dissolution of the extended Kőszegi province in Western Transdanubia.[6] Charles I supported Nicholas, implementing the strategy of "divide and rule" in order to eliminate the Kőszegis' united actions; the king appointed him as ispán of Vas and Zala counties, succeeding Andrew. Beside that Nicholas was also made Master of the horse in late 1317 or early 1318.[7]
References
- ^ Engel: Genealógia (Genus Héder 4. Kőszegi [and Rohonci] branch)
- ^ Engel 1996, pp. 335, 357, 396, 401.
- ^ a b Zsoldos 2010, p. 661.
- ^ a b Zsoldos 2010, p. 660.
- ^ Engel 1988, pp. 112–113.
- ^ Engel 1988, p. 121.
- ^ Engel 1996, pp. 40, 225, 234.
Sources
- Engel, Pál (1988). "Az ország újraegyesítése. I. Károly küzdelmei az oligarchák ellen (1310–1323) [Reunification of the Realm. The Struggles of Charles I Against the Oligarchs (1310–1323)]". Századok. 122 (1). Magyar Történelmi Társulat: 89–146.
{{cite journal}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - Engel, Pál (1996). Magyarország világi archontológiája, 1301–1457, I [Secular Archontology of Hungary, 1301–1457, Volume I] (in Hungarian). História, MTA Történettudományi Intézete. ISBN 963-8312-44-0.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - Kristó, Gyula (2003). "I. Károly király harcai a tartományurak ellen (1310–1323) [The Struggles of Charles I Against the Oligarchs (1310–1323)]". Századok. 137 (2). Magyar Történelmi Társulat: 297–347.
{{cite journal}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - Zsoldos, Attila (2010). "A Henrik-fiak: A Héder nembéli Kőszegiek "családi története" [The Henry Sons: The "Family History" of the Kőszegis from the Kindred Héder]". Vasi Szemle (in Hungarian). 64 (6): 651–661. ISSN 0505-0332.
{{cite journal}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help)