Juckes, Tim. 2012. The Parish and Pilgrimage Church of St Elizabeth in Košice - Town, Court, and Architecture in Late Medieval Hungary (Architectura Medii Aevi 6). Turnhout: Brepols. XII+292 pp. 224 figs.
Open accessAbstract
Juckes, Tim. 2012. The Parish and Pilgrimage Church of St Elizabeth in Košice - Town, Court, and Architecture in Late Medieval Hungary (Architectura Medii Aevi 6). Turnhout: Brepols. XII+292 pp. 224 figs. Reviewed by Marianne Sághy, Central European University (CEU), Budapest
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TL;DR
Marianne Sághy reviews Tim Juckes's 2012 monograph, the first comprehensive scholarly study of the St Elizabeth parish church (now cathedral) of Kassa/Košice, the largest Gothic construction in the medieval Kingdom of Hungary. She praises it as an outstanding architectural history and historical synthesis while faulting its use of modern Slovak place names and its silence on the church's dedication.
Key findings
- Juckes reconstructs three building phases: a first rebuilding c.1390–1400 (five-aisled design with paired diagonal chapels, twin west towers, generous transepts); a second, richest phase c.1400/05–1430/40 under Sigismund of Luxemburg, reorganizing the interior, vaults, sanctuary and towers; and a third c.1440s–1490s adding three private chapels beside the south porch and the sacrament house attributed to Master Stephan's workshop.
- The south transept gallery's interlocking double-spiral staircase is identified as "the earliest of its type in Europe," and Juckes hypothesizes the gallery served to display the Holy Blood reliquary during pilgrimages, with relics normally kept in the south tower sacristy.
- The book dispels the notion that such a grand church must have been royally financed: money came from Kassa's burghers, who used the building to demonstrate they deserved free royal town status; by the late fifteenth century Kassa had a multiethnic population of about 5,000.
- The Kassa masons' lodge was influenced by Viennese experiments but executed innovations earlier than in Vienna, and St Elizabeth's motifs recurred in Kolozsvár/Cluj, Segesvár/Sighişoara, Brassó/Braşov and Cracow into the sixteenth century.
Methods
- This is a book review essay, not an empirical study; the reviewer summarizes and evaluates Juckes's monograph chapter by chapter (chs. 1–6).
- The reviewed book is architectural history grounded in earlier scholarship, documentary evidence, and archival material on the church's pre-1877 structure, with 224 black-and-white photographs by the author, a compendium of textual and armorial sources (pp. 217–234), an appendix of mason marks (pp. 235–244), and a visual survey of the church before nineteenth-century restoration (pp. 245–254).
- The review also situates the book against the 1877–1896 "pure Gothic" restoration led by Imre Steindl, which altered arches, vaults, the western gallery and transept piers and removed post-medieval furnishings.
Limitations
- Stated by the reviewer: Juckes "does not address the question of the dedication" — why the burghers chose Saint Elizabeth as patron, an issue she calls highly important.
- Stated by the reviewer: interior furnishing and liturgical treasures are treated only as chronological markers, with their possible functions disregarded.
- Stated by the reviewer: the book uses modern Slovak place names (including "Košice" in the title) and invents "Abov County," obscuring the historic Hungarian/Latin names; Juckes also refers only vaguely to "the intrusion of ethnic tensions into scholarship" (p. 16).
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Claims the paper makes
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- Premisereasoning§ Reviewed by Marianne Sághy, Central European University (CEU), Budapest
Henszlmann's essay had a direct impact on St. Elizabeth's, leading to its drastic restoration in 'pure Gothic style'.
“Henszlmann's essay had a direct and for us sordid impact on the church, as it led to its drastic restoration in”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Interpretationnone given§ Reviewed by Marianne Sághy, Central European University (CEU), Budapest
Juckes rejects the hypotheses that Amadé's church later became or was turned into the St. Michael chapel standing next to St. Elizabeth's.
“There are romantic hypotheses that Amadé's church later became or was turned into the St. Michael chapel standing next to St. Elizabeth's, but Juckes rejects these hypotheses.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Premisecitation§ Additional information
By the end of the fifteenth century, Kassa had become one of the leading towns of the kingdom, with a multiethnic Hungarian, Saxon, Flemish and Slavic population of about 5,000.
“By the end of the fifteenth century, as Juckes tells us in Chapter Six, Kassa became one of the leading towns of the kingdom, with a multiethnic Hungarian, Saxon, Flemish and Slavic population of about 5,000 souls”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites Erik Fügedi, "Kaschau, eine osteuropäische Handelsstadt am Ende des XV. Jahrhunderts," Studia Slavica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 2 (1957), 185-213
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- Interpretationreasoning§ Additional information
The book dispels the concept that a splendid church of such scale must have been inspired and financed by kings.
“The book dispels the concept that a splendid church of such scale must have been inspired and financed by kings.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Premisereasoning§ Additional information
The burghers of Kassa sought to demonstrate, through their representative civic and religious construction, that they well deserved the privilege of a free royal town.
