Philip Türje

Benedict of Esztergom died in the second half of 1261. Pope Urban IV appointed Philip as Apostolic Administrator of the metropolitan see on 11 January 1262. Pope Urban also invited him to Rome.[1] He was styled as postulated (nominated) archbishop of Esztergom and bishop of Zagreb simultaneously on 7 March 1262.[13] His papal confirmation took place by 8 May.[1] Concurrently with his ecclesiastical dignity, Béla IV appointed him royal chancellor. Philip held the office until the monarch's death in May 1270.[14]

Ruins of the Dominican monastery on Margaret Island, where Philip mediated between Béla IV and his son Stephen

Almost immediately, Philip had to make serious efforts to avoid a bloody civil war in Hungary. Although some clashes took place in the autumn between the royal troops and Stephen's forces, a lasting civil war was avoided through the mediation of the Archbishops Philip and Smaragd of Kalocsa who persuaded Béla and his son to make a compromise. According to the Peace of Pressburg, which was concluded in the autumn of 1262, the two divided the country along the Danube: the lands to the west of the river remained under the direct rule of Béla, and the government of the eastern territories was taken over by Stephen, who also adopted the title junior king.[15] However the truce, in the long term, could not prevent the outbreak of the civil war. After Stephen routed his father's army in the decisive Battle of Isaszeg in March 1265, the two archbishops – Philip and Smaragd – conducted new negotiations between Béla and his son. Their agreement was signed in the Dominican Monastery of the Blessed Virgin on Rabbits' Island on 23 March 1266. The new treaty confirmed the division of the country along the Danube.[16] A later document issued by Béla in July 1267, remembers Philip's efforts with a warm heart, "in order to make the crown's brighter state and to serve our country's integrity and gladness, [Philip acted] as a mediator, even as a shield and a barrier to create inner peace [...], exposed himself to heavy spending, dangers and tribulation".[17][18] In addition to the peace treaty, Béla entrusted Philip and Smaragd to warn the baptized Cumans – who fought on Stephen's side in the war – to keep their faith, otherwise expel them from the kingdom. Simultaneously, Pope Clement IV authorized the two archbishops to lead troops against the Mongols and other pagans.[19]

After his appointment, Philip established his own court and chancellery in Esztergom, consisting with highly educated canon jurists and notaries.[20] For instance, one of his chancellors was the illustrious diplomat Sixtus from 1264 to 1268.[21] In late 1262, Béla IV confirmed the privileges of the Archdiocese of Esztergom on the occasion of Philip's appointment. At the request of the archbishop, the monarch widened the granted privileges on several occasions; for example, the Saxon hospes of Lipcse (today Partizánska Ľupča, Slovakia), who were subjects of the archbishopric, were granted tax exemption, in addition to the parishes in Korpona and Selmecbánya (present-day Krupina and Banská Štiavnica, respectively), which had to pay the tithe to the Esztergom chapter, instead of the royal treasury. In 1263, Béla also donated the right of patronage to Philip and his successors over the St. Pantleon monastery, which laid in an island on the Danube (today ruins in Dunaújváros). The archdiocese was also granted the annual tithe from the chamber's profit (lucrum camerae) beyond the Dráva river in March 1272. The parish of Szentistván (named after martyr Saint Stephen) and St. Anne chapel in Örmény (former boroughs of Esztergom) were established during Philip's episcopate.[22]

During his episcopate, Pope Clement IV confirmed the privileges of the provostry of Titel and the Tihany Abbey in 1268, and assigned them under the supervision of the Archdiocese of Esztergom. Philip was trying to protect his privileges against his suffragan bishops during his 10-year term. For instance, in the 1263 Synod of Buda, he emphasized his exclusive right to wear of pallium, after Job Záh, Bishop of Pécs declared that he was not only entitled to wear the pallium, but his diocese was also independent of the see of Esztergom. For this, Philip and his successors regarded Job as being excommunicated for ignoring their authority. According to a document from 1264, Philip protected the rights of the provostry of Szeben (today Sibiu, Romania), which then belonged to Esztergom, even against Gallus, Bishop of Transylvania and his efforts. Philip also bought several lands in Esztergom and Komárom counties to expand the agricultural and economic estate of the archbishopric. He was involved in numerous border conflicts with the provostry of Dömös, and several secular authorities, including Dominic, ispán of Sáros County. Stephen V himself acted as a mediator and conciliator in the two cases mentioned.[20]

Philip Türje was present at the death of St. Margaret in January 1270, a painting by József Molnár (1857)

Béla IV died on 3 May 1270 after 35 years of reign. According to his last will and testament, he was buried in the church of the Conventual Franciscans in Esztergom, next to his youngest son Béla, who predeceased him. However, as 15th-century historian Antonio Bonfini recorded, Philip had his corpse transferred to the Esztergom Cathedral and reburied him amid bright ceremony. Upon the intervention of the Holy See, the Minorites only succeeded in regaining Béla's remains after a long lawsuit.[19] After Béla's death, his daughter, Anna, seized the royal treasury and fled to Bohemia, while other lords rebelled against the rightful heir. Arriving from his province in Eastern Hungary, Duke Stephen immediately left Székesfehérvár for Esztergom to ensure the safety of coronation jewelry. Following that Duke Stephen and Archbishop Philip jointly returned to Székesfehérvár, where Philip crowned him in early June 1270.[23] Although Philip was replaced as royal chancellor by Stephen V's loyal prelate Stephen Báncsa, the ispánate of Esztergom was granted to the Archdiocese of Esztergom on 18 May 1270, thus Philip became the first perpetual count (or ispán) ever in Hungarian history. Since then the archbishops were simultaneously also styled as ispáns of Esztergom County with some minor interruptions until the 20th century.[24]

Stephen's sister, the Dominican nun Margaret died on 18 January 1270, Philip was present at her deathbed. Steps were taken to procure her canonization shortly after her death, at the request of her brother. Upon Stephen's intercession, Pope Gregory X commissioned Philip to investigate her miracles, but the church committee suspended its work after the death of Philip in late 1272, and resumed investigation process only after a four-year forced break.[19] Archbishop Philip supported Stephen V in his war against Ottokar II and his domestic supporters. When Stephen V and the Bohemian king reached an agreement in Pressburg on 2 July 1271 after their brief war, Philip was among the signatories. Stephen V stated in the document, if he breaks the treaty, archbishops Philip Türje and Stephen Báncsa will be given the mandate for excommunication. Thereafter Ottokar signed the treaty in Prague in the presence of Philip, Stephen's emissary.[19]

The king died suddenly in August 1272. His death marked the beginning of the era of feudal anarchy, when many groupings of barons fought against each other for supreme power. Ensuring the order of succession and continuity of the strong royal power, Philip crowned the 10-year-old Ladislaus IV king in Székesfehérvár on about 3 September.[22] Before that heavy clashes occurred near the town between the rival baronial groups, during which the arriving Philip and his escort were also insulted, robbed and physically abused. The minor king, in theory, ruled under his mother's regency, but in fact, baronial parties administered the kingdom.[4] However, the elderly Philip distanced himself from the conflict, and was unable to prevent the spread of anarchy. A few days before his death, Philip was reinstated as royal chancellor.[25] He died on 18 December 1272. His death gave rise to an effective 7-year period of vacancy in the episcopal see of Esztergom.[26]