THE PATRON ACTIVITY OF AN EXTRAORDINARY HUNGARIAN BARON

Abstract

Based on the analysis of published sources, the paper presents the patron activity of the Hungarian palatine and the County Prefect of Bačka, Jean Druget. Druget was Gaul (French, Provence originated) by his origin, from the Kingdom of Naples, who arrived in Hungary upon the invitation of the Hungarian ruler Charles Robert of Anjou, in 1328. In light of his origin and the development of new Anjou chivalrous culture in the Hungarian court, it would be interesting to analyze Jean’s remarkable activity in the field of donations and sponsorship of religious institutions. Despite the fact that this knight and baron was an acquaintance of the Hungarian ruler, he spent a relatively short time in Hungary (1328-1333/4). In his previous homeland of the Kingdom of Naples, the Druget family had the patron right over the Church of St Mary situated on their property Pascarola in the territory of the city of Aversa. In 1329, in Hungary, Jean donated his property Kisdir (Kisdér) in Baranja county to the church. Also, the last day of Advent of the following 1330, Druget donated the property called Sydän (Zidane), which came into his hands by the court decision, being upheld by the ruler, to the Cistercian monastery of Santa Maria de Monte (Borsmonostor, Klostermarienberg) in Sopron County, for the salvation of his soul. Finally, in 1330, in the Višegrad capital, Druget issued a charter which declared that he the Knightly Order of Saint Lazarus in Hungary under his special protection. Jean was seen and remembered as a nobleman loyal to patron activities. However, one act singled him out from the rest of the aristocracy, because its nature was equal to the patron activities usually reserved for the rulers. It was the special protection of the Knightly Order in the Kingdom of Hungary.