History of Hungary

This is the history of Hungary. See also the history of Europe, the history of present-day nations and states, Hungary before the Magyars, and Hungary.

Origins of the Hungarian state

The commonly accepted view of the origin of the Magyars (known as Hungarians in most western languages) is that they were a nomadic people, with indeterminate and disputed origin from the Eurasian plains until the end of the 9th century AD. They were a confederacy of seven Magyar and three allied Khabar tribes; the name Hungary / Hungarian is most probably derived from the Turkish term Onogur meaning 'Ten Arrows', signifying united military strength in nomadic symbolism. In 896 they settled temporarily around the upper Tisza river basin, in 901 around the Balaton. Subsequently they also partly occupied what is today eastern Austria and southern Slovakia. After their defeat at the Battle of Lechfeld in 955, they definitively settled in the Carpathian basin.

Related Topics:
Magyars - 9th century - Khabar - Onogur - 896 - Tisza - 901 - Balaton - Austria - Slovakia - Battle of Lechfeld - 955 - Carpathian basin

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Árpád was the Magyar leader whom later accounts, written by order of the Árpáds, name as the single leader who led the Hungarian tribes conquering the territory in the 9th century. The ruling prince (fejedelem) Géza of the House of Árpád, who was the tribal ruler of basically what is today western Hungary but also nominal overlord of the seven Magyar tribes, intended to integrate Hungary into Christian (Western) Europe, rebuilding the state according to the Western model. He established a dynasty by naming his son Vajk (later called Stephen) as his successor. This was contrary to the then dominant tradition of the succession of the eldest surviving member of the ruling family.

Related Topics:
Árpád - Árpáds - Géza - Stephen

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See also: Hungary before the Magyars, Sources of early Hungarian history

Related Topics:
Hungary before the Magyars - Sources of early Hungarian history

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