A brief introduction to Budapest
May 13th 2008 03:59
As a city, Budapest, Hungary’s capital, is relatively young. It came into being in 1873 with the amalgamation of the communities Buda and Obuda on the west and Pest on the east bank of the Danube. Budapest's history, however, is long and marked by many rises and falls in fortune.
Before they even became a city, Buda, Obuda and Pest had known invasion and occupation. Between the 1st and the 4th century AD the Romans pushed their empire across the Danube and the area was caught into the new state of Pannonia. In 896, the Magyars invaded. In 1241, the marauding Mongols swept through. The Turks came after, in 1541, followed by the Habsburghs in 1686. The invasions continued after the creation of the new city. In 1919 the Rumanians stormed in. During World War II Budapest was occupied by Nazi Germany. In 1945 the Russians took charge and the city disappeared behind the Iron Curtain. In 1956 Soviet tanks rolled in to quell a popular uprising and to re-assert their control.
Still, there were times of peace and great prosperity too. In 1001, after the defeat of the Magyars, Istvan I founded the Arpad Dynasty. He centralized royal authority, established Christianity as the official religion and organized Hungary into the administrative counties whose borders still remain today. The entire country flourished. Prosperous and orderly times continued between 1172 and 1196 under Bela III. After the defeat of the Turks by Janos Hunyadi in 1456 and the coronation of his son Matyas as King Corvinus in 1458, Hungary entered a seventy year Golden Age. Corvinus’ Neapolitain wife Beatrix transformed the royal palace at Buda into the greatest renaissance palace in Europe. Meanwhile Matyas extended Hungary’s borders into Moravia, Bohemia and parts of Austria, transforming it into the greatest kingdom in Europe. In 1867 the great compromise established the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy and ushered in a period of stability and prosperity, with a resurgence in Hungarian culture. Buda, as its centre, flourished for almost fifty years. Then in 1989, the Iron Curtain was drawn aside and Budapest entered a new age of optimism.
Today’s Budapest bears the marks of these 2000 years of checkered history. Ill fate and good fortune are etched in its buildings, its bridges, its streets, its public squares and gardens, its monuments and statues and on its people. In spite of and because of its history, Budapest is one of the world’s great cities. Tourists pour in from all over the globe, drawn by its legendary culture. Budapest is also the political, economic and cultural heart of Hungary, drawing people from all over the country, like moths to its glittering lights.
Next post; Budapest, a city of three parts.
View Of Pest from near St Matyas Church
Before they even became a city, Buda, Obuda and Pest had known invasion and occupation. Between the 1st and the 4th century AD the Romans pushed their empire across the Danube and the area was caught into the new state of Pannonia. In 896, the Magyars invaded. In 1241, the marauding Mongols swept through. The Turks came after, in 1541, followed by the Habsburghs in 1686. The invasions continued after the creation of the new city. In 1919 the Rumanians stormed in. During World War II Budapest was occupied by Nazi Germany. In 1945 the Russians took charge and the city disappeared behind the Iron Curtain. In 1956 Soviet tanks rolled in to quell a popular uprising and to re-assert their control.
Still, there were times of peace and great prosperity too. In 1001, after the defeat of the Magyars, Istvan I founded the Arpad Dynasty. He centralized royal authority, established Christianity as the official religion and organized Hungary into the administrative counties whose borders still remain today. The entire country flourished. Prosperous and orderly times continued between 1172 and 1196 under Bela III. After the defeat of the Turks by Janos Hunyadi in 1456 and the coronation of his son Matyas as King Corvinus in 1458, Hungary entered a seventy year Golden Age. Corvinus’ Neapolitain wife Beatrix transformed the royal palace at Buda into the greatest renaissance palace in Europe. Meanwhile Matyas extended Hungary’s borders into Moravia, Bohemia and parts of Austria, transforming it into the greatest kingdom in Europe. In 1867 the great compromise established the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy and ushered in a period of stability and prosperity, with a resurgence in Hungarian culture. Buda, as its centre, flourished for almost fifty years. Then in 1989, the Iron Curtain was drawn aside and Budapest entered a new age of optimism.
Today’s Budapest bears the marks of these 2000 years of checkered history. Ill fate and good fortune are etched in its buildings, its bridges, its streets, its public squares and gardens, its monuments and statues and on its people. In spite of and because of its history, Budapest is one of the world’s great cities. Tourists pour in from all over the globe, drawn by its legendary culture. Budapest is also the political, economic and cultural heart of Hungary, drawing people from all over the country, like moths to its glittering lights.
Next post; Budapest, a city of three parts.
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Comment by Johnny Come Lately
Jack's Back
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
..and it was in this year that my parents escaped to the UK as refugees.
Jack is right, it is a brilliant city to visit (probably better for me becuase I speak the language), but one I am long overdue to re-visit... no doubts.
Thank you so much for this post, I look forward to Part 2.
Lilla ...
Comment by Patricia
Travel Stripe
Comment by Patricia
Travel Stripe