Nicholas (II) Szécsényi (),écsé also known as Nicholas of Salgó ( or Salgai Miklós, ; died 19 January 1438), was a Hungarian wealthy landowner and magnate, who solely inherited the large-scale estates of the powerful Szécsényi family. However he lost almost all of his fortune following conspiracy and lawsuit based on fabricated accusations, forcing him into exile to the Republic of Venice.
Family and wealth
Nicholas II was born into the influential Szécsényi family, which originated from the ancient Kacsics kindred, as the elder son of Simon Szécsényi, a staunch supporter of King Sigismund of Luxembourg, and Elizabeth Garai, sister of Palatine Nicholas Garai. He had two siblings, Thomas II, who was mentioned only once in 1407 and died early and Dorothea, who married captain Sigismund Losonci. Nicholas Szécsényi was born in the early 1390s. In 1401, an unidentified son of Simon was mentioned, which presumably refers to Nicholas. He first appeared in contemporary sources by name in 1407, during a possession case of his father. Feeling the nearness of his death, Simon Szécsényi concluded an inheritance contract with his nephew Ladislaus II (son of Simon's late brother Frank) in the presence of Judge royal Simon Rozgonyi on 9 December 1411 in Letkés. Accordingly, his son Nicholas would be the sole heir of Salgó Castle (Börzsöny), which was acquired by Simon alone decades earlier, while Tapolcsány (today Topoľčany, Slovakia) belonged to Frank's branch. Hollókő and Ajnácskő (today Hajnáčka, Slovakia) were classified to Ladislaus (Frank's son) and Nicholas (Simon's son), respectively, while those accessaries (villages and lands) were shared between the two branches. The remaining two castles (Somoskő and Bene) and the surrounding villages became a joint family property, while both branches had to appoint an own castellan, simultaneously.
Simon Szécsényi died soon in January 1412, his fortune was inherited by his only surviving son Nicholas. A year later, his cousin Ladislaus II died suddenly and Nicholas became owner of the whole Szécsényi property, making him one of the richest landowners in the Kingdom of Hungary. As Ladislaus did not mention his namesake son in his last will and testament, it is presumable that Ladislaus III was born posthumously, who grew up in the court of Nicholas Szécsényi at Salgó Castle, which functioned as his permanent seat. In 1418, his sister Dorothea filed a lawsuit against him for issuing her heritage (daughter's quarta). Although she died in the next year, her son Ladislaus Losonci continued the lawsuit and Nicholas Szécsényi had to present his landholding charters in autumn 1422, according to the order of his uncle, Palatine Nicholas Garai.
Nicholas Szécsényi was among the Hungarian barons, who escorted Sigismund to his Western European diplomatic visit after August 1414. Alongside his monarch, he stayed in England in 1416, as he was referred to as "laske Michell" by The Chronicles of London. He also participated in the Council of Constance after that. Ulrich of Richenthal listed him among Sigismund's Hungarian accompaniment and referred to him as "Nicolaus Laschago von der Loben". Following the election of Pope Martin V, Szécsényi went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land through Venice. Returning home, he was mentioned as a courtly knight. He participated in the first royal campaign against the Hussites in 1420 and 1421. As a result, Sigismund donated him coat of arms in Hradiště on 18 April 1421. Szécsényi escorted his monarch to Késmárk, Szepesség (today Kežmarok, Slovakia) in March 1423, and was one of the sixteen secular barons and prelates who provided safe-conduct to the envoys of Władysław II Jagiełło, King of Poland.