High Prince Álmos

Álmos (pronounced|aːlmoʃ) (c. 820 – c. 895), the first Grand Prince of the Magyars (after 854 – c. 895). The "Gesta Hungarorum" ("The Deeds of the Hungarians") records that his father was Ügyek, while the "Chronicon Pictum" (the "Vienna Illuminated Chronicle") mentions his father as Előd (the son of Ügyek); his mother was Emese.cite book | last = Kristó | first = Gyula (editor) | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Korai Magyar Történeti Lexikon (9-14. század) "(Encyclopedia of the Early Hungarian History - 9-14th centuries)"| publisher = Akadémiai Kiadó | date = 1994 | location = Budapest | page = 39| url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 963 05 6722 9]

The medieval chronicle recounts the story of his birth thusly: "his pregnant mother had seen a divine vision in her dream of a Turul bird, as it were flying over her and getting her with child; and a spring seemed to rise from her womb and many great kings originated from her loins, although they would multiply not in their own lands".cite book | last = Kristó | first = Gyula | last2 = Makk | first2 = Ferenc | title = Az Árpád-ház uralkodói "("Rulers of the Árpád dynasty")" | publisher = I.P.C. KÖNYVEK Kft. | date = 1996 | location = | page = 9 | isbn = 963 7930 973] The legend is often given as an explanation for the name "Álmos", which is derived from the Hungarian word for "dream."

According to the medieval chronicles, Álmos was proclaimed Grand Prince of the Magyars by the leaders of the "Hétmagyar", the confederation of the seven Magyar tribes,cite book | page = 11] but the "De Administrando Imperio" states that the office was created by the Khagan of the Khazars, and that it was not Álmos, but his son Árpád, who became the first Grand Prince.cite book | page = 13] Modern historians usually follow the tradition that Álmos was the first Grand Prince in the second half of the 850s.cite book | page = 40] cite book | page = 13] It is unclear whether Álmos became the "kende" (spiritual leader) of the confederation or its "gyula" (military leader.)cite book | page = 262]

At that time, the Magyar tribes were living under Khazar supremacy.cite book | page = 262] cite book | last = Kristó | first = Gyula | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Magyar honfoglalás - honfoglaló magyarok "("The Hungarians' Occupation of their Country - The Hungarians occupying their Country")"| publisher = Kossuth Könyvkiadó | date = 1996 | location = | pages = 66-67| url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 963 09 3836 7]

Before 862, the seven Magyar tribes, living in the area they called "Etelköz", seceded from the Khazars; afterwards, they were exacting tribute from the neighbouring Slavic tribes and they fought occasionally as mercenaries on behalf of King Carloman of Bavaria, King Arnulf I of Germany and King Svatopluk I of Great Moravia.cite book | pages = 73-85, 100-103] The "Hétmagyar" confederation was strengthened when three tribes of the Kabars, who had rebelled against the Khazars, joined them before 881.cite book | page = 311]

In the spring of 895, the Magyar tribes attacked the Bulgarian Empire allied with the Byzantine emperor, Leo VI the Wise and defeated Emperor Simeon I of Bulgaria obliging him to conclude peace with the Byzantine Empire.cite book | pages = 112-116] The Emperor Simeon entered into an alliance with the Pechenegs, who were the eastern neighbours of the "Hétmagyar", and he made an attack against the Magyar troops.cite book | pages = 117-121] At the Battle of Southern Buh, the Emperor Simeon defeated the Magyar army; and shortly afterwards, the Pechenegs attacked and pillaged their territories.cite book | pages = 117-121] The Magyar tribes were obliged to leave "Etelköz" and invade the Carpathian Basin where they settled down ("Honfoglalás").cite book | pages = 117-121]

Álmos' death was probably caused by either assassination or human sacrifice because of the catastrophic defeats during the wars with the Bulgarian Empire and the Pechenegs.cite book | page = 15-16]

Child

* Árpád, Grand Prince of the Magyars (c. 845 – c. 907)

ources

*Kristó, Gyula (editor): Korai Magyar Történeti Lexikon - 9-14. század "(Encyclopedia of the Early Hungarian History - 9-14th centuries)"; Akadémiai Kiadó, 1994, Budapest; ISBN 963 05 6722 9.
*Kristó, Gyula - Makk, Ferenc: Az Árpád-ház uralkodói "(Rulers of the Árpád dynasty)"; I.P.C. KÖNYVEK Kft., 1996; ISBN 963 7930 973.
*Kristó, Gyula: Magyar honfoglalás - honfoglaló magyarok "(The Hungarians' Occupation of their Country - The Hungarians occupying their Country)"; Kossuth Könyvkiadó, 1996; ISBN 963 09 3836 7.

References

High Prince Álmos