Stephen Várdai
Stephen Várdai | |
---|---|
Cardinal Archbishop of Kalocsa | |
Archdiocese | Kalocsa |
See | Kalocsa |
Installed | 25 February 1457 |
Term ended | 22 February 1471 |
Predecessor | Raphael Herceg |
Successor | Gabriel Matucsinai |
Other post(s) | Cardinal-priest of Santi Nereo ed Achilleo |
Previous post(s) | Vice-Chancellor of the Kingdom of Hungary (1456-1458) |
Orders | |
Created cardinal | 18 September 1467 (created in pectore) 19 September 1467 (published) by Pope Paul II |
Rank | Cardinal-priest |
Personal details | |
Born | 1425? |
Died | 22 February 1471 (aged 46) Kalocsa, Kingdom of Hungary |
Nationality | Hungarian |
Denomination | Roman Catholic |
Profession | Doctor of Canon Law |
Alma mater | University of Ferrara |
Stephen Várdai (Hungarian: Várdai István; died 22 February 1471) was a Hungarian Roman Catholic bishop and cardinal.
Biography
Stephen Várdai was born in Szabolcs County, Kingdom of Hungary, ca. 1425, the son of nobleman Pelbartus Várdai.[1] He studied at the University of Ferrara, receiving a doctorate in canon law.[1]
In his early life, Várdai joined the military to fight against the Ottoman Empire.[1] He later joined the ecclesiastical estate.[1] He was a canon of the cathedral chapter of Eger from 1451 to 1454.[1] He spent 1454 to 1456 in the Voivodeship of Transylvania.[1] In 1456, he returned to Eger in 1456 as provost of the cathedral chapter.[1] He became Vice-Chancellor of the Kingdom of Hungary in 1456, holding this post until 1458.[1]
In 1457, he was elected Archbishop of Kalocsa, with Pope Callixtus III confirming his appointment on February 23, 1457.[1]
Shortly thereafter, he was sent to the Kingdom of France to negotiate a marriage between Ladislaus the Posthumous and a daughter of Charles VII of France.[1] This embassy was frustrated by the Hungarian king's death later in 1457.[1] In 1464, the new king, Matthias Corvinus made Várdai Chancellor of the Kingdom of Hungary, a position he held until 1471.[1]
At the request of Matthias Corvinus and Louis XI of France, Pope Paul II made Várdai a cardinal priest in the consistory of September 18, 1467; his appointment was published in San Marco, Rome the next day.[1] He received the titular church of Santi Nereo e Achilleoon May 13, 1468.[1] He was not sent the red hat until February 1471.[1]
He died in Kalocsa sometime between February 22 and 26, 1471.[1] He is buried in Kalocsa.[1]