Since the birth of the Hungarian state (1000 A.D.) the city of Székesfehérvár, the Hungarian royal coronation and burial place had been one of the country's most important sacred centres. Saint Stephen (1000-1038) the first king of Hungary founded a privileged and independent priest association called the chapter of Székesfehérvár however the city did not have a bishop. The chapter was the guardian of the royal treasury and also the most important organisation of the state administration.