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Stephen of Hungary

Saint Stephen I
King of the Hungarians, King of the Pannonians or King of Hungary
Portrayal of Stephen I, King of Hungary on the coronation pall.jpg
Portrayal of Stephen I on the Hungarian coronation pall from 1031
King of Hungary
Reign 1000 or 1001–1038
Coronation 25 December 1000 or 1 January 1001
Predecessor Himself as Grand Prince
Successor Peter
Grand Prince of the Hungarians
Reign 997–1000 or 1001
Predecessor Géza
Successor Himself as King of Hungary
Born c. 975
Esztergom, Principality of Hungary
Died 15 August 1038 (aged 62–63)
Esztergom or Székesfehérvár, Kingdom of Hungary
Burial Székesfehérvár Basilica, Székesfehérvár, Hungary
Spouse Gisela of Bavaria
Issue Otto
Saint Emeric
Dynasty Árpád dynasty
Father Géza of Hungary
Mother Sarolt
Religion pre-Schism Catholic
Signature
King Saint Stephen
St. Stephen, Esztergom.jpg
King and Confessor
Born c. 975
Esztergom, Hungary
Died 15 August 1038
Székesfehérvár, Hungary
Venerated in Roman Catholic Church
Eastern Orthodox Church
Canonized 20 August 1083, Székesfehérvár by Pope Gregory VII
Major shrine St. Stephen's Basilica
Budapest, Hungary
Feast 16 August
20 August (in Hungary)
30 May (his Holy Dexter in Hungary)
Attributes Crown; Sceptre; globe
Patronage Patron saint of Hungary
Patron of kings, masons, stonecutters, stonemasons and bricklayers
Protector against child death

Stephen I, also known as King Saint Stephen (Hungarian: Szent István király; Latin: Sanctus Stephanus; Slovak: Štefan I. or Štefan Veľký; c. 975 – 15 August 1038 AD), was the last Grand Prince of the Hungarians between 997 and 1000 or 1001, and the first King of Hungary from 1000 or 1001 until his death in 1038. The year of his birth is uncertain, but many details of his life suggest that he was born in or after 975 in Esztergom. At his birth, he was given the pagan name Vajk. The date of his baptism is unknown. He was the only son of Grand Prince Géza and his wife, Sarolt, who was descended from the prominent family of the gyulas. Although both of his parents were baptized, Stephen was the first member of his family to become a devout Christian. He married Gisela of Bavaria, a scion of the imperial Ottonian dynasty.

After succeeding his father in 997, Stephen had to fight for the throne against his relative, Koppány, who was supported by large numbers of pagan warriors. He defeated Koppány mainly with the assistance of foreign knights, including Vecelin, Hont and Pázmány, but also with help from native lords. He was crowned on 25 December 1000 or 1 January 1001 with a crown sent by Pope Sylvester II. In a series of wars against semi-independent tribes and chieftains—including the Black Hungarians and his uncle, Gyula the Younger—he unified the Carpathian Basin. He protected the independence of his kingdom by forcing the invading troops of Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor, to withdraw from Hungary in 1030.


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