“the burghers of Kassa sought to demonstrate, through their representative civic and religious construction, which stood for the entire community of the town, that they well deserved the privilege of a free royal town.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
- Premisenone given§ Reviewed by Marianne Sághy, Central European University (CEU), Budapest
The interlocking double-spiral staircase of St. Elizabeth's is the earliest of its type in Europe.
“accessed by an elaborate staircase consisting of the interlocking double-spiral design, the earliest of its type in Europe.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Premisenone given§ Additional information
The work on St. Elizabeth's had a lasting regional and inter-regional impact, with motifs recurring in Kolozsvár, Segesvár, Brassó, and Cracow.
“The work on St. Elizabeth's had a lasting regional and inter-regional impact like, for example, the recurrence and reinterpretation of some of its motifs in Kolozsvár (Clausenburg/Cluj), Segesvár (Schäßburg/Sighişoara), Brassó (Kronstadt/Braşov), and Cracow”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Premisenone given§ Reviewed by Marianne Sághy, Central European University (CEU), Budapest
The second phase of rebuilding of St. Elizabeth's was a period of rich experimentation.
“This phase turns out to have been a period of rich experimentation.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Premisereasoning§ Reviewed by Marianne Sághy, Central European University (CEU), Budapest
In 1347, King Louis the Great granted Kassa the privilege of becoming a free royal town.
“In return, in 1347 King Charles I's son, King Louis the Great (1326-1382), granted Kassa the privilege of becoming a free royal town.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Premisenone given§ Additional information
The early fifteenth-century renovation project of St. Elizabeth's was the most ambitious endeavor of intensive building activity in the Kingdom of Hungary of the time in terms of both scale and artistic quality.
“Juckes underscores the early fifteenth-century renovation project as the most ambitious endeavor of an intensive building activity in the Kingdom of Hungary of the time in terms of both scale and artistic quality.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
- Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 14
- May combine two claims. 11
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.
Findingnone given§ Additional informationThe book contains 224 black-and-white photographs taken by the author as well as rich archival material concerning the church's original structure prior to the 1877 restoration.
“The Parish and Pilgrimage Church of St Elizabeth in Košice contains 224 black-andwhite photographs taken by the author as well as rich archival material concerning the church's original structure prior to the 1877 restoration.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).
Interpretationreasoning§ Reviewed by Marianne Sághy, Central European University (CEU), BudapestSt. Elizabeth's floats in a vacuum in today's Central Europe.
“St. Elizabeth's floats in a vacuum in today's Central Europe”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The society that built and sustained St. Elizabeth's, and for whom the cathedral had a meaning, no longer exists.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.
Interpretationnone given§ Reviewed by Marianne Sághy, Central European University (CEU), BudapestThe book includes the best synthesis of the purist restoration of the church in the nineteenth century and of the beginning of Hungarian art history.
“the best synthesis of the purist restoration of the church in the nineteenth century and of the beginning of Hungarian art history (5-21)”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimMay combine two claims.
Premisereasoning§ Additional informationMoney for St. Elizabeth's did not come from the monarchs, although royal privilege boosted Kassa's development and ambition.
“Royal privilege did boost Kassa's development and ambition, but money for the church did not come from the monarchs.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.
Premisenone given§ Reviewed by Marianne Sághy, Central European University (CEU), BudapestThe restoration of St. Elizabeth's from 1877 to 1896 was led by Imre Steindl, a disciple of the Viennese purist school.
“The restoration, from 1877 to 1896, was led by Imre Steindl, a disciple of the Viennese purist school”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimMay combine two claims.
Premisenone given§ Reviewed by Marianne Sághy, Central European University (CEU), BudapestThe most important achievement of the second phase of rebuilding was the southern transept ensemble, in which a porch was added to the south portal.
“the most important achievement of the second phase was the southern transept ensemble, in which a porch was added to the south portal.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimMay combine two claims.
Premisereasoning§ Reviewed by Marianne Sághy, Central European University (CEU), BudapestThe nineteenth-century restoration fundamentally altered the church's structure: the original arches were replaced by pointed ones, the western gallery was altered altogether, additional piers were inserted into the transept arcade, the stellar patterns of the vaults were changed into net and simple cross-rib vaults, and all post-medieval furnishings were removed.
“The structure of the church was fundamentally altered: the original arches were replaced by pointed ones, the western gallery was altered altogether, additional piers were inserted into the transept arcade, the stellar patterns of the vaults were changed into net and simple cross-rib vaults, and all post-medieval furnishings were removed.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimMay combine two claims.
Premisenone given§ Reviewed by Marianne Sághy, Central European University (CEU), BudapestThe parish church of St. Elizabeth's was partly destroyed by fire sometime after 1385, when it had already gained importance as a pilgrimage center due to its relic of the Holy Blood.
“The parish church was partly destroyed by fire sometime after 1385, when it had already gained importance as a pilgrimage center due to its famous relic of the Holy Blood.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.
Premisenone given§ Reviewed by Marianne Sághy, Central European University (CEU), BudapestThe design of the east end of St. Elizabeth's appears to be unique within Hungary and rare throughout Central Europe of that period.
