BRIEF HISTORY OF HUNGARY
Emese Kerkay (1966)
1100 years of statehood in the Carpathian Basin, 1000 years of Christian
Kingdom, 40 years since the 1956 Freedom fight.
In 1996 Hungarians are celebrating the 11O0th anniversary of their settlement and
state hood in the Carpathian Basin in Central Europe. History teaches us of the
presence of early Magyars in this geographical region since Hunnic times
(Székelys) and Avar times (White Magyars 670 AD.). The last major wave of
Hungarians entered the Carpathian Basin under the leadership of Árpád, the
elected sovereign, founder of the Árpád Dynasty. Scholars estimate their number
to be 500,000. In 907, the United West-European powers attacked the newly
founded nation, but the decisive victory of the Magyars in the Battle of Pozsony
assured the nation's existence for the coming 1000 years. The Árpád Dynasty,
which ruled for 406 years, had intensive politicaI and marital contacts with the
nations of Europe alI the way to England. The Magyars fought repeatedly in
western alliances in the 10th century. They have been in early contact with
Christianity of the Byzantine rite, before converting to Roman Catholicism under
the leadership of kings Géza and his son St. István (Stephen) at the end of the
10th century. From this time on, Hungary became a bastion of western
Christendom for the next thousand years. 12 members of the House of Árpád
were cannonized.
Hungarians had a highly developed brilliant artistic style in gold, silver and bronze,
paralleled in medieval architecture and embroidery. Their unique folk music has
roots far to the East in Central Eurasia.
St. István (997-1038), founded ten dioceses and reorganized Hungary politically
and economically. He requested and received a crown from pope Sylvester II, and
was crowned king in 1000. The Holy Crown of Hungary, a. symbol and depository
of constitutional power, was the symbolic holder of the supreme power of the
State until 1945.
King St. László (1077-1095) annexed Slavonia and Croatia at the request of their
queen, his sis ter, and since then tilI 1920 these countries were part of Hungary
enjoying her protection. King László founded the episcopacy of Zagreb, and built a
magnificent cathedral there.
King Kálmán (1095-1116) issued a decree forbidding witch hunts and tri als in
Hungary because "witches do not exist". This decree was observed for centuries.
In 1241-42 during the Mongol invasion the country was destroyed and half of the
population, which numbered two million, was exterminated. King Béla IV.
(1235-1270) rebuilt the country and six years after the invasion, Hungary once
again stood as the strongest power in Central Europe.
King László IV (1272-1290) helped the Habsburg family onto the Austrian throne,
and consequently to immense power in European history up to the 20th century,
by defeating the Czech king Ottokar in the Battle on the Plain of Morava in 1277.
In 1301 the House of Árpád died out and members of the Anjou family, also
descendants of Árpád on the female line ascende d to the throne. Under Lajos the
Great (1342-1382) Hungary reached the greatest territorial expansion in her
history.
At the beginning of the 15th century the Ottoman Empire started to expand towards
Europe. Their advance was temporarily stopped by János Hunyadi who dedicated
his entire life and fortunes to defeat the Turks and drive them out of Europe. His
most famous victory was the battle of Nándorfehérvár (today Belgrad) in 1456.
Hunyadi's comrade in arms and most avid supporter at Nándorfehérvárwas János
(John) Capistrano, a Franciscan monk, who forrned a crusading army by recruting
thousands of Hungarian peasants. In memory of this victory, pope Callixtus III
ordered the ringing of the church bells at noon alI over the world, a custom still
observed to this day.
Hunyadi's son Mátyás (1458-1490), also call ed Mátyás the Just, was one of the
most popular kings. He was a great patron of the arts and sciences, a true
renaissance king. His library, the' Corvina, was world famous, and the few existing
pieces are still held in high esteem.
In 1526, the Ottoman Empire under Suleiman the Magnificent attacked Hungary at
Mohács, the battle known as the "Graveyard of Greatness". During the 150 years of
Turkish occupation the country was destroyed due to constant warfare. Entire
cities and villages disappeared. The Hungarian population was reduced from 4 to
1.4 million people, making room for immigration from neighboring regions. (The
repeated decimation of the Magyar people led to the happenings in 1920, when
these same neighbors demanded 1000 year old Hungarian tenitories on the
grounds that their people lived there.) Northern and parts of western Hungary were
ruled by the Habsburgs. Only the Principality of Transylvania (Erdély) remained
independent, and was the citadel of Hungarian spirit. Already in 1557, the Diet of
Torda declared that alI men could follow the religion of their choice. In 1558, the
same Diet institutionally codified religious freedom, providing asylum to those
persecuted in other European countries because of their religion.
In 1686, Hungary was liberated from the Turks, but carne under Habsburg rule
and the suffering of the people continued. As a consequence, under the
leadership of Prince Ferenc Rákóczi, the Hungarians started their first significant
freedom fight (1703-1711) against Habsburg domination. Independence could not
be obtained and economic and cultural development was hemmed by the
subsequent oppression. Nevertheless the country was rebuilt.
In 1848-49 Hungarians fought again for independence against the Habsburgs,
and could only be defeated when 200,000 Imperial Russian troops entered the
country at the request of the Austrians. Bloody oppression folIowed. In 1867, the
Compromise was negotiated, which assured Hungarians lim ite d independence
and freedom. Franz Joseph of Habsburg was crowned king and the Austro-
Hungarian Monarchy was formed.
A devastating tragedy struck Hungary after World War 1, when the Peace Treaty of
Trianon was signed in 1920. Hungary lost 71 % of her territory, two thirds of her
population and alI her valuable assets below and on the surface to neighboring
and newly formed countries. The thousand year old State was broken up iota 7
pieces.
Hungary was forced to enter World War II in 1941. By 1944 the country became a
battleground for the Russian offensive against the German army. From 1945-1989
Hungary was occupied by the Soviet army and ruled by a Soviet type communism.
The Magyars could not tolerate the immense oppression and fought again for their
freedom. On October 23, 1956 they rose .against the hated Soviet communist
tyranny. The freedom fight was crushed by the Red army and their 5,000 tanks.
Thousands were executed and imprisoned and nearly a quarter million people
fled the country.
In 1989, Communism colIapsed. The following year free elections to ok place and
the Soviet troops left the country.
Hungary was at the cross roads of the warring nations of East and West, South
and North during her entire history. The nation, rich in scholars, scientists (10
Nobel-prize winners of Hungarian descent), inventors, sportsmen, artists and
musicians, remembers her glorious past together with the tragedies and looks
with great hope and faith towards the next 1000 years. God bless the Magyars!
Emese Kerkay (1966)
