Szolgálatában

Szolgálatában is a Hungarian expression meaning “in his/her/its service” or “in the service of.” It is used to indicate that a person or organization is employed by, loyal to, or under the authority of another person or entity. The phrase typically appears in formal or literary contexts, describing relationships of duty, allegiance, or employment.

The form is built from the noun szolgálat (service, duty) combined with the inessive suffix -ban/-ben to mean “in” and a possessive relation that marks the owner of the service. In practice, it often occurs with a verb such as áll (to be) to express being in someone’s service, e.g., a király szolgálatában áll meaning “he is in the king’s service.” The construction can refer to military, civil, or organizational employment and can modify a subject or clause to specify whose service is in question.

Usage notes: szolgálatában emphasizes a relationship of service or employment rather than mere proximity or residence. It can appear with various possessors, from royalty to institutions, and is common in official, historical, or biographical texts. When translated, it may correspond to “in the king’s service,” “in the service of the state,” or “employed by.”

See also: szolgálat, inessive case, Hungarian possession and case marking, expressions of employment and allegiance in Hungarian.

The term is primarily a grammatical and stylistic device rather than a standalone concept, serving to articulate the role of service within interpersonal or institutional hierarchies.