Smaragd of Kalocsa

[2] Smaragd had two brothers, Aynard and Gilét, both of them were officials of Queen Maria Laskarina, and progenitors of the Ajnárdfi and Gilétfi (Zsámboki) noble families, respectively, which flourished until the 15th century.

He was referred to as provost of the collegiate chapter of Hánta in 1244 (present-day a borough in Kisbér), which laid in the territory of the Diocese of Veszprém and functioned as one of the places of authentication in the Kingdom of Hungary.

Although some clashes took place in the autumn of 1262 between the royal troops and Stephen's forces, a lasting civil war was avoided through the mediation of the two archbishops of realm, Philip Türje of Esztergom and Smaragd of Kalocsa who persuaded Béla and his son to make a compromise.

According to the Peace of Pressburg, which was concluded in the autumn of 1262, the two divided the country along the Danube: the lands to the west of the river remained under the direct rule of Béla, and the government of the eastern territories was taken over by Stephen, who also adopted the title junior king.

The pope wrote a letter to Smaragd in December 1262, and asked him to investigate the circumstances and if he sees fit, accept the resignation of Oliver, absolve him from the obligation to govern the diocese and allow him to join the Franciscan monks.

[14] After previous failed initiatives, Ponsa, Bishop of Bosnia again asked the Holy See in 1264 to put his bishopric under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Kalocsa instead of the Diocese of Ragusa (Dubrovnik).

[14] When Pope Urban aimed to restore the Latin Empire by military recruitment, which proved to be a failed attempt, at the turn of 1263 and 1264, among others he requested also the Archdiocese of Kalocsa to contribute to the cost of the crusade, but Smaragd successfully petitioned to the Roman Curia for exemption from payment, referring to the continuous raids of Mongol marauders at the border.

Upon Pope Urban's order, he appointed Irenaeus, a canon of Győr as archdeacon of Sopron, but the bishop, Amadeus Pok prevented his subordinate from taking possession of the benefice.

[18] Still in the summer of 1265, Béla IV entrusted Philip and Smaragd to warn the baptized Cumans – who fought on Stephen's side in the war – to keep their faith, otherwise expel them from the kingdom.

Church historian József Udvardy claimed it happened one year later, in July 1266,[16] but there is sede vacante in the Archdiocese of Kalocsa in early 1266, and Smaragd was succeeded by Stephen II Báncsa (the above-mentioned cardinal's nephew) already in February 1266.