The Golden Bull, Hungary’s First Constitutional Document, Issued 800 Years ago

6 comments
  1. Major points of the bull:

    > No nobleman may be arbitrarily arrested, nor can he be oppressed by the desire of any higher power.
    >
    > The Noblemen are declared to be exempt from the payment of taxes, nor will money be collected from their treasuries. Neither will their residences be occupied, nor their villages, and these may only be visited by those who have been invited. No taxes will be levied on the Church.
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    > If any nobleman dies without a male heir, his daughter will receive a quarter of his possessions; the remainder of his property shall be given to others, but if, as a result of their deaths, they cannot take possession of these properties, then these properties shall pass into the hands of their closest living relative; if this is not possible, then the King shall inherit them.
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    > If the King wishes to send his armies outside of the Kingdom the Noblemen will not be under obligation to go with him, if the monarch doesn’t pay them. However, if an invading army enters in the Kingdom, all of them must serve to expel it.
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    > The Hungarian Palatine may judge everyone in the Kingdom without any differentiation; but he cannot take try any nobleman without the King’s approval.
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    > If foreigners arrive in the Kingdom, they must not receive honors and public positions without the Royal Council’s approval.
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    > No title or public charge can be inherited.
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    > No Jew or Ismaelite can hold a public position (job). The Nobles of the Chamber, those working with monies, tax collectors and toll-keepers may only be Hungarian noblemen.
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    > Hungarian properties cannot be given to foreigners.
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    > No-one, besides the Hungarian Palatine, the governors of Croatia and Slavonia, the King and the Queen Consort, can have more than one title or honor.
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    > If the king or one of his successor won’t keep this agreement the nobilities has right to resist and contradict to the king without consider that act like a treason. In order for this document to be lawful, and implemented in the future, seven copies of it will be made, each sealed with the Golden Seal. The first will be sent to the Pope, the second to the Knights of Saint John, the third to the Templar Knights, the fourth to the King, the fifth to the archbishop of Esztergom, the sixth to the Archbishop of Kalocsa and the seventh to the Hungarian Palatine, so that these writings won’t be falsified or confused.
    >

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Bull_of_1222

  2. I have quite a few TIL moments (today).

    I only ever heard of the HRE Golden Bull 1356. So thank you for sharing your post.

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