Demetrius Nánabeszter

Demetrius was born into the gens (clan) Nánabeszter, which possessed landholdings along the river Danube in Central Hungary, in the surrounding area of royal capitals Esztergom and Buda.

[1] Demetrius – who also owned a portion in Sóskút – filed a lawsuit against the donation in 1266, because, being the closest living relative, he should have inherited the estate after the death of the childless Nana.

[4] Accordingly, Demetrius could retain the estate until his death as a usufructuary, but if he dies without a legitimate heir, the portion would automatically fall into the possession of the Dominican nuns.

[3] Demetrius ought to try to keep the inherited estates within the clan and endeavor to for their possessions into single coherent areas in Central Hungary, similarly to his contemporaries.

The document is one of the rare last wills from the 13th-century Hungary that lists and enumerates in detail the assets, possessions and wealth of the testator, which is a valuable source for the way of life of the contemporary nobility.

She also mentioned the most valuable items of her wardrobe, for instance a beaded coif, a golden bonnet, a veil decorated with gems and a headscarf embroidered with gold.

[2] Demetrius died by 1277, when King Ladislaus IV inducted the nuns to their new ownership in Sóskút, in accordance with the 1270 arrangement and the subsequent last will and testament.