ABSTRACT
The first period of Cistercian presence in Hungary is related to the general European expansion of the order. In medieval royal burials in Europe there were two typical tendencies in the selection of the place. The first pattern is when after the consolidation of a kingdom a permanent funeral place is established, where most of the monarchs lay buried. The other main pattern is when each monarch chooses his or her burial place individually, usually a personal foundation, or a particularly favoured church, supported with several donations. The burial of the first Hungarian king and his successors in the eleventh century follows the latter pattern, because there are several burial churches connected to the ruling dynasty. According to the Hungarian historical consciousness, it is an undeniable fact that Gertrude of Andechs-Meran was buried in the Pilis abbey after her murderous attack, because this was the nearest church to the scene of the murder.
