Wikipedia

Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Hungarian: Nagyboldogasszony-bazilika) was a basilica in Székesfehérvár (Latin: Alba Regia), Hungary.[1] From the year 1000 until 1527, it was the site of the coronation of the Hungarian monarch. After the Ottomans occupied the city in 1543, coronations of the Hungarian monarch moved elsewhere; the building was extensively damaged in a fire in 1601. It was replaced by the Cathedral Basilica of Székesfehérvár in 1777.

Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Ruins of the basilica
Religion
AffiliationRoman Catholicism
Statusruined
Location
LocationSzékesfehérvár, Hungary
Geographic coordinates47°11′30″N 18°24′39″E / 47.1917°N 18.4107°E / 47.1917; 18.4107

Background

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The Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was built in the late 1010s by Saint Stephen I, the first King of Hungary. It was never episcopal, but it was used as the principal church of the rulers of Hungary.

The basilica was the most significant place of the Kingdom of Hungary in the Middle Ages, as it contained the crown jewels, including the throne, the Holy Crown of Hungary, the treasury and the archives. 37 kings and 39 queens were crowned in this basilica and 15 were buried in it. In 1543, the Turks occupied Székesfehérvár. The royal graves were ransacked and the basilica was used to store gunpowder, while St. Martin's Cathedral in Pozsony (today Bratislava, Slovakia) became the new coronation site.

In 1601, the building was destroyed by fire.[2][3][4] During this time, the Ottoman rule of the city was interrupted for about one year.

Its ruins were demolished and used for the construction of the new episcopal residence and for the reconstruction of another old church which in the 18th century became the cathedral of the Diocese of Szekesfehervar, erected in 1777.

In the late 1930s, St. Stephen's Mausoleum was erected behind the Basilica's ruined apse.

Coronations

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See also: List of Hungarian monarchs

List of Hungarian monarchs who were crowned in Royal Basilica of Székesfehérvár.

Burials

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See also: List of Hungarian monarchs

Hungarian monarchs and royal family members were buried in Royal Basilica of Székesfehérvár. (Only the list of buried monarchs is complete but the list of buried royal family members is not complete)

Hungarian nobles were also buried in Royal Basilica of Székesfehérvár. (The list is not complete)

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  •  
    Aerial view of the ruins
  •  
    Merian's Theatrum Europaeum presents an almost peaceful exit (N) of the Turkish garrison out of an undestroyed Székesfehérvár after the Christian interim reconquest in 1601;
    G = "main church" – the basílica
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    Johan Sibmacher's "True depiction of the royal city of S., as it was reconquered by the Christians" shows the basilica destroyed and burning and some more buildings on fire.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "History of the Diocese of Székesfehérvár - Middle Ages". szfvar.katolikus.hu (in Hungarian).
  2. ^ Historical past Archived 2014-07-15 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Phillips, Adrian; Scotchmer, Jo: Hungary, Bradt Travel Guides, 2010.
  4. ^ Bedford, Neal; Dunford, Lisa; Fallon, Steve: Hungary, Lonely Planet, 2009.
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