Stephen Crowned: Hungary Becomes a Christian Kingdom
Pope Sylvester II sent a crown to Stephen I of Hungary, who was crowned on Christmas Day in the year 1000 (or possibly January 1, 1001), transforming a confederation of Magyar tribes into a recognized Christian kingdom. Stephen had defeated his pagan rival Koppany and married Gisela of Bavaria, aligning Hungary with Western Christianity rather than the Orthodox tradition of Byzantium. He established ten dioceses, imposed tithes, banned pagan practices, and created a system of royal counties that centralized power. The Holy Crown of Hungary that he received (or a version of it) became the most sacred symbol of Hungarian statehood and is still displayed in the Hungarian Parliament building today.
August 20, 1000
1026 years ago
Key Figures & Places
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