[2] During his first episcopal years, his authority was weakened by fellow prelate Kalán Bár-Kalán, who also acted as Governor of Dalmatia and Croatia, but Dominic and his bishopric forged an advantage from the situation.
Based on this, the Croatian historiography – including Vjekoslav Klaić – considered Dominic had a strong relationship with Duke Andrew, belonging to his ducal court during that time.
Both Archbishop Saul of Kalocsa and (especially) Bishop Ugrin of Győr were considered strong pillars of Emeric's reign, thus Dominic also committed himself to the king by that time, as Szabados emphasized.
The bishop's name also occurred in the dignity lists of Duke Andrew's documents, alongside such secular barons, Mog or Nicholas, who were clearly considered as traitors and unfaithful in Emeric's court.
Historian Gábor Szeberényi argued, Dominic mostly remained neutral in the conflict between the brothers, and sought to establish a cooperative relationship with both parties for the benefit of the diocese.
Szeberényi argued, the pragmatist Dominic saw an opportunity in a precarious political situation in order to increase and secure the privileges and possessions of his diocese, and was not considered a dedicated supporter of either party during his episcopal activity.