The Year 1000 in Hungary: Turning Point or Continuation?

Was there life in Hungary before 1000? This question automatically emerges from any reading of traditional Hungarian historiography. The iconic figure of Saint Stephen of Hungary, the first king of the country (canonised in 1083) overshadows everything that happened before his rule (997-1038). During his lifetime dioceses of the Latin Church were established and the first Benedictine monasteries founded. While traditionally almost every significant church was attributed to the early 11th century, during the last few decades many of these have been re-dated to later periods. On the other hand, scholarship in neighbouring countries, generally opposed to traditional Hungarian historiography, has always been looking for earlier signs of Christianity. Recent research has indicated that the survival of Carolingian structures was a significant factor in the establishment of new foundations after 1000. It seems that the cultural predecessors of Hungary’s foundational period in the early 11th century cannot be neglected; nonetheless, the new era signifies a new and different artistic orientation. As such, the year 1000 symbolises not only a rediscovered continuity but a definite turning point in the artistic culture of the Carpathian Basin.