His origin is uncertain: according to a royal charter issued in 1233, he had a namesake son, who held the office of Master of the treasury from 1231 to 1235.[1] Thus it is excluded with absolute certainty that Palatine Nicholas was identical with Nicholas Szák, Nicholas Csák or Nicholas, brother of Mojs I, all of whom were barons of Andrew II during that time.[2]
In contemporary records, Nicholas was first mentioned as Ban of Slavonia in 1200, when Andrew, the brother of King Emeric held the royal title of Duke of Slavonia, therefore can be assumed that Nicholas was a loyal supporter of Andrew, who rebelled against the rule of his brother several times.[3] According to László Markó and former archontological works, Nicholas also served as ispánofZala County between 1199 and 1200,[4] however historian Attila Zsoldos distinguishes Palatine Nicholas from Nicholas I of Transylvania, who was also Ban of Slavonia in 1199, and was ispán of several counties as Emeric's loyal man, according to Zsoldos.[5] Palatine Nicholas was mentioned as ispán in the court of Duke Andrew from 1200 to 1202.[4]
Nicholas was the first Palatine for Andrew II, who had ascended the Hungarian throne in 1205.[6] Beside that he also served as ispánofÚjvár County in 1205,[7] then head of Nyitra County between 1205 and 1207,[8] and finally head of Szolnok County in 1207.[9] From 1208 to 1210, he functioned as Judge royal,[10] while also held the ispán offices in Pozsony (1208 and 1211–1212),[11]Keve Counties (1208–1209 and 1209–1210).[12] From 1212 to 1213, he was ispánofSopron County.[13]
He was appointed Palatine for the second time in 1213, replacing Bánk Bár-Kalán, who had participated in the murderofQueen Gertrude.[14] Former archontological works written by historians Mór Wertner and Gyula Pauler, stated that the 1213–1214 period was the first palatinal term of Nicholas Szák.[15] He was also ispánofCsanád County in 1213[16] and ispánofBodrog County between 1214 and 1215.[17]
(in Hungarian) Markó, László (2006). A magyar állam főméltóságai Szent Istvántól napjainkig – Életrajzi Lexikon ("The High Officers of the Hungarian State from Saint Stephen to the Present Days – A Biographical Encyclopedia") (2nd edition); Helikon Kiadó Kft., Budapest; ISBN963-547-085-1
(in Hungarian) Szőcs, Tibor (2014). A nádori intézmény korai története, 1000–1342 ("An Early History of the Palatinal Institution: 1000–1342"). Subsidia ad historiam medii aevi Hungariae inquirendam Vol. 5., Budapest; ISBN978-963-508-697-9
(in Hungarian) Zsoldos, Attila (2011). Magyarország világi archontológiája, 1000–1301 ("Secular Archontology of Hungary, 1000–1301"). História, MTA Történettudományi Intézete. Budapest. ISBN978-963-9627-38-3
