STATE OF SOCIETY DURING FIRST PERIOD. 25

history. As was the case in other countries, these three centuries present the picture of a barbarous state, with only two active and conflicting elements— the crown and the barons-the bulk of the people being alternately compelled to follow either the one or the other, always sharing their dangers without ever enjoying the fruits of their success. It must, however, be observed, that though there were at that time a large number of unprivileged classes spread over the country, subject to the uncontrolled will of the barons or landed proprietors, this circumstance did not result from a regular system of feudality, which developed itself in Hungary only in subsequent ages. Another difference observable in the Hungarian society of that time, is the exorbitant influence and power of the ecclesiastical order, which is rendered evident from the consideration of the circumstances under which Christianity was introduced. While in the rest of Europe the ecclesiastical order appeared in society as a component part of the elements already existing, it was called into life in Hungary simultaneously with the birth of royalty, and the beginning of quite a new state of things. St Stephen, assuming the regal title with the assistance of the see of Rome, first surrounded himself with the ecclesiastics, who, so to speak, became the lawgivers of the new society, and who consequently began to share the power with the crown ere the barons afterwards created attained political importance. No doubt the new organization of the country by St. Stephen, as well as the introduction of European jurisprudence, were almost entirely owing to the ecclesiastical order as the sole interpreters of Latin lore. Nothing, however, of their knowledge found its way into society at large. A few of the nobles, indeed, made

26 STATE OF SOCIETY DURING FIRST PERIOD.

themselves soon acquainted with this dead idiom, the only vehicle of higher social intercourse; while the bulk of the people, without growing wiser by the teachings of the monks, remained in the condition in which they had been in the pre-Christian era. The vast influence of the clergy, as will be seen, continued but little diminished even to a very recent date, and was productive of many national disasters down to the end of the seventeenth century.

SECOND PERIOD.

CHAPTER III.

FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE REIGN OF THE ANJOU DYNASTY, TO THE BATTLE OF WARNA (1301-1444.)

THIS period, though far shorter than the preceding one, is no less crowded with events both of national glory and deep humiliation. The most striking circumstance, however, is the analogy subsisting between its beginning and its closing scene; papal influence was the means of giving to Hungary its first foreign king; and papal intrigue lost this country, a century and a half later, both its king and its honours.

The death of the last of the Arpads could not but prove favourable to Carobert of Naples, who had already undergone the ceremony of coronation in Croatia, before the decease of Andrew III. Pope Boniface the VIII. now employed all the means at his command in favour of the Anjou prince, who at last ascended the throne of St Stephen.

16

REIGN OF COLOMAN.

leaders conceived by them to be actuated by the divine Spirit. A spectacle such as this could not fail, as may be imagined, to render the defenders of the Cross ridiculous in the eyes of a rude and warlike population. Their rapacity, however, was sufficient to throw the whole country into the wildest confusion. Coloman, perceiving the danger, took the field with some thousands of his best squadrons, who had little scruple in trampling under foot the sacred goat and goose with their deluded followers. Yet victory was not so easily to be won over these undisciplined but enraged and innumerable masses. Though frequently successful in turning a crowd of pilgrims into a heap of slain, the king was yet on many occasions kept at bay, forced to take shelter within the walls of fortresses, and often necessitated to draw strength from despair. But his activity and bravery at last triumphed over every difficulty, and Hungary was rescued from being parcelled out and taken possession of by these foreign adventurers.

In the year 1099 Coloman carried his arms into Croatia, which rose against the rule of his brother Almos; and after having reduced the population to obedience, marched to the extreme sea-coast of Dalmatia, some parts of which were subject to the rule of Venice. The possession of these parts of Dalmatia involved Hungary in a war with the Venetian republic, which, as will be afterwards seen, continued, with short intermissions, down to the end of the fourteenth century.

An event of great promise was the alliance of Coloinan with the Norman conqueror, Roger, king of Sicily; the Hungarian king taking for his wife Busilla, the daughter of the Neapolitan king. But the

COLOMAN'S SUCCESSORS.

17

expectations raised by this alliance, which united two of the most warlike tribes of Europe, were soon disappointed both by the sudden death of the Norman princess and the extinction of the Norman rule in Italy. After an active and beneficent reign of nineteen years, Coloman died in 1114, in consequence of a fall from his horse. Under an exceedingly deformed exterior, Coloman concealed a strong and enlightened mind, and, though brought up for the church, proved an undaunted warrior and a skilful ruler. Versed in science, which procured him the surname of Learned, Coloman was a steady protector of learning and art, the ballad writer Garay truly singing of him, that "he held in one hand the sword against danger, and in the other a book for the mind."

The fame of this king is stained, however, according to the chroniclers, by his cruelty towards his brother Almos and his son Bela, whose repeated disturbance of his reign he punished by putting out their eyes.

Coloman was succeeded on the throne by his son Stephen, who, after a short reign, was succeeded by Bela the Blind. The most important event of these reigns was the war with Venice about the possession of Dalmatia, and the annexation to the Hungarian crown of Rama, a part of Servia. In 1741, Geisa II. ascended the throne of St Stephen. His reign was marked by several important events. Having entirely reduced Transylvania, he invited many Saxons and Flemish into his kingdom, some of whom settled in the Banat, in the south of Hungary, and others in Transylvania.' In this principality the German

The majority, and the more ancient inhabitants of this country, were called Petshingers. They were subdued by the

B