Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.22586/ss.24.1.4
Benedictine missionaries from Ragusa (Dubrovnik) in Southern Hungary (1587–1612)
Antal Molnár
Abstract
The paper presents a hitherto unknown aspect of the history of the Benedictine Order in Hungary. In the course of his research, which involved consulting archival sources in Rome and Ragusa (Dubrovnik), the author uncovered previously unknown institutions and individuals. This group includes the Benedictine missionaries from Ragusa.
As early as the late Middle Ages, the people of Ragusa were engaged in significant trade with the Kingdom of Hungary. The golden age of this specific activity in Hungary occurred during the initial fifty years of the Ottoman conquest. The Ragusan presence in the economic sphere was accompanied by their significant ecclesiastical role on the Balkan Peninsula, which was under Ottoman occupation. Due to their legal status, the merchants from Ragusa were better positioned than others to ensure the security of Catholic priests to function, protecting them from the disturbances posed by the Turks.
Nevertheless, the independent mission, which originated from the city-state was established on the occupied lands by the Benedictines from Ragusa between 1587 and 1612. The Benedictine missionaries, operating with the approval of the Pope, made their inaugural appearance in Ottoman Southern Hungary in 1587. Their authorisation and commission was subsequently extended on multiple occasions by the Popes (in 1589, 1592, 1598, 1606), and they functioned legally as apostolic visitors in the southern borderland of the conquered territories of Hungary. In 1592, the intention was to legitimise their presense in the conquered regions by acquiring a local ecclesiastical title. To this end, they created a title of historical significance based on the fading memories of medieval ecclesiastical communities. This was the Benedictine Abbey of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Bács. The fictitious abbey had four possessors between 1592 and 1631, including the celebrated historiographer of Ragusa, Mauro Orbini. Despite never having visited Hungary, Orbini’s presence offers insight into the history of the Hungarian mission of the Benedictines from Ragusa. It is probable that the missionaries, hailing from patrician families and affluent merchant burghers, departed for the Ottoman Empire due to an internal strife within the Order. The Benedictines’ mission represented the inaugural effort by Ragusa to establish an autonomous ecclesiastical structure within the occupied territories. This endeavour preceded the collaboration between the city-state’s merchants and the Jesuits in the 17th century.
Keywords
Dubrovnik (Ragusa); Benedictines; Ottoman Empire; missions; Southern Hungary; Slavonia
Hrčak ID:
323177
URI
Publication date:
8.12.2024.
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