Farkas Bejc

Farkas from the kindred Bejc (Hungarian: Bejc nembeli Farkas; died after 1269) was a Hungarian prelate in the 13th century, who served as Bishop of Győr from 1268 to 1269. Prior to that, he was provost of Székesfehérvár and vice-chancellor in the royal court, then briefly elected Bishop of Zagreb.

Farkas Bejc
Bishop of Győr
Appointed	1268
Term ended	1269
Predecessor	Amadeus Pok
Successor	Denis
Other posts	Bishop-elect of Zagreb Vice-chancellor
Personal details
Died	after 1269
Nationality	Hungarian

Biography

Also referred to as Wolfgang, his German name variant, Farkas originated from the gens (clan) Bejc (or Beuch), a minor Hungarian kindred, which possessed lands in Vas County around their centre, Bejc (present-day part of Bejcgyertyános), near the village of Rum. A large-scale woodland between Káld and Bejcgyertyános is still called "Farkas-erdő" (lit. Farkas' Forest) today, presumably named after the bishop.[1] Through his brother Paul, he had a nephew Nicholas, who was granted the castle of Hricsó (present-day Hričovské Podhradie, Slovakia) by Béla IV of Hungary in 1265, courtesy to his uncle. The clan existed until the middle of the 14th century.[2]

Farkas bore the title of "magister", demonstrating his potential education and skills in science.[3] He was a staunch supporter of King Béla IV during his civil war against his son, Duke Stephen. He served as vice-chancellor and provost of the Székesfehérvár Chapter from 1262 to 1268.[4] As a candidate of the monarch, he was elected Bishop of Zagreb by some members of the cathedral chapter in the second half of 1262,[5] but the election was not confirmed by Pope Urban IV, because Béla's rival, the influential cardinal Stephen Báncsa suggested his namesake nephew at first, then the chamberlain of his household, Timothy to become the Bishop of Zagreb.[6]

Farkas was unanimously elected Bishop of Győr around April 1268, as a result he was replaced as vice-chancellor and provost in that year.[7] His election was confirmed by Pope Clement IV.[8] After a short episcopacy, Farkas died in either 1269 or 1270.[7]

References

1. Győri 2008, p. 25.
2. Engel: Genealógia (Genus Bejc)
3. Győri 2008, p. 26.
4. Zsoldos 2011, p. 111.
5. Zsoldos 2011, p. 103.
6. Győri 2008, p. 28.
7. Zsoldos 2011, p. 92.
8. Győri 2008, p. 33.

Sources

• Győri, Éva (2008). "Győri püspökök a XIII. században [The Bishops of Győr in the 13th Century]". Belvedere (in Hungarian). 20 (1–2): 24–43. ISSN 1419-0222.
• 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.