“DEVOTA CREATURA VESTRA GUILLELMUS”. HUNGARIAN BENEFICE OF CARDINAL WILLIAM OF ROME (1342–1374)

In the 14th century, the Kingdom of Hungary, under the reign of King Louis I, entered the political map of Europe in a significant way, which was also reflected in its greater openness to foreigners, providing them with new opportunities for the fulfilment of their ambitions. One such figure was the Roman Cardinal William de la Jugée (with the title of Cardinal Deacon of Sancta Maria in Cosmedin), who was the nephew of the Avignon Pope Clement VI. The present study, based on research in the Vatican Apostolic Archives, thus analyses the action and influence of Cardinal William on the changes in the ecclesiastical administration and its staffing in the dioceses of Hungary, documenting one of the earliest cases of the commendation of ecclesiastical offices in our territory and their historical and social context.