Egy cubicularius klán ismeretlen ága
The Unknown Branch of a Cubicularius Clan

The Bornemiszas of Cluj

Summary/Abstract: This essay carries on Zsolt Trócsányi’s study into the lower ranking staff of Treasury Officers, namely the cubicularii (cubicularius) and their offices via the two Bálintffy cubicularii introduced earlier, through the careers of László Bornemisza and his two brothers Gergely and Ferenc from a Kolozsvár Patrician family and also the probably related Tamás Bornemisza from Kolozsvár. The research has revealed that László who with his younger brother Ferenc turned Catholic under the influence of Jesuits and probably also has studied in foreign universities, never done any work in the administration of inland revenue but rather played a diplomatic role together with his brother. Prince Gábor Bethlen sent László as his envoy to Vienna and to the Porte on several occasions, while Ferenc was a key contact figure with France and the Porte. (It was also him who accompanied the prince’s nephew Péter Bethlen on his peregrinus trip.) Both brothers’ careers ended when György Rákóczi the new prince instigated procedures against their brother-in-law Kristóf Bálintffy. As opposed to the diplomat cubicularius László, Tamás, his relation was clearly involved in the administration of finances. The story of the Bornemiszas clearly shows that while ’cubicularius’ ment a person whose duties had to do mainly with the Treasury, as princely courtier (‚equerry’) he could be made useful in connection with many other duties. Only through investigating individual careers a clearer differentiation among specific duties can be made, which requires further research.

• Details
• Contents