GOLDEN BULL, a name given to several state documents; the principal ones are as fol lows: 1. Of Hungary, 1222, wrung from King An drew II by his nobles, just as Magna Charta was extorted from John of England. Andrew II of Hungary, surnamed was a feeble, self-willed, worthless king, like John of England. Its terms were: The nobles and the Church were to be ex empt from taxes.
The daughter of a noble without male heir shall inherit one-fourth of his property, No noble shall be obliged to follow the king in any foreign war.
The palatine (that is, mayor of the palace), shall be the supreme judge.
No foreigner to hold office or dignity with out consent of the council of the realm.
The king shall not grant counties or offices of any kind in perpetuity.
If the king violates any of the laws in this bull, it shall not be treason to levy war on him.
This bull was so called because the attached seal was enclosed in a golden case or box. It is rather remarkable that one of the very first countries in Europe to effect the liberty of subjects should have been one of the last-born nations, the Huns of Hungary.
2. Aurea of the Empire,' 1356, pub lished by Kaiser Karl IV at the Diet of Nurem berg, and held the Magna Charta of Germany. It prevented a repetition of the contests which had hitherto arisen whenever a vacancy in the throne occurred; and regulated the functions, number and privileges of the electors. Called "golden° because the seal attached to the parch ment was of gold instead of lead, or else that it was enclosed in a golden case.
It limited the number of electors to seven (three prelates and four lay princes). The prel ates were the three archbishops of Maine, Co logne and Treves; the lay princes were the king of Bohemia, the Duke of Saxon, the Mar graf of Brandenburg, and the Pfaizgraf of the Rhine. Their persons were declared sacred. Every question was to be decided by majority and without appeal.