Nicholas (; died after 1215) was an influential Hungarian lord, who served as Palatine of Hungary twice during the reign of Andrew II of Hungary.
Identification His origin is uncertain: according to a royal charter issued in 1233, he had a namesake son, who held the office of Master of the treasury from 1231 to 1235.Zsoldos 2011, p. 334. Thus it is excluded with absolute certainty that Palatine Nicholas was identical with Nicholas Szák, Nicholas Csák or Nicholas, brother of Mojs I, all of whom were barons of Andrew II during that time.Zsoldos 2011, p. 333.
Career In contemporary records, Nicholas was first mentioned as Ban of Slavonia in 1200, when Andrew, the brother of King Emeric held the royal title of Duke of Slavonia, therefore can be assumed that Nicholas was a loyal supporter of Andrew, who rebelled against the rule of his brother several times.Zsoldos 2011, p. 42. According to László Markó and former archontological works, Nicholas also served as ispán of Zala County between 1199 and 1200,Markó 2006, p. 240. however historian Attila Zsoldos distinguishes Palatine Nicholas from Nicholas I of Transylvania, who was also Ban of Slavonia in 1199, and was ispán of several counties as Emeric's loyal man, according to Zsoldos.Zsoldos 2011, p. 332. Palatine Nicholas was mentioned as ispán in the court of Duke Andrew from 1200 to 1202.
Nicholas was the first Palatine for Andrew II, who had ascended the Hungarian throne in 1205.Szőcs 2014, p. 249. Beside that he also served as ispán of Újvár County in 1205,Zsoldos 2011, p. 216. then head of Nyitra County between 1205 and 1207,Zsoldos 2011, p. 174. and finally head of Szolnok County in 1207.Zsoldos 2011, p. 209. From 1208 to 1210, he functioned as Judge royal,Zsoldos 2011, p. 28. while also held the ispán offices in Pozsony (1208 and 1211–1212),Zsoldos 2011, p. 183. Keve Counties (1208–1209 and 1209–1210).Zsoldos 2011, p. 161. From 1212 to 1213, he was ispán of Sopron County.Zsoldos 2011, p. 197.
He was appointed Palatine for the second time in 1213, replacing Bánk Bár-Kalán, who had participated in the murder of Queen Gertrude.Zsoldos 2011, p. 17. Former archontological works written by historians Mór Wertner and Gyula Pauler, stated that the 1213–1214 period was the first palatinal term of Nicholas Szák.Szőcs 2014, p. 55. He was also ispán of Csanád County in 1213Zsoldos 2011, p. 146. and ispán of Bodrog County between 1214 and 1215.Zsoldos 2011, p. 142.
References
Sources Markó, László (2006). A magyar állam főméltóságai Szent Istvántól napjainkig – Életrajzi Lexikon ("The High Officers of the Hungarian State from Saint Stephen to the Present Days – A Biographical Encyclopedia") (2nd edition); Helikon Kiadó Kft., Budapest; Szőcs, Tibor (2014). A nádori intézmény korai története, 1000–1342 ("An Early History of the Palatinal Institution: 1000–1342"). Subsidia ad historiam medii aevi Hungariae inquirendam Vol. 5., Budapest; Zsoldos, Attila (2011). Magyarország világi archontológiája, 1000–1301 ("Secular Archontology of Hungary, 1000–1301"). História, MTA Történettudományi Intézete. Budapest.