 |
Matthew Patay's
Note of the Month
November 2003
|
|
Map and flag images provided by Graphic Maps
This month's featured note
is from Hungary.
The denomination is 10,000 Forint and the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money
(SCWPM) Number is P-183a.
The note is dated 1997.
(front)
The banknote is blue, green and purple on multicolored under print.
King Stephen (975 - 1038), the first King of Hungary is at right center.
----------
The following information
was obtained from:
NewAdvent.Org
Saint Stephen
(975 to 15 August 1038)
First King of Hungary, b. at Gran,
975; d. 15 August, 1038. He was a son of the Hungarian chief Géza and was
baptized, together with his father, by Archbishop St. Adalbert of Prague in 985,
on which occasion he changed his heathen name Vaik (Vojk) into Stephen. In 995
he married Gisela, a sister of Duke Henry of Bavaria, the future Emperor St.
Henry II, and in 997 succeeded to the throne of Hungary. In order to make
Hungary a Christian nation and to establish himself more firmly as ruler, he
sent Abbot Astricus to Rome to petition Pope Sylvester II for the royal dignity
and the power to establish episcopal sees. The pope acceded to his wishes and,
in addition, presented him with a royal crown with which he was crowned at Gran
on 17 August, 1001 (see HUNGARY.--History). He founded a monastery in Jerusalem
and hospices for pilgrims at Rome, Ravenna, and Constantinople. He was a
personal friend of St. Bruno of Querfurt and corresponded with Abbot St. Odilo
of Cluny. The last years of his life were embittered by sickness and family
troubles. When on 2 September, 1031, his only son, St. Emeric, lost his life on
a bear hunt, his cherished hope of transferring the reins of government into the
hands of a pious Christian prince were shattered. During his lifetime a quarrel
arose among his various nephews concerning the right of succession, and some of
them even took part in a conspiracy against his life. He was buried beside his
son at Stuhlweissenburg, and both were canonized together in 1083. His feast is
on 2 September, but in Hungary his chief festival is observed on 20 August, the
day on which his relics were transferred to Buda. His incorrupt right hand is
treasured as the most sacred relic in Hungary.
----------
(back)
Esztergom Cathedral is at left
center.
The following information
was obtained from:
VirtualTourist.com
Esztergom City And Cathedral
Esztergom is famous for medieval Royal Palace
and the biggest Cathedral of Hungary. Once the residence of Hungarian monarchs,
this quiet town is over 1,000 years old. Originally a Roman outpost, Esztergom
grew in importance, as it became the seat of the Hungarian Kingdom for 300
years. Hungary's first king Stephen converted the country to Catholicism, and
Esztergom became the country's center of the early church. Today, the town
remains the seat of the archbishop-primate. The most popular attraction in town
is the Esztergom Cathedral - one of Hungary's most impressive buildings. This
massive neoclassical cathedral is situated on Castle Hill, and is a replica of
St. Peter's in Rome. Next door is the Castle Museum, which is housed in the
reconstructed Romanesque Royal Palace. The palace, vacated by Hungarian royalty
in the 13th century, was used thereafter by the archbishop. Though it was only
one of two fortresses in Hungary that was able to withstand the Mongol
onslaught, it fell to decay under the Turkish occupation. Outside the palace,
sections of the fortified walls have been reconstructed.
----------
----------
Previous Note of the Month Pages: