Ladislaus (IV) was born into the Csetneki family, which originated from the gens (clan) Ákos and possessed landholdings mainly in Gömör County.

[2] Later, as a courtier of Queen Barbara of Cilli, John served as castellan of Ajnácskő (present-day ruins near Hajnáčka, Slovakia), being appointed to the position in July 1434.

[6] Returning home, his name first appears in contemporary Hungarian records in July 1396, when, together with his brothers John and Nicholas and cousins George and Michael, requested the cathedral chapter of Nyitra to confirm their ownership over their lands in order to eliminate the claims of their relatives, the powerful Bebek family.

[8] He belonged to the lesser nobility at that time; alongside his brothers, Ladislaus was unable to pay the dowry of Clara Zsámboki, the widow of Michael, thus they were forced to pledge their portions in Tapolca (Kunova Teplica), Szalóc (Slavec) and Ardó (Ardovo) in November 1401.

In his June 1424 charter, the king emphasized that Ladislaus Csetneki was appointed provost "at a very old age" and he "abounded in faith, an honest life, excellent knowledge, diverse virtues, talents and merits, as well as experience in mental and physical activity".

[12] His three brothers – Nicholas, John and Sigismund – served as courtly knights in the royal household; during the tensions emerged between Hungary and Poland, their 40-member lanced troops were assigned to the northern border of the realm, where they stationed at Késmárk (today Kežmarok, Slovakia).

[15] On behalf of Sigismund, Ladislaus mediated a truce between the Republic of Venice and Frederick IV, Duke of Austria at Merano, Tyrol in August 1413.

He was present when Sigismund negotiated with Antipope John XXIII in Lodi in November 1413 to obtain a promise that a council should be called in Constance to the next year to settle the Western Schism.

[14] For his merit, King Sigismund, who was in Constance at that time, donated to Ladislaus and his brothers a right to hold annual fairs for three different church holidays in their residence Csetnek in July 1417.

[17] Replacing conservator Stephen Kanizsai, the late archbishop's brother, Sigismund appointed grand provost Peter Csehi and archdeacon Ladislaus Csetneki as joint governors (gubernator) of the archdiocese in May 1419.

Hungarian historian Ede Reiszig considered that Ladislaus was perhaps a member of the Knights Hospitaller prior to that, but left the chivalric order due to their involvement in the anti-Sigismund rebellions.

As governor of the aforementioned monasteries, Ladislaus played a key role in the settlement of the order's property relations, primarily for the benefit of the royal treasury.

His goal was to rebuild the parish church into a basilica in the grand style, based on royal examples in Hungary and Austria, but this ultimately remained incomplete.

In August 1433, Ladislaus stayed in Rome, when requested Pope Eugene IV to grant indulgence to those subjects who went on a pilgrimage to one of the seven churches founded by his late father around Csetnek.

[23] Since the Roman Curia did not acknowledge the supremacy of the Hungarian royal over ecclesiastical affairs, Pope Eugene IV did not confirm Ladislaus' appointment and he was styled as only bishop-elect throughout his episcopal reign.

[26] Archbishop Dénes Szécsi also appointed his own castellan Gregory Majtényi, who unlawfully seized the bishopric's lands and revenues according to the complaint of Ladislaus in 1445 and 1447.