Hungarian invasions of Europe

History

The earliest possible reference to Hungarians in warfare dates to 811, when they were allied with Krum of Bulgaria against Emperor Nikephoros I, possibly at the Battle of Pliska in the Balkan Mountains. Around 837, the Bulgarian Empire sought an alliance with the Hungarians, according to Georgius Monachus. Constantine Porphyrogenitus recorded that the Khagan and Bek of the Khazars requested Emperor Theophilos build the fortress of Sarkel, a measure thought necessary because of a new enemy—likely the Hungarians.

In the 10th century, Ahmad ibn Rustah noted that the Khazars had fortified themselves against Magyar attacks. In 860–861, Hungarians attacked Saint Cyril's convoy near Chersonesos Taurica, but the encounter ended peacefully. Muslim geographers reported that the Magyars regularly raided neighboring East Slavic tribes and sold captives to the Byzantines at Kerch. Raids into the eastern Carolingian Empire began in 862.

In 881, Hungarians and Kabars invaded East Francia, fighting at Wenia (probably Vienna) and Culmite. In 892, King Arnulf of East Francia invaded Great Moravia with Magyar allies.

After 893, Magyar warriors crossed the Danube with Byzantine ships and defeated the Bulgarians in three battles. In 894, the Magyars invaded Pannonia with King Svatopluk I of Moravia. Around 896, likely under Árpád, the Hungarians entered the Carpathian Basin.

Timeline of the Hungarian invasions

In 811, the Hungarians allied with Krum of Bulgaria against Emperor Nikephoros I at the Battle of Pliska. In 839, while living east of the Carpathians in Etelköz, they fought on the Lower Danube for the First Bulgarian Empire against Byzantine insurgents. In 861, Hungarians attacked Saint Cyril in Crimea but became peaceful upon seeing him pray. The first raid into the Carpathian Basin occurred in 862 at the request of Rastislav of Moravia against East Francia.

Around 870, al-Djayhani and Ahmad ibn Rustah wrote that the Hungarian tribes attacked neighboring Slavs and sold captives at Kerch. In 881, Hungarian troops aiding the Moravians fought two battles against the Germans. In 882, the Hungarian ruler met Saints Cyril and Methodius on the Lower Danube. In 892, Hungarian troops attacked Great Moravia in alliance with King Arnulf of East Francia.

In 894, the Hungarians allied with Svatopluk I of Moravia to attack Pannonia; Svatopluk died during the war. That same year, a Hungarian army led by Liüntika defeated the Bulgarians in three battles, forcing Simeon I to retreat to Silistra. In 895, Simeon allied with the Pechenegs, forcing the Hungarians west toward the Carpathian Basin, where they conquered the eastern parts east of the Danube and then defeated the Bulgarians in Southern Transylvania and Tiszántúl.

In 899, the Hungarians attacked the Italian Kingdom, defeated Berengar I at the Battle of Brenta, burned Modena, and attacked Venice. In 900, they conquered Pannonia after their alliance proposal to the East Francians was rejected. In 901, they attacked Carinthia and Northern Italy; a Magyar army was defeated by Margrave Ratold at Laibach. In 902, the Hungarians conquered the eastern parts of Great Moravia, completing the conquest of the Carpathian Basin.

Did You Know?

• The Hungarian army used highly mobile light cavalry and often employed a feigned retreat tactic.
• The Magyar defeat at Lechfeld ended more than 90 years of pillaging western Europe and led to the creation of the basis for the state of Hungary.
• In following centuries, Hungarians adopted western European feudal military organization, including heavily armored cavalry.