History of Hungary : 1077 - 1699

1077-1095 King László I (later canonized) consolidates feudal power. Conquers Slavonia and Dalmatia.

1095-1116 King Kálmán the Bookish adds much to legislation. Acquires Dalmatia for Hungary; allowed Crusaders to march across giving them full support while in the country. .

1172-1196 Béla III makes written documents compulsory.

1213 Gertrude , meddling Queen of Andrew II , assassinated. (Inspiration for great 19 th c. play Bánk Bán , also made into opera by Erkel (composer of national anthem).

1222 The Golden Bull, Hungary's first "Constitution". Charter of rights of freemen (later: lesser nobility ) against Crown & barons, pivot of their subsequent advance.

1241-1242 Mongol invasion: 25%-33% of population killed/enslaved. After the devastation of the country King Béla IV. reorganizes the state which thus becomes one of the most powerful in Eastern Europe.

1260-1290 Dissension under Béla IV, Stephen V & László IV.

1267 Parliament emerges, begins to influence legislation and actions of Crown

1278 Emperor Rudolph acquires Austria for Habsburgs. Hungarian military support decisive against Ottokar of Bohemia -- its ultimate consequences unforeseen.

1301 death of András III, last king of the Árpád dynasty. Throne claimed by Venceslas of Bohemia, Otto of Bavaria & Charles Robert Anjou of Naples-Sicily.

1308-1382 Ascension of the Anjou kings, Charles Robert and Louis I (The Great), to the throne of Hungary.

1310 Parliament accepts claim of Charles Robert to be crowned which is followed by 10 years' struggle to subdue overmighty barons; from 1330s issues reliable gold florins .

1347-1350 Louis I the Great twice occupies Naples.

1367 Founding of a University at Pécs.

1370 Louis I becomes King of Poland (in Poland known as Ludwik I Węgierski).

1387-1437 Sigismund of Luxemburg crowned King of Hungary and later of Bohemia. From 1433 he is Holy Roman Emperor.

1440 Ulászló I Jagiello acquires throne after civil war.

1444 Ulászló I falls in battle against Turks at Varna.

1440-1453 János Hunyadi, reputedly the son of Emperor Sigismund won many battles against the Turks from 1440.

1456 János Hunyadi defeats Turks at Nándorfehérvár (Belgrade) & dies. The ringing of church bells to this day commemorates the victory.

1457 His elder son László was put to death at order of László V in 1457.

1458-1490 Reign of Mátyás (Matthias) Hunyadi - the Golden Age of Hungary. His court at Buda becomes an important centre of Renaissance culture, attracts many artists and his Corvina Library at Buda is also world-famous. Effective administration . Mátyás' famous "Black Army" deters Turks and ensures military supremacy over Central Europe.

1472 First printing press in Buda.

1485 King Mátyás the Just captures Vienna which remains under Hungarian rule until his death.

1490-1526 Decline under Ulászló II & Louis II (10 when crowned). No royal authority.

1514 György Dózsa's Peasant Revolt ends in defeat.

1526 The invading Turks annihilate Hungarian army at Mohács. Hungary lays open to Suleiman II the Magnificent who soon pushes the Ottoman frontier to the Carpathians. Louis II (still childless) dead & throne vacant.

1526-1540 Two kings: János Zápolya & Ferdinand I Habsburg. Zápolya ex-Governor of Transylvania elected October; Ferdinand brother of Charles V six weeks later.

1541 The fall of Buda Castle and the beginning of 150 years of Turkish occupation. The country is split into three parts: the central region ruled by Turks. The north and west by the Habsburgs. Transylvania becomes an independent principality.

1552 István Dobó holds Eger against Turks (5 weeks).

1556 Turks take Szigetvár defended by Miklós Zrinyi. Garrison dies rather than surrender, unaware that Suleiman just died in camp.

1593-1606 The fifteen-years' war against the Turks.

1605 Transylvania elects István Bocskai its Prince.

1619-1629 Gábor Bethlen Prince of Transylvania in 30 years' war 16 th -17 th centuries. Constant warfare between Hungarians and their Turkish overlords. From 1600 on repeated nationalist uprisings against the Habsburgs. The Habsburgs resisted reforms and encouraged the Germanization of the country.

1635 The brilliant preacher & writer Peter Pázmány founds University at Nagyszombat. The university later moved to Pest.

1664 Craven Peace of Vasvár -- against Hungary's interests. Although attacking Turks routed in battle, Leopold I concedes all their demands & recent conquests.

1667-1674 Leopold I institutes reign of terror , executions, exactions.

1678-1685 Imre Thököly leads "kuruc" revolt against Leopold I Unites anti-Habsburg forces; supported by Turks; proclaimed Prince of the Highlands; dies in exile.

1685-1686 Ilona Zrinyi holds Munkács against Imperial forces. She was the sister of executed Peter Zrinyi, wife of Thököly and mother, from first marriage, of Ferenc II. Rákóczi .

1686 The reconquest of Buda by international army assembled at initiative of Pope Innocent XI & led by Charles of Lorraine. Decline of Turkish supremacy.

1687-1688 Leopold I institutes renewed reign of terror & arbitrary rule (latter till his death: 1705). General Caraffa's blood-tribunals at Eperjes ; Transylvania made hereditary Habsburg Duchy; Neoacquistica Commissio ; no Parliaments.

1699 Hungary liberated from Turkish rule 18 th century Settlement of German immigrants to boost Hungary's population which declined from 3 million at the end of the 15 th century to 1.1 million by the end of the Turkish occupation

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Contents

The Hungarians : A Thousand Years of Victory in Defeat
by
Paul Lendvai

Reviews:
Stephen Goode, Washington Times
Mr. Lendvai has done a remarkable job. His book is easily the best history of Hungary in English.

Istvan Deak , Times Literary Supplement
The writing of national histories is . . . justified by the erudition and intellectual brilliance of the [author].

Budapest 1900: A Historical Portrait of a City and Its Culture