Hungarian Monarchs

A history of Hungarian monarchs.

Note that Hungarian names are written as [Family name] [Given name].

Kingdom of Hungary

Following the death of Grand Prince Geza, there was a succession war between his son St. Stephen I and Koppany (as the senior Arpad heir). Stephen I won through the support of foreign powers, especially Swabian and/or Slovak knights and the Church. The Kingdom of Hungary was established by Holy Roman Emperor Otto III and/or Pope Sylvester II.

Over time Hungary expanded...

• west to the Dalmatian coast; the kingdom of Croatia united with the kingdom of Hungary

• north into Bohemia, which had been established as a border duchy against Hungary; and into Slovakian settlements, which quickly became major trade towns

• south into Bosnia and Syrmia

• east into Transylvania

St. Stephen I established bishoprics (especially the archdiocese of Esztergom) and an administrative system of counties. The kingdom would be organized by voivodeships (especially of Transylvania and Syrmia) and banates (especially of Croatia and Dalmatia, Slavonia, Macso, and Bosnia).

Hungary was pulled into the Byzantine Empire's influence in the 12th century, and then into the Holy Roman Empire's influence following the rise of the Ottoman Empire.

Over time power shifted from the royal house to the free cities and noble houses.

Division between Austrian Empire and Principality of Transylvania

Following the death of Louis II and the Ottoman conquest of Budapest, the kingdom of Hungary and Croatia was contested between the Habsburg Ferdinand I and the Szapolyai John I.

For the succession from Ferdinand I, see the Austrian Empire.

For the succession from John I, see the Principality of Transylvania.

Dynasties

Arpad

One of the founding Hungarian tribes, the Kingdom of Hungary was created around the Arpad dynasty.

In 1041, Peter Orsoleo was overthrown by Samuel. He reclaimed the kingdom three years later.

From 1091 until 1095, and again after 1102, the Kingdoms of Hungary and Croatia were held in union by consent of the nobility.

Mary, the sister of Ladislaus IV, contested the claim of Andrew III. She was married into the Capetian House of Anjou by Charles II of Naples and passed her claim on to her son, Charles Martel, and thereby to her grandson, Charles I of Hungary.

Aba

Samuel, who had married into the family of St. Stephen I, was a powerful ispan. He briefly overthrew Peter Orsoleo but was himself overthrown after three years.

Premyslid

More generally known as Wenceslaus III of Bohemia. His Czech name is Vaclav; his Hungarian name is Vencel; he often used the name Ladislaus in Hungary. He abdicated in favor of Otto.

Wittelsbach

More generally known as Otto III of Bavaria. In June 1307 he was captured and imprisoned by Ladislaus Kan, voivode of Transylvania and de facto was the oligarch of an autonomous Transylvania. Otto escaped later that year, and renounced his claim to the throne in the following year.

Angevin

The Capetian House of Anjou is a continuation of the Arpad dynasty by the female line.

The crown was contested between Charles II, Mary, and Sigismund.

Habsburg

Mary left no Hungarian heirs to the Angevin dynasty. Sigismund himself was the last male member of the Luxembourg dynasty. He left only one daughter with his second wife, who was married into the Habsburgs.

Only the duchy of Austria recognized the will of Albert II for his posthumous son to inherit all titles. Hungarian nobles elected Wladyslaw III and a succession war continued until his death in 1444. He had a series of regents: his mother Elizabeth, a council of seven Captains in Chief, and John Hunyadi.

Jagiellon

There are two reigns of the Jagiellon dynasty. Wladyslaw I, king of Poland, is more generally known as Wladyslaw III. He was elected king in 1440 over Ladislaus the Posthumous, but he died shortly thereafter in battle against the Ottomans.

Wladyslaw II, the king of Bohemia and the grandson of Wladyslaw I, was elected king following the death of Matthias I.

Louis II was killed in the Ottoman conquest of Hungary.

Hunyadi

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