Mezősiné Kozák Éva: A vértesszentkereszti apátság (Művészettörténet - műemlékvédelem 5. Országos Műemlékvédelmi Hivatal, 1993)

Angol nyelvű összefoglaló

analogies the spread of the church type takes form. We know examples for this from Western Europe as early as from the 7-8th centuries, it appears in Central Europe in the 9-1 Oth centuries. It can be demonstrated on the excavated examples that the building of the square choir terminated churches appears in the ll-12th centuries in different parts of the country. It is absolutely certain that it gets into the village architecture with the mediation of the most important church buildings. Tihany's role is emphasized for example, or the effect of the monastic construction carried out on Abasár-Bolti hilltops. As for the function of the Vértes early church, the question arises, if it was built originally for monastic purposes. In Hungary the foundation of the first privately patronized monasteries dates from the 11th century. Their common feature has been that the founder gave endowments from his own fortune to the monasteries, endowed lands to the families who cooperated with them. Their other important characteristic was that the two privately owned monasteries had right away come to the possession of their own church, because the forming monastery had been endowed besides the land, the church that was located on it. Presumably, this little church had already existed here before the Benedectine life began here. This can only be assumed for the time being. The one-wing building adjoining to the early church from the south is the later built cloister. The year of the foundation is not known, but we are aware that the structures standing here, served the monastic requirements in 1146. Under the uncovered building remains there was no trace of building to be seen. The character of the construction, the early ceramics, and the S-ended lock-ring-tomb refer to the fact that the excavated building remains can be related to the early abbey which was also mentioned in the charter. The extension of the church with the two chapels may have taken place in the Benedectine period. The church was built first, and was followed by the erection of a cloister of the southern side, and at last it was in the second half of the 12th century, that the two brick chapels with the horse-shoe arched choir shape were built, which constitute the only brick construction in the abbey. The little graveyard surrounding the early church came to partial excavation, as well. On the eastern, south-eastern sides simpler, common burial-grounds are to be found. These are burials of the common people. From the place lying along the wall a standing group was excavated from the stone-box and the brick-framed graves, in these we can see the remains of patron burials. On the turn of the 12-13th century the aristocracy gained power and came to important material basis. An outstanding personality of the Csák family then was Ugrin II, who held several high prelacies, first bishop of Zágráb (1185), later of Györ (1188-1203), then in 1203 he reached the highest church dignitary, the archbishop of Esztergom. His powerful personality and his financial situation made it possible that he could increase, and provide it with proper endowments. His property was inherited by farm-bailiff Miklós I, who held high offices in public life between 1212 and 1239. He was a loyalist and a supporter of Endre II. His remaining testaments are valuable from a historical point of view, and their facts and figures are relevant to the early period of the monastery. Under the first testament made in 1231, his two sons were his inheritors. The structures of the mansion are mentioned referring to the estate-center of the family, and according to the legal practice of that time they were inherited by the younger son. There is a mention of a house in the charter which was erected by the bishop on the