“The design of the east end appears to be unique within Hungary, and indeed was rare throughout Central Europe of that period.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
Premisenone given§ Reviewed by Marianne Sághy, Central European University (CEU), BudapestIn 1311, the Saxon burghers of Kassa killed the lord of the town, Aba Amadé.
“In 1311, the Saxon burghers killed the lord of the town, Aba Amadé, an oligarch who had sided with Máté Csák against King Charles Robert I of Anjou (1288-1342).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimClassified as probably not a substantial claim.
Interpretationnone given§ Reviewed by Marianne Sághy, Central European University (CEU), BudapestThe book offers a thorough analysis of the phases of construction and architectural decisions taken by the patrons and master builders of St. Elizabeth's throughout its seven hundred years of existence.
“offering a thorough analysis of the phases of construction and architectural decisions taken by the patrons and master builders of this church throughout its seven hundred years of existence.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).
Interpretationnone given§ Reviewed by Marianne Sághy, Central European University (CEU), BudapestJuckes formulates persuasive new hypotheses about the original functions of certain structures in the medieval church.
“Juckes also formulates persuasive new hypotheses about the original functions of certain structures in the medieval church”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimClassified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.
Interpretationnone given§ Reviewed by Marianne Sághy, Central European University (CEU), BudapestJuckes' book is the first comprehensive scholarly monograph in any language about St. Elizabeth's parish church of Košice, the largest and most ambitious Gothic construction in the medieval Kingdom of Hungary.
“This work, an outgrowth of the author's PhD dissertation from the Courtauld Institute, is the first comprehensive scholarly monograph in any language about the largest and most ambitious Gothic construction in the medieval Kingdom of Hungary, the St. Elizabeth parish church (now cathedral) of Kassa (also called Cassovia, Kaschau), now Košice in Slovakia.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.
Premisenone given§ Reviewed by Marianne Sághy, Central European University (CEU), BudapestAfter the re-consecration of St. Elizabeth's in 1896, the restoration project ran out of funds, Steindl resigned in 1901, and the project ended.
“After the solemn re-consecration of St. Elizabeth's in 1896, the project ran out of funds, Steindl resigned his position in 1901, and this was the end of the restoration project.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
Premisenone given§ Reviewed by Marianne Sághy, Central European University (CEU), BudapestThe new parts added to St. Elizabeth's in the nineteenth-century restoration were simply invented.
“In fact, the new parts, whose original appearance now became unknown, were simply invented.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).
Interpretationnone given§ Reviewed by Marianne Sághy, Central European University (CEU), BudapestThe book includes the best concise historical synopsis of the medieval city of Kassa available in any language.
“this study also includes the best concise historical synopsis of the medieval city of Kassa available in any language (23-51)”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimClassified as probably not a substantial claim.
Premisenone given§ Reviewed by Marianne Sághy, Central European University (CEU), BudapestJuckes hypothesizes that the gallery above the south porch served to demonstrate the Holy Blood reliquary during pilgrimages.
“Juckes presents an important hypothesis concerning the purpose of this gallery and suggests that it served to demonstrate the Holy Blood reliquiary during pilgrimages”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimMay combine two claims.
Premisenone given§ Additional informationThe Kassa masons' lodge that carried out the project was influenced by architectural experiments in progress in Vienna but executed these innovations even earlier than in Vienna.
“The Kassa masons' lodge that carried out the project was influenced by architectural experiments at that time in progress in Vienna, but they were able to execute these innovations even earlier than in Vienna (143).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing).
Interpretationnone given§ Reviewed by Marianne Sághy, Central European University (CEU), BudapestThe book includes the best survey of the activity and inspiration of the Kassa masons' lodge in Central Europe.
“the best survey of the activity and the inspiration of the Kassa masons' lodge in Central Europe”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
The paper relies on this without support.
The society that built and sustained St. Elizabeth's, and for whom the cathedral had a meaning, no longer exists.
“apparently because the society that built and sustained it and for whom this magnificent cathedral had a meaning no longer exists”
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.
Conflicting dates for free royal town status
MinorThe text describes Kassa as a free royal town in the thirteenth century, but later says it received that privilege in 1347, in the fourteenth century.
“the burghers of this thirteenth-century freshly privileged free royal town”
“In return, in 1347 King Charles I's son, King Louis the Great (1326-1382), granted Kassa the privilege of becoming a free royal town.”
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- Authors
- Sághy, M.
- Corresponding author
- Sághy, Marianne
- Venue
- Hungarian Cultural Studies
- Published
- 2016-01-22
- Volume
- 8
- Pages
- 210-215
- ISSN
- 2471-965X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2275365001
- Cited by
- 0
- References
- 0
- Type
- book review
- Language
- en
- Open access
- diamond
- doi.org
- Locations
- Hungarian Cultural Studies (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology › Medieval European History and Architecture
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Classics › Medieval Literature and History
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology › Medieval Architecture and Archaeology
- Keywords
- pilgrimage church, parish church, late medieval architecture, Košice, medieval towns, royal court, church architecture
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