Amade Aba - The Powerful Magnate

The Powerful Magnate

After 9 August 1288, Amade became Palatine and he hold the office for the first time until 1289 when he received the office of judge royal again. Later, he rebelled against the king whose troops occupied one of his castles, Tokaj (before 27 May 1290). Following the king's death (10 July 1290), Amade became the loyal supporter of King Andrew III of Hungary who appointed him Palatine. Although the king appointed a new Palatine already in 1291, he still continued to use the title until his death, and later he was confirmed in the office several times by the kings. After 1297, Amade was among the most powerful supporters of King Andrew III and he even made a formal alliance with the king and his other followers in the second half of 1298.

When King Andrew III died (14 January 1301), some of the powerful aristocrats (Amade was among them) became the supporters of Wenceslaus, the crown prince of Bohemia, while others supported the claim of Charles, a member of the Angevin dynasty. However, Wenceslaus left the kingdom (August 1304), and shortly afterwards, Amade concluded an agreement with Charles and Duke Rudolph III of Austria against Wenceslaus' father, King Wenceslaus II of Bohemia. In 1304 and 1305, Amade gave military assistance to Duke Władysław of Cuiavia against King Wenceslaus II who had occupied Lesser Poland.

Amade was present at the Assembly of Rákos (10 October 1307) where the participants confirmed Charles' claim for the throne. Charles was proclaimed king at the Assembly in Pest (27 November 1308), in the presence of Amade. In 1308, he became the head (ispán) of Szepes. Amade was present when King Charles was crowned in Buda (15 June 1309). Afterwards, he mediated between the king and Ladislaus Kán, the powerful Voivod of Transylvania who made a promise that he would transfer the Holy Crown of Hungary to the king.