B. Halász Eva - Suzana Miljan (szerk.): Diplomatarium comitum terrestrium Crisiensium (1274-1439) (Subsidia ad historiam medii aevi Hungariae inquirendam 6. Budapest - Zagreb 2014)
Epilógus
Comes terrestris Crisiensis. An introductory study Most frequently, the thirteenth- and fourteenth-century comites terrestres could be identified with the kindreds or even families of the castle warriors or nobiles castri. Often, this is not the case for their fifteenthcentury successors. We cannot determine for all of them from which of the kindreds of castle warriors or nobiles castri they have originated. On the contrary to the previous period, it seems that the office of the comes terrestris was not exclusively connected with the nobiles castri, but true noblemen had began to enter the picture; yet, only those whose families rose to the rank specifically from the community of the nobiles castri of Križevci. We know with certainty that three comites terrestres have originated from the layer of the nobiles castri (Peter, son of Peter of Osudevo, Matthew, son of John of Hrsovo and Paul, son of Mikčec of Cirkvena) and we can identify their families. In more cases we cannot determine their origin clearly, so we can only speculate to which families of the castle warriors they have belonged. The situation is complicated by the fact that in the fourteenth-century charters the title comes was used for former comites terrestres even after their office was terminated, marking thus former dignity, but in the fifteenth-century this principle was no longer applied. On the fifteenth-century comites terrestres and the reconstruction of their lives further research is required. The existence of thirty comites terrestres of Križevci is determined with certainty, as well as time of duration of their offices on the head of the castle district, and for one more individual we can assume that he held that office.54 The castle district itself appeared in the sources as late as the thirteenth century, although it is possible to argue its existence as early as the twelfth century. In a charter of 1193, Ižan, the curialis comes de Kris, is mentioned; it is probable that in his title may be found that of the precursor of later comites terrestres of Križevci.55 For the thirteenth century, there is only scarce information on the comites terrestres, but for five individuals we know with certainty that they held that office, while for one we are assuming according to the mentioning in the sources. We do not have information whether any of them held that function more than once. We know about thirteen fourteenth-century comites terrestres. charter, John is mentioned as comes terrestris, thus, the election had to take place in between those two dates (HDA, DMV, no. 881; MNL OL, DF 219 397). Furthermore, we know that in 1423 and 1425 two comites terrestres were on duty. In April 1423 the comes terrestris was Adam, son of John (Documenta 50), and in May that position was held by Peter, son of John (Documenta 51). In January 1425 Nicholas, son of John was the comes terrestris (Documenta 55), and in May, Peter, son of Peter (Documenta 56). 54 Cf. the archontology of the comites terrestres in the Appendix. 55 CD 2, doc. 250. 119
