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 HUNGARY

548

HUNGARY

occupation of the country, but modern historical investigation shows that httle credence can be given the narrative.

The Magyars settled in the neighbourhood of the Danube, and especially in the district on the farther side, as best suited to their occupation, that of cattle- raising. In this region were foundefi their first towns, the most important of the country, namely. Gran, Szekcs-Fehervar, and Buda. At about the same time, under their leader Arpdd (d. 907), they began once more their maraud- ing expeditions and at- tacked the countries west of them; these forays, which went as far as Ger- many, Italy, and France, were continued under Zohiin (907-47), and Tak- sony (947-72), and did not cease until the land was converted to Cathol- icism in the reign of Gt-za. When the Hungarians took possession of the country where they now live, they found a strong Slavonic Catholic Chureli already in existence in the western part, in Pan- nonia, where the Christian Faith had been spread partly by German and partly by Italian priests. Methodius, the author of the Slavonic liturgy, en- deavoured to introduce the use of the new liturgy here also, but with his death (85.5) these efforts came to an end. Conse- quently, the Magyars received their knowledge of Christianity partly from the Cathohc popu- lation already existing in the country, and partly from the ecclesiastics whom they captured in their marauding expedi- tions. These forays into the territories farther to the west, which lasted into the tenth century, were a great obstacle to the .spread of Christianity, and at the same time the national pride of the

HfI.HKAHY riEPUESENTING

Gift of Canliaal Barlierini, Cathedral

Hungarians prevented the acceptance of the religion of the contjuered population. Their defeats near Merseburg, m 9:5:1, and on the I.eoh. in 9.')5, put an end to the.se western expeditions and made the Hun- garians more favourable to Christianity.

The opinion that the first efforts for the conversion of the Hungarians were made from Constantinople, because the Magyar commanders Bulcsu and C.yula accepted the Greek faith at Constantinople, re.'^ts, as has been proved, on the inventions of Byzantine chroniclers. The conversion of the land to the Catho- lic Faith was effected, in reality, from the west, and the change began in the ruling family. Duke G^za, who from 970 had been the sole ruler of Himgary, perceived the danger which threatened Hungary, surrounded as it was by Catholic countries, if it con- tinued pagan. He saw that, if Hungary persisted in shutting out Catholirism. it would sooner or later be the prey of the neighbouring peoples. His marriage with Adelaide, sister of the Polish Duke Miezco

(Mieczyslaw), brought him closer to the Church, and his conversion is to be attributed to Adelaide's in- fluence. It was through Adelaide's efforts that St. Adalbert, Archbishop of Prague, came to Hungary and, in 985, baptized Geza and his son Vaik; the latter took the name of Stephen in baptism. A large number of the most prominent of Gcza's retainers and of his people embraced the Catholic Faith at the same time. Evil results arose, however, from the fact that Adalbert did not at once establish an ecclesiastical organization for Hungary. Moreover, a large propor- tion of the newly con- verted adopted the new faith only in externals and retained their heathen customs, offering sacrifices to the old gods. Yet, not- withstanding all this, the new religion continued to spread among the people.

The actual conversion of the country and its ec- clesiastical organization was the work of St. Ste- phen, son of Duke G^za, who succeeded his father ill 997. His marriage with Gisela, sister of Duke Henry of Bavaria, gave a ]K)werful impulse to the spread of Catholicism. IVom Germany came large luimbers of priests, nobles, and knights, who settled in Hungary and aided Ste- phen in converting the pountry to Christianity. .Many obstacles were en- countered, and the new religion was spread liy the sword. The advance of Christianity was regarded as endangering national interests, and the influx of strangers, together with the favour shown these new settlers by the ruler, seemed to set aside the national influences in the government. Conse- quently, soon after the accession of Stephen, a St. Stei-hen of Hincarv rf-volt led by KoppJln

163.5. in the treasury of the broke out, but it was

of Z.Hgrdb <]uickly suppre.'^.sed. with

the aid of the foreign knights; in this way the repu- tation both of Stephen and of the Church was estal)- lislied in the regions on the farther side of the Danube. To show his gratitude for this victory Stephen liuilt the monastery of Pannonhalma (Martinsberg). Ste- phen's victory was also followed 1 ly the coming of large numbers of German, French, and Italian ecclesiastics to Hungary, which greatly aided the spread of Chris- tianity.

Stephen now undertook the task of providing the land with the necessary ecclesiastical organization. To secure the independence both of the country and of the Church in his dominions, he petitioned Pope Sylvester II. through .\bbot .\stricus, for the royal dignity and the confirmation of his ecclesiastical acts and ordinances; he also placed his dominion under the protectorate of the Holy See. Sylvester acceded to Stephen's request, sent him a royal crown, and confirmed his ecclc-iiastical regulations. Accord- ing to tradition, Stephen also received the title of