Stephen I of Hungary
Ruler of the Hungarians who put down pagan resistance, founded bishoprics under Esztergom and was crowned king in 1000 or 1001. Laws and a book of advice on kingship survive in his name.
The older Life says that he was the son of the prince Géza, that Bishop Adalbert baptized him, and that he was given the name Stephen (Greater Legend of Saint Stephen 5, p. 231). Thietmar of Merseburg, writing in his lifetime, calls him Waic (Thietmar, Chronicle 4.59, p. 198). As ruler he defeated the pagans who rose against him, brought in clergy and monks, and set up ten bishoprics with Esztergom at their head (Greater Legend of Saint Stephen 6–8, pp. 232–233).
The Annals of Pressburg date his coronation to 1000 and his death to 1038 (Annals of Pressburg, years 1000 and 1038, p. 571). Thietmar credits the crown to the favour of the emperor Otto III (Thietmar, Chronicle 4.59, p. 198); the older Life speaks of letters of apostolic blessing (Greater Legend of Saint Stephen 9–11, pp. 233–234); Hartvic, a century later, tells of a crown sent by the pope (Hartvic, Life of King Stephen addition to chapter 9, pp. 233–234). The older Life adds that he married Gisela, sister of the emperor Henry, placed his kingdom under the protection of the Virgin Mary and began a great church in her honour at Alba (Greater Legend of Saint Stephen 9–11, pp. 233–234). The editor of the Lives notes that his body was solemnly raised in 1083, and that the Lives were written for the cult that followed (Greater Legend of Saint Stephen editor’s preface, p. 222). See Stephen I and the Christian Kingdom of Hungary.
In the timeline
- AD 1000 or 1001, estimated dateStephen I and the Christian Kingdom of Hungary
Stephen, ruler of the Hungarians, defeats pagan rebels, founds bishoprics with Esztergom at their head, and is crowned king. A writer of his own day credits the emperor Otto III; a Life written a century later says that the pope sent the crown.