Principality of Hungary
The Grand Principality of Hungary[1][2] or Duchy of Hungary[3][4] (Hungarian: Magyar Nagyfejedelemség: "Hungarian Grand Principality"[5] Byzantine Greek: Τουρκία) was the earliest documented Hungarian state in the Carpathian Basin, established in 895 or 896,[6][7][8] following the 9th century Magyar invasion of the Carpathian Basin.
This article is about the Hungarian monarchy in the Early Middle Ages. For the principality ruled by Stephen Bocskai in the Early Modern Period, see Stephen Bocskai.
Grand Principality of HungaryMagyar Nagyfejedelemség (Hungarian)
Esztergom and Székesfehérvár (from the reigns of Taksony and Géza)
c. 895
839-970
4–6 July 907
10–12 August 955
997
25 December 1000
or 1 January 1001
The Hungarians, a semi-nomadic people formed a tribal alliance[9][10][11] led by Árpád (founder of the Árpád dynasty) arrived from Etelköz which was their earlier principality east of the Carpathians.[12]
During the period, the power of the Hungarian Grand Prince seemed to be decreasing irrespective of the success of the Hungarian military raids across Europe. The tribal territories, ruled by Hungarian warlords (chieftains), became semi-independent polities (e.g., the domains of Gyula the Younger in Transylvania). These territories were united again only under the rule of St. Stephen. The semi-nomadic Hungarian population adopted settled life. The chiefdom society changed to a state society. Since the second half of the 10th century, Christianity started to spread. The principality was succeeded by the Christian Kingdom of Hungary with the coronation of St Stephen I at Esztergom on Christmas Day 1000 (its alternative date is 1 January 1001).[13][14][15]
The period from 896 to 1000 is called "the age of principality" within Hungarian historiography.[7]
Further theories[edit]
Some historians believe that Prince Árpád's people spoke Turkic and the Magyars had been in the Basin since 680. Their main argument is that the newcomers' cemeteries are too small, indicating that the population was not big enough to make Magyar the dominant language in the Basin. However, it seems that Árpád led the Megyer tribe, and it would be tricky if the Megyer tribe would have spoken Bulgar Turkic. Of course, in principle anything may happen in a symbiosis.[65]