In the thesis, the research focus was the use of representations of King Saint Stephen (r. 1000/1001-1038), the founder of the Hungarian Kingdom and member of the dynasty of Árpád, by the dynasties...Show moreIn the thesis, the research focus was the use of representations of King Saint Stephen (r. 1000/1001-1038), the founder of the Hungarian Kingdom and member of the dynasty of Árpád, by the dynasties of the Hungarian Angevins and the Hunyadi to legitimize their own rule. Representations were divided into five categories - namely textual, visual, material, heraldic, and performative representation. A comparison was made between the two dynasties of the Hungarian Angevins and the Hunyadi, which lead to the conclusion that under king Matthias Hunyadi (r. 1458-1490), Stephen was represented more effectively and in new forms. This was in spite of the Hungarian Angevins being pioneers in the representation of Stephen, since they had had a greater urgency to legitimize themselves using representation after the previous Árpádian dynasty had ended in 1301. The thesis used a broad selection of source-types - (illuminated) chronicles, frescoes, coins, seals, altarpieces, and church interiors and exteriors - to trace the forms that were given to the representations of Stephen.Show less
A study on the portrayal of Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian kings in the Icelandic sagas. Honour is closely analysed as it played an important part to the king's portrayal.
