[2] At that time, surnames were not yet commonly used, and Pongrác was known by several names, including Liptóik, Berencsik, and Szakolcaik, which were based on his origins or estates.
[3][4] His earliest independent charter dates to 1435, when he issued a document at Blatnica Castle in Turoč County, which his family had received from the king in 1403.
[8][9] Also in 1437, Pongrác received Branc Castle from Svaty Mikuláš, which he used as a base to begin his career as a robber baron, engaging in robbery, extortion and theft from surrounding settlements and estates.
[11] In August 1444, Pongrác Szent-miklós, now a significant local power, signed a treaty of friendship with János Hunyadi, who had become one of the country's most important figures.
In 1452, Hunyadi borrowed 7,000 florins from Szent-miklós to fund his war against the Turks, mortgaging Szakolca and a portion of the tax revenue from Zsolna.
In February of the following year, the Diet of Bratislava ordered the outlawing of Pongrác Szentmiklós, John Jiskra, and Péter Komorovszky, along with the confiscation of their property.
This decision proved largely ineffective, as Pongrác remained the chief bailiff of Liptov due to his favorable relations with Hunyadi.
A few months after his coronation, King Matthias stripped him of Nagyvár, Óvár and Likava, transferring them to Péter Komorovszky, who was later appointed chief bailiff of Liptov.
Nontheless, the family did not entirely fall out of the king's favour; although they unsuccessfully sought restitution for their lost castles, in 1479, Matthias pardoned his three brothers and their sons for all past offenses and prohibited the courts from conducting trials regarding these cases.