Author Description

"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 religous, 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.