Stephen Várdai

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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 Achilleo on 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]

References[]