The Country and the People of Hungary

A bird’s-eye view, 1—Carpathian mountains, 5—Water system, 7—Climate, 9—Various nationalities, 13—Constitution, 16.

Hungary before the Occupation by the Magyars

Prehistoric times, 18—Pannonia and Dacia, 20—The Marcomanni, 21—Huns, 23—GepidÆ, 24—BajÁn, prince of the Avars, 25.

The Origin of the Hungarians

Nimrod and his descendants, 27—Two kindred races, 29—Cradle of the Magyar race, 32—Country between the Volga and Danube, 33—The seven dukes, 36—Invasion of Hungary, 37—Defeat of Svatopluk, 39.

The Reign of the Dukes

ÁrpÁd the first duke, 42—Defeat of King Berengar, 44—Battle of Presburg, 45—Battle of Merseburg, 47—Melancholy Magyars, 49—Duke Geyza, 51.

The Conversion to Christianity

Shamanism, 53—Missionaries, 55—Baptism of Stephen, 58—Discontent, 59—Rigorous laws, 61—Changes in manners and customs, 63.

St. Stephen, the First King of Hungary

St. Stephen’s Day, 66—Influence of religious ideas, 69—Character of Stephen, 71—Embassy to Rome, 74—St. Stephen’s crown, 75—Papal bull, 77—Christian church the corner-stone, 79—Cathedral of Stuhlweissenburg, 81—Increase of royal authority, 83—Revenues, 85—Prosperity of the country, 87—Attack of Conrad, 89—Stephen’s advice to his son, 91—Stephen canonized, 96.

The Kings of the House of ÁrpÁd

Wealth of the ÁrpÁds, 98—Charter of the Golden Bull, 99—Vatha, 102—Envoys of Henry III., 103—The brothers’ feud, 105—Power of paganism broken, 107—Battle of MogyorÓd, 109—Increase of population, 111—Religious movement in Europe, 114—The “bookish” king, 115—Struggle between uncle and nephew, 117—BÉla’s oath, 119—Royal chancery, 121—Battle on the Drave, 124—Andrew II., 125—Complaints of the nobles, 127—Golden Bull, 129—Mongol invasion, 132—Plain of Theiss, 135—Battle of Muhi, 139—BÉla’s flight, 141—Colonization, 142—Frederic, Duke of Austria, 144—Alliance of houses of Hapsburg and ÁrpÁd, 145—Ladislaus IV., 147—The sun of the ÁrpÁds sets, 150.

The Anjous in Hungary

The Czech party victorious, 152—Otto’s march through Buda, 153—Charles Robert of Anjou crowned, 154—Czech depredations, 155—Battle of Kassa, 157—ZÁch family condemned, 160—Wallachian campaign, 161—Louis the Great, 164—Assassination of Andrew, 165—The Pope’s sentence, 167—Successes in Servia, 169—Europe threatened by a new foe, 171—Cultivation of the arts of peace, 174—End of union between Poland and Hungary, 175—Coronation of Charles, 177—Sigismund, ruler of Hungary, 179—Execution of Kont, 181—Approach of Bajazet, 183—Election of new king, 185—King of Hungary becomes Emperor of Germany, 187—Church of Rome, 189—Siege of GalambÓcz, 191—Death of Sigismund, 193.

John Hunyadi; the Great Champion of Christianity

Every noble a born soldier, 195—Battle of Semendria, 196—Heroism of Simon KemÉny, 199—Entrance of Turkish army, 201—League against the Turks, 203—Terms of peace, 205—Battle of Varna, 207—Defeat of the Hungarians, 209—Invasion of Albania, 211—John Capistrano, 213—Death of Hunyadi, 215.

King Matthias

Personal courage, 220—Wars with the Poles and Czechs, 222—The Black Troop, 224—Siege of Vienna, 225—Severe disciplinarian, 229—Character of Matthias, 231—Embassy to Charles VIII., 233—Brilliant court receptions, 235—“An Earthly Paradise,” 238—New laws, 240—King Matthias the Just, 241—Critical position, 243—Wealth, 245—Renaissance, 247—Court dinners, 249—Library, 251—Palace at Buda, 253—Death of Matthias, 256.

