House of Arpad, Arpad Age

Chieftain Árpád, who led the Hungarians into the Carpathian Basin, founded the House of Árpád from which all monarchs of the country descended from 895 until the House died out in 1301. The so-called Árpád Age is the foundation period of the Hungarian state, a political and ecclesiastic system based on Christianity.

The first king of Hungary, St Stephen I (István), was called Vajk when he was chosen as chieftain of the Hungarians in 997. He was crowned in 1000 and ruled until 1038. The foundations of a European-style Christian country are linked to his name.

Among Stephen's successors St László I (1077-1096) and Kálmán the Bookish (1096-1116) governed the country with strict laws. By the end of the 11th century their work had created a strong Central European power.

The early origins of constitutionalism are linked to the charter issued by Andrew II (1205-1235), the so-called Golden Bull (1222). The document defined various ranks of nobility as privileged members of the kingdom.

The cruel ransacking of the Tatar (Mongol) forces, which swept through the whole country in 1241-2, interrupted the relatively peaceful development of the country. In the space of only one year one third of the country's population lost their lives. It is not surprising then that King Béla IV (1235-1270), the then ruler, was called the 'second home founder'. After his death an inner struggle for the crown broke out which lasted almost for two decades until the death of Andrew III (1290-1301). This was also the end of the House of Árpád.

Several historic buildings from the Árpád Age can still be seen today: royal palaces, churches, monasteries as well as ruins of these buildings.