The realm of St. Stephen : a history of medieval Hungary, 895-1526

This is a comprehensive textbook on the historiography of medieval Eastern and Central Europe. It traces the medieval kingdom of Hungary - which covered the vast territory of the Carpathian basin - from the conquest by the Magyar tribes in 895 until defeat by the ottomans at the battle of Mohacs in 1526. The book is divided into two broad periods: the “national” Magyar kings of the Arpadian dynasty who had ruled from 895 were replaced in 1301 by rulers from a number of European dynasties, culminating in the radical changes to political and social structures of the 13th century. "The Realm of St. Stephen is a comprehensive survey of and a major contribution to the historiography of medieval Eastern and Central Europe. Pal Engel traces the establishment of the medieval kingdom of Hungary from its conquest by the Magyar tribes in 895 until its defeat by the Ottomans at the battle of Mohacs in 1526." "Engel divides the history of medieval Hungary into two broad periods. The originally nomadic Magyar tribes inherited an almost empty land from its former inhabitants - Romans, Huns, Germans and Avars - and absorbed the remaining Slavic peoples into the dominant Magyar culture. The 'national' Magyar kings of this era, the Arpadian dynasty, were replaced at the start of the fourteenth century by rulers from a number of European dynasties - Angevin, Luxemburgian, Hunyadi, and Jagellian. This latter period saw radical changes in political and social structures and in institutions which had previously remained unchanged. These reforms are reflected in the abundant variety of state documents available through Hungary's growing administrative and legal sophistication after the end of the Arpadian age." "Documenting the economic, social, political, cultural and military development of the dominant Magyars, as well as their religious, ethical and dynastic evolution, Pal Engel presents an accessible history of this important area. Andrew Ayton has edited the translation of this seminal text to bring it to a wider British, European and North American readership."--Jacket Machine generated contents note: Chapter 1. The Carpathian Basin Before the Hungarians -- Chapter 2. The Pagan tHungarians -- Chapter 3. The First Century of the Christian Kingdom -- Chapter 4. The Twelfth Century -- Chapter 5. Early Hungarian Society -- Chapter 6. The Age of the Golden Bulls -- Chapter 7. The Last Arpadians -- Chapter 8. Charles I of Anjou (1301-1342) -- Chapter 9. The New Monarchy -- Chapter 10. Louis the Great (1342-1382) -- Chapter 11. The Monarchy of Louis the Great -- Chapter 12. The Years of Crises (1382-1403) -- Chapter 13. Sigismund's Consolidation -- Chapter 14. Sigismund's Foreign Policy (1403-1437) -- Chapter 15. Trade and Towns -- Chapter 16. The Rural Landscape -- Chapter 17. The Age of John Hunyadi (1437-1457) -- Chapter 18. King Matthias Corvinus (1458-1490) -- Chapter 19. Hungary at the End of the Middle Ages -- Chapter 20. The Age of the Jagiellonian Kings (1490-1526) -- Maps -- Genealogical Tables -- Abbreviations -- Endnotes -- Bibliography Now recognised as the standard work on the subject, Realm of St Stephen is a comprehensive history of medieval Eastern and Central Europe. Pál Engel traces the establishment of the medieval kingdom of Hungary from its conquest by the Magyar tribes in 895 until defeat by the Ottomans at the Battle of Mohacs in 1526. He shows the development of the dominant Magyars who, upon inheriting an almost empty land, absorbed the remaining Slavic peoples into their culture after the original communities had largely disappeared. Engel's book is an accessible and highly readable history.'This is now the standard English language treatment of medieval Hungary - its internal history as well as its regional and European significance.'--- P W Knoll, University of Southern Carolina (From'Choice')'A lively and highly readable narrative'--- Albrecht Classen, University of Arizona (From'Mediaevistik') Cover Contents Foreword Preface Introduction 1. The Carpathian Basin Before the Hungarians 2. The Pagan Hungarians 3. The First Century of the Christian Kingdom 4. The Twelfth Century 5. Early Hungarian Society 6. The Age of the Golden Bulls 7. The Last Arpadians 8. Charles I of Anjou (1301 - 1342) 9. The New Monarchy 10. Louis the Great (1342-1382) 11. The Monarchy of Louis the Great 12. The Years of Crises (1382-1403) 13. Sigismund's Consolidation 14. Sigismund's Foreign Policy (1403-1437) 15. Trade and Towns 16. The Rural Landscape 17. The Age of John Hunyadi (1437-1457) 18. King Matthias Corvinus (1458-1490) 19. Hungary at the End of the 20. The Age of the Jagiellonian Kings (1490-1526) Maps Abbreviations Endnotes Bibliography Index Now recognised as the standard work on the subject, Realm of St Stephen is a comprehensive history of medieval Eastern and Central Europe. Pal Engel traces the establishment of the medieval kingdom of Hungary from its conquest by the Magyar tribes in 895 until defeat by the Ottomans at the Battle of Mohacs in 1526. He shows the development of the dominant Magyars who, upon inheriting an almost empty land, absorbed the remaining Slavic peoples into their culture after the original communities had largely disappeared.