CHAPTER X

THE HUNGARIAN RITE

We have very little material for the Hungarian rite. Martène gives us the order by which Albert II (afterwards Emperor) was crowned in 1438[122], and Panvinio and Beuther give us a general account of the coronation of Matthias II (afterwards Emperor) as king of Hungary in 1612[123].

The Hungarian rite is very close to the later Roman rite. The king is presented to the metropolitan by a bishop who requests him in the name of the Church to proceed to the coronation. After the usual questions and answers the king takes the oath, _Ego Albertus profiteor et promitto coram Deo_. Then is said the prayer _Omn. semp. Deus creator omnium_, which is followed by the Litany, and the king is then anointed on the right arm and between the shoulders with ‘oleum exorcizatum,’ the metropolitan saying the prayer _Deus Dei filius_. The metropolitan begins the Mass, which is that for the day, the collect _Deus regnorum omnium_ being also said. After the Gradual and Alleluia the investitures of Sword, Crown, and Verge take place, the forms used being those of Hittorp’s order, and the king is enthroned with _Sta et retine_. Then is sung _Firmetur manus_, and the prayer _Deus qui victrices Moysi_ is said or (_Alia benedictio_) _Deus inenarrabilis_, and Mass proceeds, the Secret and Postcommunion being those of the Roman rite of the fifteenth century.

Panvinio and Beuther give us a few additional details. After the king is girt with the sword of St Stephen he brandishes it thrice. The Recognition takes place dramatically just before the coronation itself, the officiating Cardinal handing the crown to the Court Palatine who lifts it up, and shews it to the people, and asks according to ancient custom whether they bid the elect to be made king; and the people answer _Placet, fiat, vivat Rex_. After the delivery of the Verge, the Orb and Cross is put into the king’s left hand without any form. According to this account, after the enthronisation _Laudetur Deus_ is sung, by which is probably meant _Te Deum_, which occurs here in the Roman rite, and they greet the king with the acclamation _Vita, Salus, Felicitas, Victoria_.

The last coronation of a king of Hungary, that of the Emperor Francis Joseph in 1867, was according to the rite of the present _Pontificale Romanum_.