A letter of confirmation

Translated letter:

Isabella by the grace of God queen of Hungary to all the faithful of Christ who will look at the present writing greetings in the savior of all.  We wish by the content of these to bring to the notice of all, present and future, that Leuka, son of Lathamas, servant in our military from the town Csév, came into our presence and humbly entreating asked us that half of that land, which fell to his portion and his brother Mark’s by way of division, to which the seal-bearers (bilotis) and other warrior- jobbágyok  who were present consented, over which in the presence of count/ispán Dominic then judge of the court of the lady queen our dearest mother-in-law on the strife that arose between him and said Mark on one side and Checkam, we deign to confirm by our charter it was left to him.  So we, wishing to agree to his requests and considering that it would be urgent and in line with reason that we leave half of that land with its vineyard and hayfield and other contingent uses and appurtenances to that Leuka and through him to his heirs and successors of his heirs to be possessed from our favor irrevocably and perpetually with full right, as we see contained most fully in patent letters composed over the restitution of that land of that lady queen our dearest mother-in-law and count Dominic.  In witness of which thing, lest in the course of time it be retracted by anyone as invalid, we have granted the present letters strengthened by the protection of our double seal.  Dated by the hand of the venerable father Ph[ilip] bishop of Vác (Wachiens), faithful chancellor of our court in the 1274th  year.  

Original letter:

[I]sabella Dei gratia regina Hungarie universis Christi fidelibus presens scriptum inspecturis salutem in omnium salvatore. Ad universorum notitiam tam presentium, quam futurorum harum serie volumus pervenire, quod accedens ad nostram presentiam Leuka filius Lathamas de villa Chw iobagio exercitualium nostrorum petivit a nobis humiliter supplicando, ut medietatem illius terre, que presentibus et consencientibus bilotis ac aliis iobagionibus exercitualium nostrorum in portionem ipsius et Mark fratris sui per modum divisionis extitit devoluta, super qua in presentia comitis Dominici tunc iudicis curie domine regine karissime socrus nostre inter ipsum et Mark antedictum ex una parte et Checkam de eadem contentio fuerat susscitata eidem relinquere et nostro dignaremur privilegio confirmare. Nos itaque petitionibus ipsius condescendere volentes considerantesque fore instans et consonas rationi medietatem ipsius terre cum vinea et feneto ac aliis utilitatibus suis et pertinentiis ipsum contingentibus reliquimus eidem Lewka et per eum suis heredibus heredumque suorum successoribus de nostra gratia pleniori iure perpetuo et irrevocabiliter possidendam, prout in litteris patentibus eiusdem domine regine karissime socrus nostre super restitutione ipsius terre confectis et comitis Dominici plenius vidimus contineri. In cuius rei testimonium, ne processu temporum per quempiam valeat in irritum retractari, presentes concessimus litteras dupplicis sigilli nostri munimine roboratas. Datum per manus venerabilis patris Ph. [= Philippi] episcopi Wachiensis, aule nostre cancellarii fidelis nostri anno Domini Mo CCo septuagesimo quarto.

Historical context:

The queen confirms the transfer of land to one of her warrior- jobbágyok by her mother-in-law.  Zsoldos, The Árpáds, 82, notes that representatives of the queen’s jobbágyok were present at land transactions contracted among their peers; he translates bilotis as seal-bearers.  Jobbágyok designated the legally free tenant population living on private estates, by the late 13th century; originally they had been high ranking royal officers, according to Zsoldos, The Árpáds and Their Wives, 208.

Printed source:

Az Árpád-házi hercegek, hercegnök és a királnék okleveleinek kritikai jegyzéke, Regesta ducum, ducissarum stirpis Arpadianae necnon reginarum Hungariae critico-diplomatica, E. Szentpétery, A. Zsoldos (Budapest, 2008), 103, #158.

Date: