Kingdom of Hungary (1000–1301)

Hungary, 1000–1301. Draft, not yet reviewed

The high medieval Kingdom of Hungary was a regional power in Central Europe. The kingdom came into existence when Stephen I, Grand Prince of the Hungarians, was crowned king in 1000 or 1001. The kingdom received a major blow from the Mongol invasion of 1241–42. Andrew III (1290–1301) was the last male descendant of the native Árpád dynasty.

Seat of power: Esztergom

Rulers

Stephen I of Hungary

Apostolic King of Hungary, 1000–1038

Stephen I was the first king of Hungary from 1000 or 1001 until his death in 1038. He protected the independence of his kingdom by forcing the invading troops of Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor, to withdraw from Hungary in 1030.

Portrait of Stephen I of Hungary: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file

Andrew I of Hungary

Apostolic King of Hungary, 1047–1060

Andrew I was King of Hungary from 1046 to 1060. He strengthened the position of Catholicism in the Kingdom of Hungary and successfully defended its independence against the Holy Roman Empire.

Portrait of Andrew I of Hungary: János Thuróczy, Public domain, file

Solomon

Apostolic King of Hungary, 1063–1074

Solomon was King of Hungary from 1063. Solomon could only maintain his rule in a small zone along the western frontiers of Hungary after his defeat in the Battle of Mogyoród on 14 March 1074.

Portrait of Solomon: Johannes de Thurocz, Public domain, file

Ladislaus I of Hungary

Apostolic King of Hungary, 1077–1095

Ladislaus I was King of Hungary from 1077 and King of Croatia from 1091. Ladislaus canonized the first Hungarian saints, including King Stephen I and Duke Emeric, in 1085.

Portrait of Ladislaus I of Hungary: Medieval masters, CC BY 3.0, file

Coloman

Apostolic King of Hungary, 1095–1116

Coloman the Learned was King of Hungary from 1095 and King of Croatia from 1097 until his death. He invaded Croatia in 1097, defeating its last native king Petar Snačić. He annihilated the bands who were entering his kingdom unauthorized or pillaging the countryside, but the main crusader army crossed Hungary without incident.

Portrait of Coloman: Johannes de Thurocz, Public domain, file

Stephen II of Hungary

Apostolic King of Hungary, 1116–1131

Stephen II ruled as King of Hungary and Croatia from 1116 until 1131. His reign was characterized by frequent wars with neighbouring countries. In the first year of his reign, Venice occupied Dalmatia and Stephen never restored his rule in that province.

Portrait of Stephen II of Hungary: Johannes de Thurocz, Public domain, file

Béla II of Hungary

Apostolic King of Hungary, 1131–1141

Béla II the Blind was King of Hungary and Croatia from 1131 to 1141. Two violent purges were carried out among the partisans of his predecessors to strengthen Béla's rule. Bosnia and Split seem to have accepted Béla's suzerainty around 1136.

Portrait of Béla II of Hungary: Márk Kálti, Public domain, file

Géza II of Hungary

Apostolic King of Hungary, 1141–1162

Géza II was King of Hungary and Croatia from 1141 to 1162. Géza intervened at least six times in battles for control of Kiev on behalf of Iziaslav II, either by sending reinforcements or by personally leading his troops to the Kievan Rus' between 1148 and 1155.

Portrait of Géza II of Hungary: Márk Kálti, Public domain, file

Stephen III of Hungary

Apostolic King of Hungary, 1162–1172

Stephen III was King of Hungary and Croatia between 1162 and 1172. Stephen III waged wars against the Byzantine Empire between 1164 and 1167, but could not defeat the Byzantines. He concluded a concordat with the Holy See in 1169.

Portrait of Stephen III of Hungary: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file

Emeric, King of Hungary

Apostolic King of Hungary, 1196–1204

Emeric was King of Hungary and Croatia between 1196 and 1204. Emeric was the first Hungarian monarch to use the "Árpád stripes" as his personal coat of arms and to adopt the title of King of Serbia. He failed to prevent the Republic of Venice, which was assisted by crusaders of the Fourth Crusade, from seizing Zadar in 1202.

Portrait of Emeric, King of Hungary: Szilágyi Sándor, Public domain, file

Andrew II of Hungary

Apostolic King of Hungary, 1205–1235

Andrew II was King of Hungary and Croatia between 1205 and 1235. Andrew introduced a new grants policy, the so-called "new institutions", giving away money and royal estates to his partisans despite the loss of royal revenues. He was the first Hungarian monarch to adopt the title of "King of Halych and Lodomeria".

Portrait of Andrew II of Hungary: György Klösz, Public domain, file

Béla IV of Hungary

Apostolic King of Hungary, 1235–1270

Béla IV was King of Hungary and Croatia between 1235 and 1270. He attempted to restore royal authority, which had diminished under his father. The Mongols invaded Hungary and annihilated Béla's army in the Battle of Mohi on 11 April 1241.

Portrait of Béla IV of Hungary: Márk Kálti, Public domain, file

Ladislaus IV of Hungary

Apostolic King of Hungary, 1272–1290

Ladislaus IV was King of Hungary and Croatia from 1272 to 1290. Ladislaus decided to support the Cumans, for which Philip of Fermo excommunicated him. Ladislaus could not restore royal power in Hungary.

Portrait of Ladislaus IV of Hungary: Szilágyi Sándor, Public domain, file

Andrew III of Hungary

Apostolic King of Hungary, 1290–1301

Andrew III was King of Hungary and Croatia between 1290 and 1301. He was the first Hungarian monarch to issue a coronation diploma confirming the privileges of the noblemen and the clergy. Hungary was in a state of constant anarchy during Andrew's reign.

Portrait of Andrew III of Hungary: János Thuróczy, Public domain, file

Culture

Latin was the language of legislation, administration and the judiciary.
Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance buildings and literary works written in Latin prove the predominantly Roman Catholic character of the culture.
The location of the kingdom at the crossroads of international trade routes favored the coexistence of several cultures.
In 1222, Andrew II was forced to issue his Golden Bull.

Picture

The Holy Crown of Hungary was the coronation crown used by the Kingdom of Hungary for most of its existence.

Image: granada_turnier, CC BY 2.0, file

Sources

Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.