Peter (II) from the kindred Monoszló (; 1240s – 27 November 1307) was a Hungarian prelate, who served as the Bishop of Transylvania from 1270 until his death. The current St. Michael's Cathedral in Gyulafehérvár (today Alba Iulia, Romania) was built during his term.
Early life
Peter was born into the gens Monoszló around 1240 as the son of Gregory II, who functioned as ispán of Krassó County in 1255. His mother was an unidentified noblewoman from the gens Bő, possibly the daughter of Ders. His grandfather was Thomas I, the Ban of Slavonia between 1228 and 1229. Peter had two brothers, Egidius II, who served as Master of the treasury several times, and Gregory III, who was a relative of the royal Árpád dynasty through his marriage. The three brothers supported each other in national politics and gradually distinguished themselves from the other branches of the Monoszló kindred. This intention also appeared in contemporary documents and charters, when their names were referred with the suffixes "de genere Thome bani" ("from Ban Thomas' kindred"), and later "de Filek", when the eldest one, Egidius was granted Fülek Castle (today Fiľakovo, Slovakia) by his lord, Duke Stephen.
As the youngest of three brothers, Peter entered ecclesiastical career. It is unknown whether he attended a foreign university or was a pupil at the clerical school in Veszprém. Nevertheless, he was first mentioned as "magister" which confirmed his literacy. In the emerging 1260s civil war between Stephen and his father, King Béla IV, the Monoszló clan, including Peter remained loyal to the Duke. Peter held the office of vice-chancellor at Duke Stephen's court since 1266, replacing Lodomer. He served in that capacity until 1270, when Stephen ascended the Hungarian throne. Due to the activity of Stephen's chancellery, the literacy spread across Transylvania, following the other parts of the realm. Utilizing his past experience, Peter organized the first permanent episcopal chancellery in the province after he became bishop.
Bishop of Transylvania
First years
Peter was elected Bishop of Transylvania still before the death of Béla IV, presumably in early 1270. His election was confirmed by the 1268–71 papal conclave by 13 June 1270. The new monarch, Stephen V rewarded the prelate's faithfulness for several years, when donated Kolozsvár (today Cluj-Napoca, Romania) and its surrounding areas to the Diocese of Transylvania, in addition to terra Obruth (today in Abrud, Romania) which was owned by the Transylvanian Chapter after 1271, according to later charters issued by Ladislaus IV and voivode Matthew Csák, respectively. With the acquisition of Kolozsvár, Peter Monoszló encircled the landholdings of the bishopric's long-time rival, the Kolozsmonostor Abbey (today Cluj-Mănăștur, Romania), forcing the Benedictine friars for unfavorable estate transfers and exchanges. Peter established a contiguous bishopric lordship in the western parts of Kolozs County; for instance he exchanged the lands of Piski (Hunyad County) and Akmár (Fehér County) for Körösfő in Kolozs County (present-day Izvoru Crișului, Romania) in 1276. The bishop also owned the nearby Kapus (Căpușu Mare) by 1282.
