Alba Regia. Annales Musei Stephani Regis. – Alba Regia. Az István Király Múzeum Évkönyve. 20. 1980 – Szent István Király Múzeum közleményei: C sorozat (1983)

Tanulmányok – Abhandlungen - Kralovászky Alán: The earliest church of Alba Civitas. p. 75–88. t. XXVII–XXXII.

ßoleslaw Chrobry in 985 A. D., Sizzo, a count from Tübingen after 985 A. D. and Radomir a Bulgarian czarevich in 988 A. D. In addition, he obtained Gizella, a Bavarian princess in 955 A. D. as the wife of his son István (Stephen) (MORAVCSIK 1953, 48—58; Vajay 1967, 63—100; GYÖRFFY 1977, 67—109). The energetic and intensive changes in foreign policy inevitably induced similar movements in internal politics. These tendencies were also accompanied by a large scale military organizing in support of the creation of a centralized power. All these factors resulted in an accelerate development. The most important road and waterway junctions of the counry were occupied and sub-groups of the clans were partially spread over the area of the country (PAUER 1893, 22; László 1942, 802—805; KRISTÓ—MAKK—SZEGFŰ 1973—1974). The new centralized power also required a new center or centers respectively (GYÖRFFY 1977, 251—258). There were three such centers formed over the occupation area of the princely tribe: Esztergom, Veszprém and Fehérvár. The existence of these three principal localities during the end of the 10th century is demonstrated by various data. King István (Stephen) was born in Esztergom during the 970's A. D. : „Hie Strigoniensi oppido nativitatis exordium habuit" (Leg. Min. S. Stephani Regis II, 8); during the times of Grand Duke Géza (972—997), Veszprém was the place „ubi ducalis accessus et conversatio habebatur

." (Hartvie VI. 19—20; and finally, Grand Duke Géza himself was buried in Fehérvár"... ad ecclesiam SS Petri et Pauli in for о sit am, in qua sepultus fuisse Gieza pater B. Stephani.

.." (Dlugoss 1711,742—743). In fact all three settlements were only sporadically inhabited during the first half of the 10th century. Aside from low population density, burials dated to this period show changes in the habitation area. These cemeteries (and the early settlements which obviously belonged to them) are not located in the area of the later city centers. In all three cases there are several hundred meters or even one or two kilometers between the burial grounds containing graves from the first of the 10th century and those established in the last half of the same century (MRT 2, 1969, 224—256; MRT 5, 1979, 78—231; Bakay 1966, 43—88; 1968, 57—88; Kralovánszky 1967, 7—18). Common characteristics of these settlements are their location on the occupation territory of the princely tribe and the nearness of important routes formed during Roman times. The geographical environments of Esztergom and Veszprém are favorable from a strategical point of view, while Fehérvár had artifical strategical qualities (Glaser 1929, 136—167; Györffy 1970, f

91—242; MÓCSY 1974, 176—177). These settlements also formed the center of the county system organized in the decades around the turn of the millennium and thus developed into places of overall importance for the whole country. They served as headquarters for organizing the state and the church (Mezey 1963, 9—12; Györffy 1969. 214—219). Earlier research in the material from the archaeological context in a wider sense in Fehérvár was fundamental in understanding the role of this settlement. These studies showed that there was a concentrated occupation in the last 6 Alba Regia XX. ' third of the 10th century which included the area of the future city as well as its immediate neighborhoods. The historical center of the city was a sand island which had at that time been surrounded by ten settlements spaced at equal distances from each other. The center of this newly formed ring of settlements was the mound on which the church under study in this paper was to be found. Excavations carried out on this mound also showed that the mound was surrounded by a fortification ditch and earthwork respectively. Within these features the terrain was re-shaped around the turn of the millennium. One point is worth considering. King István built the large royal chapel of the Christian Hungarian state and of the reigning family at a height five meters lower than the top of the mound and in a relatively peripheral location. The most probable reason may have been that at the time of construction the highest and most respectable point of the settlement was already occupied by one or more buildings (Fiigedi 1967, 32). This supposition is also confirmed by Christian grave finds which were earlier than the construction dates of the royal cathedral (= capella regia; before 1003 or 1018). These features occurred under the 11th century floor level indicating that the surroundings of the mound were occupied even in these early times (Kralovánszky 1968, 253—262). The earliest mention of this settlement may be found in a document from 1009. It is called "White Fortress" (Fehér Vár — Alba Civitas) and listed as a county seat (Györffy 1967,22). The county seats over the whole country in those times were built on elevations and fortified. Another point to consider is that none of the written sources mention King István as the founder of Fehérvár, his name comes up only in connection with the foundation of the capella regia ('royal chapel') in Fehérvár. It is for this reason that modern researchers may reasonably conclude that Fehérvár was founded during the times of Grand Duke Géza. If one accepts this point one may also suppose that there was a church in Fehérvár which functioned as ecclesia baptismalis. The area may have been part of an ancient parish from where the missionary work of Christian conversion was orchestrated and supported by the armed forces of the state (Mezey 1972, 21—23). Such activity however, could only be organized within the walls of a fortified stronghold — civitas. This is why this church with four apses must have been built between 972 and 997 A. D. when the state and church organization of the Transdanubian region (west of the Danube river) began. This dating seems to also be supported by a medieval tradition according to which Grand Duke Géza was buried in the St. Peter's church (Dlugoss). Theoretically, it is also possible that the idea and construction of the church is related to the marriage around 967 between Grand Duke Géza and Sarolt who was baptized in Transylvania by bishop Hierotheos who had been sent from Byzantium (Vajay 1967, 100). This may be one of the possible explanations for the Byzantine ritual suggested by the plan of the church (MORAVCSIK 1953, 58; TIMKÓ 1971, 393; Mezey 1972,22). It is most likely however, that Grand Duke Géza ordered the construction of this, one of the earliest churches, at one of his fortified quarters. This church was supposed to be of