Legends from the Legends from the Hungarian HistoryHungarian History

Presented by class 6-7-8 of Presented by class 6-7-8 of Simon Istvan Street Primary Simon Istvan Street Primary

SchoolSchool

We would like to present you the lives We would like to present you the lives and legends of three important people and legends of three important people from the Hungarian History.from the Hungarian History.

We have learned about them in History We have learned about them in History lesson.lesson.• Bishop Saint MartinBishop Saint Martin• King Saint Ladislaus King Saint Ladislaus • Princess Saint ElisabethPrincess Saint Elisabeth

Bishop Saint MartinBishop Saint Martin(316 Savaria – 397 Tours)(316 Savaria – 397 Tours)

Martin was born at Savaria, Pannonia (now Szombathely, Martin was born at Savaria, Pannonia (now Szombathely, Hungary). His father was a senior officer (tribune) in the Hungary). His father was a senior officer (tribune) in the Imperial Horse Guard, a unit of the Roman army, and Imperial Horse Guard, a unit of the Roman army, and was later stationed at Ticinum, Cisalpine Gaul (now was later stationed at Ticinum, Cisalpine Gaul (now Pavia, Italy), where Martin grew up.Pavia, Italy), where Martin grew up.At the age of ten, he went to the Christian church against At the age of ten, he went to the Christian church against the wishes of his parents and became a candidate for the wishes of his parents and became a candidate for baptism. At this time, Christianity had been made a legal baptism. At this time, Christianity had been made a legal religion (in 312), but it was by no means the dominant religion (in 312), but it was by no means the dominant religion everywhere in the Roman Empire. When Martin religion everywhere in the Roman Empire. When Martin was fifteen, as the son of a veteran officer, he was was fifteen, as the son of a veteran officer, he was required to join a cavalry required to join a cavalry alaala himself and thus, around himself and thus, around 334, was stationed at 334, was stationed at Ambianensium civitasAmbianensium civitas or or Samarobriva in Gaul (now Amiens, France).Samarobriva in Gaul (now Amiens, France).

Legend of the cloakLegend of the cloak

While Martin was still a soldier at Samarobriva (modern While Martin was still a soldier at Samarobriva (modern Amiens) he experienced the vision that became the Amiens) he experienced the vision that became the most-repeated story about his life. He was at the gates most-repeated story about his life. He was at the gates of the city of Samarobriva with his soldiers when he met of the city of Samarobriva with his soldiers when he met a scantily dressed beggar. He cut his own military cloak a scantily dressed beggar. He cut his own military cloak in half and shared it with the beggar. That night Martin in half and shared it with the beggar. That night Martin dreamed of Jesus wearing the half-cloak he had given dreamed of Jesus wearing the half-cloak he had given away. He heard Jesus say to the angels: "Here is Martin, away. He heard Jesus say to the angels: "Here is Martin, the Roman soldier who is not baptised; he has clad me.„the Roman soldier who is not baptised; he has clad me.„The dream confirmed Martin in his piety and he was The dream confirmed Martin in his piety and he was baptized at the age of 18. He served in the military for baptized at the age of 18. He served in the military for another two years until, just before a battle with the another two years until, just before a battle with the Gauls at Borbetomagus (now Worms, Germany) in 336, Gauls at Borbetomagus (now Worms, Germany) in 336, Martin determined that his faith prohibited him from Martin determined that his faith prohibited him from fighting, saying, "I am a soldier of Christ. I cannot fight."fighting, saying, "I am a soldier of Christ. I cannot fight."

King Saint LadislausKing Saint Ladislaus(1040 – 1095)(1040 – 1095)

He was King of HungaryHe was King of Hungary from 1077 until his death, "who from 1077 until his death, "who greatly expanded the boundaries of the kingdom and greatly expanded the boundaries of the kingdom and consolidated it internally; no other Hungarian king was so consolidated it internally; no other Hungarian king was so generally beloved by the people". When his brother died, generally beloved by the people". When his brother died, his followers proclaimed Ladislaus king according to the his followers proclaimed Ladislaus king according to the Hungarian tradition that gave precedence to the eldest Hungarian tradition that gave precedence to the eldest member of the deceased king's sons. Following a long member of the deceased king's sons. Following a long period of civil wars, he strengthened the royal power in his period of civil wars, he strengthened the royal power in his kingdom by introducing severe legislation. After his kingdom by introducing severe legislation. After his canonisation, Ladislaus became the model of the canonisation, Ladislaus became the model of the chivalrous king in Hungary. King Ladislaus took an active chivalrous king in Hungary. King Ladislaus took an active part in the reorganization of the Roman Catholic Church in part in the reorganization of the Roman Catholic Church in HungaryHungary. . No other Hungarian king was held in such high No other Hungarian king was held in such high esteem. The whole nation mourned for him for three esteem. The whole nation mourned for him for three years, and regarded him as a saint long before his years, and regarded him as a saint long before his canonizationcanonization. A whole cycle of legends is associated . A whole cycle of legends is associated with his name. with his name. He was canonized on June 27, 1192.He was canonized on June 27, 1192.

