The Castle Chapel in Esztergom – The Royal Seat of Béla III
The Castle Chapel in Esztergom – The Royal Seat of Béla III

Summary/Abstract: The city of Esztergom (known as Strigonium in Latin and as Gran in German), perched on a rocky plateau rising above the Danube in the middle of the Carpathian Basin, directly along the limes of the Roman empire, was the location chosen by the Grand Princes of Hungary to hold their court from the 10th century. It was here that Prince Géza (Gejza, 970–997) received Saint Adalbert, Bishop of Prague, to be baptised by him, and it was from here that he administered his acclaimed European policy. Géza also arranged a marriage there between his son Stephen and Giselle (980–1059), the sister of Henry II of Bavaria, who would later become Holy Roman Emperor (1014–1024). On Christmas Day of 1000, in the presence of Emperor Otto III, the Archbishop of Esztergom inaugurated Stephen as King of Hungary by placing on his head a crown allegedly sent to him as a gift by Pope Sylvester II. Of all the Central European principalities, Hungary thus became the first to advance to the rank of a kingdom, recognised by all major European powers as a result of Géza’s efforts. Thereafter, this established renown and authority was earned and confirmed over and over again by the Hungarian Kingdom, vis-à-vis the Eastern Roman and the Holy Roman emperors among others, through tough battles and wise diplomacy. Attesting to this lofty standing, in 1095 King of Hungary, Saint Ladislaus (László) was elected by European powers as chief commander of the first Crusade at the Synod of Clermont-Ferrand. Although his early death prevented Ladislaus from honouring the appointment, his repute as a valiant knight would continue to be cherished throughout Europe for long after.

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