Julian and Gellert

Dominicans in search of the Magyar tribe.

A brief history of the Magyars.

9^th century

Following the settlement of Jewish refugees from the Near East in the Khazar Empire, the ruling dynasty of the Khazars, another Turanian people, is converted to Judaism and seeks
to impose this religion upon all its subjects. This precipitates a civil war which leads to the collapse of the Khazar Empire. Several rebel Khazar tribes join the Hungarian tribal federation which was led by the Magyar tribe. At that time
the Hungarians were established in their own independent state of Dentumagyaria, between the Avar and Khazar empires.

895-96
After the collapse of the Khazar Empire, the Magyars and the other Hungarian tribes move West into the Etelköz region, where the Covenant of Blood takes place. This Covenant effectively creates the Magyar (Hungarian) nation which proceeds with the reconquest of the Carpathian Basin and its surrounding regions.
After expelling foreign encroaching powers from the Carpathian region and uniting with their previously settled Hun-Avar ethnic kin, the Magyars establish the Hungarian State in 896 as the successor state to the Hun and Avar empires.

10th c.
Following their victory over the invading Germans in 907, the Hungarians launch a series of punitive and pre-emptive military campaigns in Europe with the objective of preventing the formation of a large powerful united empire in the West, which would represent a serious threat to the security of the Hungarian State, and of recovering the Avar gold treasures pillaged by the invading Germans during the previous century. The Hungarians thus secure their state's position as a great power.

997
Following the reign of the Hungarian ruler Géza (972-997), during which foreign interests gain increasing influence under the guise of Christianization, Géza's son István (Stephen, 970-15.08.1038) is installed as king of Hungary on Christmas 1000,with the assistance of foreign armed intervention, in violation of ancient Hungarian traditions and of the sacred Covenant of Blood. Koppány, the rightful heir to the throne and leader of the national resistance is captured and quartered. Under the rule of István, feudalism and Christianity are imposed by force. The ancient Hungarian runic scriptures are burned and the traditionalist leaders and priests persecuted and exterminated.

The Westernization of Hungary results in the enslavement of the Hungarian population under an increasingly foreign feudal ruling class and church where foreign influences and foreign interests become predominant.

997-1526
With the exception of a few periods of relative peace and prosperity under the reign of Hungarian kings, medieval Hungary was characterized by an almost continuous political instability due to the constant struggle for power between various ruling factions. "Pagan" and "peasant" rebellions demonstrated the Hungarian people's resentment against the foreign Christian feudal regime.

Hungary was increasingly forced into the sacrificial role of "Easternmost bastion of Western Christianity", which caused incalculable losses to the Hungarian nation as it was manoeuvred by foreign interests into conflicts with the Mongols (13th c.) and the Turks (14th-17th c.).Bron: © hunmagyar,org

King Béla IV was born  in November 1206 as the son of Andrew II, and king of Hungary (1235-1270) du-ring whose reign the Mongol invasions left three-quarters of Hungary in ruins. He sent Otto in 1232 with four Dominicans to search in the east for the tribes of Magyars, but only Otto returned to Budapest.

In 1235 a new group of men, among them four Dominicans, among others Julian and Gellert. They travelled to Constantinopel, crossed the Black See in 32 days and marched through the land of Sychia. In the land of the Alanen they had to hide themselves for six months.

Two Dominicans unhooked and Julian and Gellert marched 37 days and arrived at a region, occupied by Mohammedans. Gellert died and Julian had to reached only tat he area between Samara, Otrenburg and Jekaterinburg. Many people there spoke the Magyar language. He returned to Budapest along a shorter road.

In 1237 he travelled again to this area to bring his compatriots to Hungary, but all were killed by the Tartars.

On the Fishermen's Bastion (Balászbástya) in Budapest, built by F. Schulek between 1895-1902, honouring the 1000th year of the Magyar State, the statue (1237-1937) of Julian and Gellert is p[laced with their names. Now it is preserved in the Hilton Hotel, built on the location of the Dominican priory of Saint Nicholas in Buda since 1257.

<<<<     Julian point at the dying Gellert the land of the   

              Magyrians.                    

Hungary 1961, Mi 1789, Sc B221. Fishermen's Bastion.

    Hungary 1984, Mi 1705, Sc 2867. Hilton Hotel,
    Budapest. There is now the original statue of
    Julian and Gellert.

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