The Period of National Decline, and the Disastrous Battle of MohÁcs

A dark page, 257—John Corvinus, 259—Deputation of Uladislaus, 261—Disorders of the times, 263—A distinguished brawl, 267—Condition of the Hungarian peasants, 269—Peasant war, 271—Popular feeling, 273—Indifference of the king, 275—Frivolous amusements, 277—Fuggers, 279—Kalandos League, 281—Siege of Shabatz, 283—King Louis roused from his lethargy, 285—Battle of MohÁcs, 287—Hungarians pay a heavy penalty, 289.

The Turkish World, and the Rise of Protestantism in Hungary

Sack of Buda, 293—A nation with two kings, 295—Ambitious schemes of Solyman, 297—Gallant George Szondi, 299—Stephen Losonczy, 301—TemesvÁr taken by the Turks, 305—Depressing days, 307—Heroic defence of Erlau, 308—Plans of Solyman, 311—He lays siege to SzigetvÁr, 313—Wearisomeness of the siege, 315—Fall of SzigetvÁr, 317—The poet Balassa, 319—Spread of Luther’s ideas, 322—Laws against Lutherans, 323—Teachings of Calvin, 325—The anti-reformation movement, 327—Nicholas Zrinyi, 329—Last great campaign of the Osmanlis, 331—Rout of the Turks, 333—Peace of SzatmÁr, 335—Desolation of Hungary, 336.

The Austrian Rule (1526-1780)

Ferdinand elevated to the throne of Hungary, 338—Turks averse to increase of Hapsburg power, 339—Vienna the seat of government, 341—Obstacle to Germanizing schemes, 343—Rebellion, 345—Peace of Vienna, 346—Jesuits gain a foothold, 347—Gabriel Bethlen, 348—Old policy of the Transylvanian princes, 350—Disturbance of the “balance of power,” 351—Gloomy outlook for the Hungarians, 353—General conspiracy, 355—Kurucz-Labancz era, 357—Negotiations begun, 358—Siege of Vienna raised, 359—Bloody Tribunal of Eperjes, 360—Colonization of the AlfÖld, 361—Oppressive taxes, 362—Francis RÁkÓczy II., 363—New rising of the people, 364—Compact of SzatmÁr, 367—Inauguration of new policy, 369—Maria Theresa’s appeal, 370—Gratitude of the queen, 371—Social revolution, 372.

The Emperor Joseph II.—The National Reaction and the Napoleonic Wars

A king refuses to be crowned, 375—Imbued with eighteenth-century views, 386—German made the official language, 379—Shocks the prejudices of the people, 381—Crown removed to Vienna, 382—War declared against Turkey, 385—Succession of Leopold II., 387—Hungary declared an independent country, 389—Laws securing religious liberty, 390—Arbitrary government of Francis I., 391—Hungarian Jacobins, 392—Echo of the French ideas, 394—Liberal leaders arrested, 395—Bloody executions, 396—Main functions of the diets, 397—Constitution ignored, 398—Levy of recruits, 399.

SzÉchenyi, Kossuth, and the Struggle for Liberty in 1848-1849

Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 400—Stephen SzÉchenyi, 402—Congress of Vienna, 404—Speaks in Hungarian, 406—Publication of “Credit,” 409—Introduction of horse-racing, 410—Danube Steam Navigation Company, 411—Louis Kossuth, 412—Leaders of public opinion, 414—Censorship of the press, 415—Kossuth’s imprisonment, 416—Pesti Hirlap, 417—Attacks on Kossuth, 418—Policy of the Viennese government, 420—Revolutions of 1848, 421—Talpra Magyar, 422—Reforms of the diet, 423—Hungary a modern state, 424—Rebellion of Croatians, Wallachs, and Serbs, 426—HonvÉds, 427—Vote for troops and funds, 428—Death of SzÉchenyi, 429—Invasion of WindischgrÄtz, 430—Klapka achieves his first triumph, 431—Alliance between Francis Joseph and the Czar, 432—Surrender of VilÁgos, 433—Persecution of the patriots, 434—Work of reconciliation, 435—Austria-Hungary, 436—Pardon for political offenders, 440.