Dr. Péter Balázs: Guide to the archives of Hungary (Budapest, 1976)

Az Esztergomi Főszékeskáptalan Levéltára (Archives of the Esztergom Cathedral Chapter)

On account of the small personnel the archives asks researchers, to give previous notice of their arrival, if possible. Pal ROSDY AZ ESZTERGOMI FŐSZÉKESKÁPTALAN LEVÉLTÁRA (ARCHIVES OF THE ESZTERGOM CATHEDRAL CHAPTER) 2500 ESZTERGOM, Berényi Zsigmond u. 2. Tel. 1. Head: Pál ROSDY Esztergom Cathedral Chapter is coeval with the archbishopric of Esztergom, founded by the king St Stephen according to the prescriptions of canon law with the destination, that its members, the canons should be of service to the archbishops in the liturgy of the cathedral church, the government of the diocese and the instruction of priests. As it happened everywhere, the members of the cathedral chapter lived a common life and they, the canons divided the tasks among them. Later, in the course of historical development they settled to separate houses and they ramassed ever more property through royal grants, private bequests, nay by their activity in policy and economic policy; they became beneficiaries of such property in the proportion of their position (stallum). Thus the chapter did not only take part in church administration, liturgy and teaching, but, endowed with important rights, it exercised significant economic activity as well by the development and management of estates. The cathedral chapter of Esztergom possessed and governed the following estates in 1838, when they reached their largest extension: 1. Garamszentbenedek estate (bailiffs' areas of Nemcsény, Taszár, Kovácsi, Kisapáti, Csehi, Bessenyei, Nyék and Szebeléb); these territories lay in present Slovakia. 2. Esztergom estate (bailiffs'areas of Nana, Epöl and Letkés). 3. Zenyér estate (bailiffs' areas of Tapsony, Somogyszob and Fehéregyháza); these possessions lay in Somogy county. Beside these estates the chapter possessed important rights to customs and tithes in the Middle Ages. Some members of the chapter were also beneficiaries of provostships. Together with the archbishopric also the members of the chapter fled the Turks and found a home at Nagyszombat till 1820, when they returned to Esztergom, together with the primate Rudnay.