Legenda maior Sancti Stephani regis
The Royal Anointing and Lawgiving
Stephen is crowned king and immediately establishes laws that protect peace and the vulnerable.
In the fifth year after his father's death, since divine mercy willed it, when the letters of the apostolic blessing had been brought, and while the prelates and clergy, and the counts and people, were shouting fitting praises, Stephen, beloved of God, was named king and, anointed with chrism, was joyfully crowned with the diadem of royal dignity. After he had received the mark of imperial rank, he made clear what kind of man he was in his way of life and discernment: together with the bishops and leading men of Hungary, he published a statute he himself had decreed, in which he prescribed for each wrong its opposite remedy.12 And so that he might prove himself a son of the peace through which Christ brought the world together, he left firmly established for his descendants—by the signing of a covenant that does not pass away—that no one should attack another in hostility, no one should harm an enemy without judicial inquiry, and no one should oppress widows and orphans.✦✦3
The Queen's Piety and the King's Provision
Stephen marries Gisela, who endows churches and founds the bishopric of Veszprém, while Stephen establishes bishoprics and abbeys and oversees monastic life.
To share in the kingdom—and especially to raise up offspring—he entered into marriage with Gisela, the sister of the Roman emperor Henry, who was known as the Pious for his gentle character. Once she had been anointed with chrism, he crowned her as his partner.4 The crosses, vessels, and vestments in many churches, all crafted with marvelous skill, still testify today to how she adorned the worship of God and how constant and generous she was toward those who serve Him. Above all the rest, though, stood the bishopric of Veszprém, which she herself began from the foundation and adorned with every provision needed for its service, in gold or silver and in many vestments.5 For his part, the king royally organized the newly established bishoprics and abbeys, securing their estates, courts, servants, and revenues, and adequately furnishing them with the crosses, vessels, and other items needed for the service of God. He carefully examined the lives of the monks, sometimes through others and sometimes himself, rebuking the sluggish and holding the vigilant in his love. He entrusted the ministry of the canons to the care of the bishops under the witness of Christ and the Church, becoming, as the Apostle says, "all things to all people, that he might win them all."67
Read the original Latin
Quinto post patris obitum anno, divina sic volente clementia, benedictionis apostolice litteris allatis, presulibus cum clero, comitibus cum populo laudes congruas acclamantibus, dilectus Deo Stephanus rex appellatur et unctione crismali perunctus, diademate regalis dignitatis feliciter coronatur. Post acceptum imperialis excellentie signum, qualis vite vir et discretionis fuerit, cum episcopis et primatibus Ungarie statutum a se decretum manifestum facit, in quo scilicet uniuscuiusque contrarium dictavit antidotum. Et, ut pacis, per quam Christus mundum coadunavit, se fore probaret filium, quod nullus alium hostiliter invaderet, nemo inimicum sine iudicii examinatione lederet, viduas et orphanos nullus obprimeret, subscriptione federis non pereuntis posteris suis reliquid stabilitum.
Ad consortium vero regni, precipue causa sobolis propagande, sororem Romane dignitatis augusti, videlicet Heinrici, qui ob mansuetudinem morum pius est appellatus, Gi<se>llam nomine sibi in matrimonio sociavit, quam unctione crismali perunctam gestamine corone sociam esse notificavit. Que qualis erga Dei cultum ornandum extiterit, quam frequens et benefica circa Deo servientium congregationes apparuerit, multarum æcclesiarum cruces et vasa vel paramenta opere mirifico facta vel contexta usque hodie testantur. Pre cunctis tamen episcopatus Besprimiensis, quam ipsa a fundamento ceptam omnibus sufficientiis ad servitium in auro vel argento vestimentisque multiplicibus adornavit. Ipse vero rex episcopia nuper incepta simul cum abbatiis, prediis et curiis, famulis et reditibus regaliter disposuit, crucibus et vasis aliisque suppellectionibus ad ministerium Dei pertinentibus, secundum quod unicuique opus fuit, sufficienter decoravit. Monachorum vitam et conversationem nunc per alios, nunc per semet ipsum explorandodiligenter examinabat, torpentes arguens, vigiles sub dilectione constituens, canonicorum ministerium episcoporum providentie sub testimonio Christi et æcclesie commendabat secundum apostolum 'omnibus omnia factus, ut omnes' lucrifaceret.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Eph.2.14-Eph.2.16 — For he himself is our peace, who made both one and broke down the dividing wall of hostility Eph.2.15 — by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments expressed in decrees, so that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, making peace Eph.2.16 — and might reconcile both in one body to God through the cross, having put to death the enmity in himself.
- ↩Jas.1.27 — Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
Notes
- 1 ↩imperialis excellentie signum: taken as the royal/imperial insignia just conferred (crown and related rank), not a separate later honor.
- 2 ↩uniuscuiusque contrarium ... antidotum: rendered as prescribing for each offense/vice its contrary remedy; the antecedent of uniuscuiusque is left implicit in the Latin.
- 3 ↩reliquid read as reliquit ('left'); federis non pereuntis as a lasting/unfailing covenant.
- 4 ↩Source prints Gi<se>llam with editorial restoration of the middle syllables; rendered as Gisela.
- 5 ↩Besprimiensis is the medieval Latin designation of the see of Veszprém in Hungary.
- 6 ↩Printed explorandodiligenter is read as explorando diligenter, 'by carefully investigating'.
- 7 ↩Explicit apostolic quotation: omnibus omnia factus, ut omnes... lucrifaceret (1 Cor 9:22 cadence); final Moses resolution deferred.
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