Századok – 2007

TANULMÁNYOK - Tusor Péter: Habsburg bíborosjelölések a 17. században V/1121

1152 TUSOR PETER titles and crowns. This is why the primats of Hungary, György Lippay and György Szelepchény, were making vain efforts both in Vienna and Rome, referring to considerations of ecclesiastical, domestic and international politics as well as to historical rights. Imperial and Italian interests preceded in both courts those of Hungary. The transformation of the European power system following the preace of Westfalia, and the political marginalisation of the Papacy did not manifest itself in the appointment of crown cardinals before the 18th century. It is from this time on that unconditional imperial nominations can be spoken of, which lived on in the 19th century as a „right" pertaining to the emperor of Austria. It is after all on this „right" that the contemporary status of „cardinal seat" of Salzburg and Vienna is founded. Nevertheless, in the concordate of 1747 Maria Theresa officially made pope Benedict XTV acknowledge that in case of two separate persons bearing the crowns of the Empire and Hungary, the latter would have the legal (!) right to nominate cardinals. This written privilege was a somewhat belated and direct success of those efforts which the primates of Hungary had made in the second half of the 17th century in order to establish the institution of Hungarian crown cardinals and the „cardinal seat" of Esztergom.