Dénes Szécsi

He was born into a magnate family as the son Nicholas Szécsi, Jr., son of Palatine Nicholas Szécsi and Helen Garay, daughter of Nicholas I Garay.[1] He studied at the University of Vienna since 1426 and the University of Bologna since 1433 where he became a doctor of the Canon law. He also studied in the University of Padua.

Szécsi was appointed Bishop of Nyitra (Nitra) on 2 March 1438. Pope Eugene IV confirmed him in that position on 20 April, however Szécsi was later elected Bishop of Eger on 5 July 1438. After the death of King Albert, he supported his widow, Elizabeth of Luxembourg. As a result, he was promoted to a cardinal on 18 December 1439 at the request of the Queen. His titular church (titulus ecclesiae) was the San Ciriaco alle Terme Diocleziane.

He became archbishop of Esztergom on 8 January 1440. In this capacity, he crowned the infant Ladislaus the Posthumous with the Holy Crown of Hungary on 15 May 1440. However, shortly after he joined the league of Vladislaus I, whom he crowned on 17 July 1440 with a crown from Saint Stephen's reliquary.

Vladislaus I was killed at the Battle of Varna in 1444. He supported John Hunyadi in the evolving power struggles. He vigorously attacked the Hussites in accordance with Hunyadi's policy. He served as chancellor from May 1453 to May 1463. Matthias Corvinus was crowned by him on 25 March 1464.

As a cardinal, he did not participate in the papal conclaves which elected Nicholas V (1447), Callixtus III (1455), Pius II (1458) and Paul II (1464). He held a provincial synod as archbishop of Esztergom in 1450 where he urged the restoration of monastic discipline and the institution of celibacy.[2] In 1452 he received the title of Primate of Hungary by Pope Nicholas V. He also became envoy to the Holy See. He rebuilt the old Esztergom Basilica and donated 8,000 Florins in 1453. His oratorical ability was outstanding.[3] He was buried in the cathedral which was renovated by him.

• Markó, László: A magyar állam főméltóságai Szent Istvántól napjainkig – Életrajzi Lexikon p. 329. (The High Officers of the Hungarian State from Saint Stephen to the Present Days – A Biographical Encyclopedia) (2nd edition); Helikon Kiadó Kft., 2006, Budapest; ISBN 963-547-085-1.