Počiatky Rehole pustovníkov sv. Augustína v Uhorsku a vznik ich samostatnej provincie

The aim of this article is to analyze the work of Augustinians in medieval Hungary and reasons and circumstances for establishing their own province. The beginnings of the work of the Augustinians was connected with the activities of the Order of Saint William. This is portrayed in the first part of this article. The oldest reference to the Augustinians dates back to the year 1242 prior to the establishment of the Order. It is not clear if they were hermits of Tuscany or from a different order. There are several other reports about Italian hermits. The second part is devoted to the establishment of the Order province in Hungary. Its establishment is vague. Several circumstances exist which supported its establishment. Although there were only a few monasteries, a great role was performed for the pastoral needs in the pagan environment of Hungary, mainly amongst the Cumans. The political environment is also taken into consideration. The most fortunate conditions were in the second half of the 1260s, prior to the death of King Béla IV or at the end of the 1270s when Hungary was visited by the pontifical legate Philip of Ferm. The province definitely existed at the beginning of the 14th century.