Briccius (Hungarian: Bereck; died January/April 1275) was a Hungarian Catholic prelate in the 13th century, who served as Bishop of Csanád at least from 1259 until his death.
Briccius | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Csanád | |
| Installed | 1259 |
| Term ended | 1275 |
| Predecessor | Bulcsú Lád |
| Successor | Gregory |
| Personal details | |
| Died | January/April 1275 |
| Nationality | Hungarian |
| Denomination | Catholic Church |
Career edit
The origins and early ecclesiastical career of Briccius (also Bryccius or Brictius) are unknown.[1] He is first referred to as Bishop of Csanád in 1259; since his last known predecessor Bulcsú Lád is last mentioned in this capacity in 1254, thus Briccius elevated into the position sometime in the period between the two years.[2]
Briccius' episcopal term coincided with the domain of younger king Stephen, who ruled the eastern counties – including the territory of the Diocese of Csanád – de facto independent of his father, King Béla IV of Hungary. Their tense relationship turned into a civil war by the middle of 1260s. Within the diocese, numerous clergymen supported Stephen's efforts, including provosts John and, initially, Benedict, but Briccius' affiliation is unknown.[3] The name of Bishop Briccius occurs ("+ BRITIVS – EPIS...OP") on a single 13th century imitation of Friesacher pfennigs minted in Hungary. According to numismatist Márton Gyöngyössy, the coin – can be dated to 1259 or 1260 – was minted by Briccius of Csanád presumably at Szeged. Formerly, Austrian numismatist Bernhard Koch connected the coin to Briccius, Bishop of Vác (1221–1235).[4]
He is last mentioned as a living person on 29 January 1275. The Diocese of Csanád was already in the status of sede vacante by 3 April 1275. His successor Gregory was elected by 30 May 1275.[2]
References edit
- ^ Juhász 1933, p. 10.
- ^ a b Zsoldos 2011, p. 87.
- ^ Juhász 1933, p. 12.
- ^ Gyöngyössy 2013, pp. 1–2.
Sources edit
- Gyöngyössy, Márton (2013). "Bereck püspök dénárja. A váci vagy a szegedi középkori pénzverés emléke? [The Denarius of Bishop Briccius. A Clue to the Medieval Episcopal Coinage at Vác or at Szeged?]". Az Érem (in Hungarian). 69 (2). Magyar Éremgyűjtők Egyesülete: 1–5. ISSN 0133-8005.
- Juhász, Kálmán (1933). A csanádi püspökség története (1243–1307) [The History of the Diocese of Csanád (1243–1307)] (in Hungarian). Csanádvármegyei Könyvtár 24.
- Zsoldos, Attila (2011). Magyarország világi archontológiája, 1000–1301 [Secular Archontology of Hungary, 1000–1301] (in Hungarian). História, MTA Történettudományi Intézete. ISBN 978-963-9627-38-3.
