Seraphin, Archbishop of Esztergom

Seraphin
Archbishop of Esztergom
Seraphin crowns Coloman in early 1096, as depicted in the Illuminated Chronicle
See	Esztergom
Appointed	c. 1095
Term ended	1104
Predecessor	Acha
Successor	Lawrence
Personal details
Born	1050s
Died	1104
Nationality	Hungarian

Seraphin (Hungarian: Szerafin; died 1104) was a Hungarian prelate at the turn of the 11th and 12th centuries, who served as Archbishop of Esztergom from around 1095 until his death.

Similarly to other contemporary prelates, the high-born Seraphin was a member of the royal chapel, during the reign of Ladislaus I of Hungary. He first appeared in historical documents in an inventory of the Bakonybél Abbey in 1086, written by Seraphin himself, who then functioned as royal chaplain (thus he was responsible for issuing royal diplomas, as there was no permanent chancellery before the late-12th century). Taking into account his position, it is possible, he was born in the late 1050s or early 1060s. Alongside his two co-chaplains, he was present as a witness at the foundation of the Somogyvár Abbey in 1091.

Seraphin was elected Archbishop of Esztergom in the last months of Ladislaus' reign, in 1094 or most likely early 1095. A 12th-century complement of the Bakonybél inventory referred to him as archbishop, who gained the dignity during the rule of Ladislaus. Just before his death, the king had invited his exiled nephew, Coloman back from Poland, as the Illuminated Chronicle states. Coloman was crowned king by Seraphin in early 1096, the delay implying that he had been fighting for the crown with his brother Álmos before they reached an agreement. Seraphin and Coloman knew each other well, as the new monarch was initially prepared for a church career, and was also consecrated a bishop during Ladislaus' reign. Historian Mária Font argues Coloman could only be crowned after Pope Urban II had released him from his clerical vows at the request of Seraphin.

As a strong confidant of the royal power, Seraphin assisted Coloman, who abandoned his predecessor's foreign policy and supported the pope. Perhaps Seraphin had a crucial role in this process. Still, Coloman rejected the Gregorian Reforms and exercised the royal authority to invest his bishops and abbots. In May 1099, Seraphin escorted his king to Uherské Hradiště at the Bohemian border to meet Duke Bretislaus II, where "they renewed their age-old bonds of friendship and peace and confirmed them with oaths", according to the contemporaneous chronicler Cosmas of Prague. Following that, Herman, Bishop-elect of Prague and Cosmas of Prague were ordained priests by Seraphin in Esztergom in June. Beforehand, Herman was appointed bishop by Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor in April, thus Seraphin acknowledged the Emperor's right of investiture with the consecration, in accordance with Coloman's standpoint.