Legend of the gold and silver Legend of the gold and silver coinscoins

One day the troops of King Ladislaus chased the Kuns, One day the troops of King Ladislaus chased the Kuns, but the leader of the Kuns had a great idea. They started but the leader of the Kuns had a great idea. They started to scatter the looted gold and silver coins. The leader to scatter the looted gold and silver coins. The leader was right because the Magyars stopped chasing them was right because the Magyars stopped chasing them and started to pick up the money. and started to pick up the money. -Leave the money on the ground! – shouted the king. – Leave the money on the ground! – shouted the king. – You can pick them up later. Follow me! Chase the Kuns.You can pick them up later. Follow me! Chase the Kuns.But the Magyars didn’t hear their king’s words. They But the Magyars didn’t hear their king’s words. They thought of only the money nothing else. The ground was thought of only the money nothing else. The ground was full of brightly shining gold and silver. The Kuns stopped, full of brightly shining gold and silver. The Kuns stopped, turned back and tried to attack the Magyars. Ladislaus turned back and tried to attack the Magyars. Ladislaus looked up to the sky praying to God. God listened to the looked up to the sky praying to God. God listened to the king and miraculously the gold and silver coins turned king and miraculously the gold and silver coins turned into stones. This was the luck of the Magyars. They into stones. This was the luck of the Magyars. They understood God’s warning. They mounted their horses understood God’s warning. They mounted their horses and drove the Kuns out the country.and drove the Kuns out the country.

Princess Saint ElisabethPrincess Saint Elisabeth(1207 – 1231)(1207 – 1231)

She was a princessof the Kingdom of Hungary and a Catholic saint. She She was a princessof the Kingdom of Hungary and a Catholic saint. She was the daughter of Andrew II of Hungary and Gertrude of Merania, and was the daughter of Andrew II of Hungary and Gertrude of Merania, and at age four was brought to the court of the rulers of Thuringia in central at age four was brought to the court of the rulers of Thuringia in central Germany, to become a future bride who would reinforce political Germany, to become a future bride who would reinforce political alliances between the families. Elisabeth was married at the age of 14, alliances between the families. Elisabeth was married at the age of 14, widowed at 20, relinquished her wealth to the poor, built hospitals, and widowed at 20, relinquished her wealth to the poor, built hospitals, and became a symbol of Christian charity in Germany and elsewhere after became a symbol of Christian charity in Germany and elsewhere after her death at the age of 24.her death at the age of 24.In 1221, at the age of fourteen, Elisabeth married Ludwig; the same year In 1221, at the age of fourteen, Elisabeth married Ludwig; the same year he was crowned Ludwig IV, and the marriage appears to have been he was crowned Ludwig IV, and the marriage appears to have been happy. In 1223, Franciscan monks arrived, and the teenage Elisabeth not happy. In 1223, Franciscan monks arrived, and the teenage Elisabeth not only learned about the ideals of Francis of Assisi, but started to live only learned about the ideals of Francis of Assisi, but started to live them. Ludwig was not upset by his wife's charitable efforts, believing them. Ludwig was not upset by his wife's charitable efforts, believing that the distribution of his wealth to the poor would bring eternal rewardthat the distribution of his wealth to the poor would bring eternal reward..Elisabeth's life changed irrevocably on September 11, 1227 when Elisabeth's life changed irrevocably on September 11, 1227 when Ludwig, en route to join the Sixth Crusade, died of the plague in Otranto, Ludwig, en route to join the Sixth Crusade, died of the plague in Otranto, Italy. Italy. Elizabeth became affiliated with the Third Order of St. Francis, a lay Elizabeth became affiliated with the Third Order of St. Francis, a lay Franciscan group, probably without becoming an official Tertiary, and Franciscan group, probably without becoming an official Tertiary, and built a hospital at Marburg for the poor and the sick with the money from built a hospital at Marburg for the poor and the sick with the money from her dowry. In 1231, she died in Marburg at the age of twenty-four.her dowry. In 1231, she died in Marburg at the age of twenty-four.

Legend of the the roses and Legend of the the roses and leprous man leprous man

Very soon after the death of Elisabeth, miracles were Very soon after the death of Elisabeth, miracles were reported that happened at her grave in the church of reported that happened at her grave in the church of the hospital, especially miracles of healing.the hospital, especially miracles of healing.

The first legendThe first legendElisabeth is perhaps best known for the legend which says Elisabeth is perhaps best known for the legend which says that whilst she was taking bread to the poor in secret, her that whilst she was taking bread to the poor in secret, her husband asked her what was in the pouch; Elisabeth opened husband asked her what was in the pouch; Elisabeth opened it and the bread turned into roses. How realistic this story is it and the bread turned into roses. How realistic this story is remains doubtful, since her husband, according to the remains doubtful, since her husband, according to the vitaevitae, , was never troubled by her charity and in fact supported it. was never troubled by her charity and in fact supported it. In some versions of the story, it is her brother in law, In some versions of the story, it is her brother in law, Heinrich Raspe, who questions her. The miracle, the earliest Heinrich Raspe, who questions her. The miracle, the earliest example of what came to be called the Miracle of the roses, example of what came to be called the Miracle of the roses, is commemorated in many images of the saints—prayer is commemorated in many images of the saints—prayer cards, statues, paintings. One famous statue is in Budapest, cards, statues, paintings. One famous statue is in Budapest, in front of the neo-Gothic church dedicated to her at Roses' in front of the neo-Gothic church dedicated to her at Roses' Square (Square (Rózsák tereRózsák tere).).

The second legendThe second legend

Another popular story about St. Elisabeth, Another popular story about St. Elisabeth, also found in Dietrich of Apolda's also found in Dietrich of Apolda's VitaVita, , relates how she laid a leprous man in the relates how she laid a leprous man in the bed she shared with her husband. When bed she shared with her husband. When Ludwig discovered what she had done, he Ludwig discovered what she had done, he is said to have snatched off the is said to have snatched off the bedclothes in great indignation, but at bedclothes in great indignation, but at that instant "Almighty God opened the that instant "Almighty God opened the eyes of his soul, and instead of a leprous eyes of his soul, and instead of a leprous man he saw the figure of Christ crucified man he saw the figure of Christ crucified stretched upon the bed."stretched upon the bed."

I hope you enjoyed our I hope you enjoyed our legends.legends.