Golden Bull

The Golden Bull was a formal decree issued in 1356 by the Hungarian King Louis I, establishing the constitutional framework for the Hungarian monarchy. It limited royal power by granting significant privileges to the noble aristocracy, including the election of the king by a council of high-ranking nobles and protections for their rights and estates. The decree aimed to create a balanced government and prevent arbitrary rulings, making the nobility a crucial part of governance. In essence, it was an early effort to establish a constitutional order that constrained monarchical authority and recognized the importance of noble consent in ruling.