Saint Istvan and Saint Gisela

ID: I08070 Name: Stephen Arpad Saint King of Hungary I 1 Sex: M Birth: 967 in Esztergom 2 Burial: Székesfehérvár ALIA: Stephen \Arpad\ Saint King of Hungary I Religion: Canonised 1093 1 Event: King of Hungary Honour BET 997 AND 1038 2 Death: ABT 15 AUG 1038 2 Event: Crowned King with a crown sent from Pope Sylvesta II along with the title "Apostolic Majesty" Honour ABT 1000 2 Note: ISTVÁN I 997-1038 VAJK, son of GÉZA Prince of Hungary & his first wife Sarolt of Transylvania (Esztergom [967/75]-Buda 15 Aug 1038, bur Székesfehérvár). The Gesta Hungarorum records the birth in 967 of "Geicha dux [filium] regem Stephanum"[283]. Thietmar names "Waik brother-in-law of Duke Heinrich of the Bavarians"[284]. He was baptised as ISTVÁN [Stephen]. He succeeded his father in 997 as Prince of Hungary. His succession was challenged on grounds of seniority by his older cousin Koppány, whose rebellion was suppressed at Veszprem in 998 with the help of Bavarian cavalry[285]. Prince István received a royal crown from Pope Sylvester II and was crowned ISTVÁN I King of Hungary 25 Dec 1000 or 1 Jan 1001. He was also granted an apostolic cross, symbolic of the status and authority of the Hungarian church which was responsible to the Pope alone[286]. Rodulfus Glaber records that King István encouraged pilgrims to Jerusalem to cross Hungary rather than travel by sea, making "the road safe for everyone"[287]. His army attacked his maternal uncle Gyula Prince in Transylvania in 1002 and incorporated Transylvania into his domains[288]. His authority was challenged unsuccessfully in south-eastern Hungary by Ohtum [Ajtony], maybe a Khazar prince. King István confirmed the privileged 'freeman' status of the descendants of the original Magyar conquerors who, in return for providing military support, were exempt from taxes other than church tithes[289]. He reformed the Magyar legal system, enacting many new laws particularly relating to ecclesiastical matters. He was the author of a Book of Exhortations [Intelmek könyve] to his son, the first known Hungarian literary work, which emphasises the ecclesiastical basis for the king's authority[290]. The necrology of Tegernsee records the death "XVIII Kal Sep" of "Stephanus rex Ungarorum"[291]. The Chronicon Posoniense records the death in 1038 of "Stephanus rex"[292]. According to the Gesta Hungarorum, he died in the 46th year of his reign and was buried in "Albæ [Székesfehérvár] in ecclesia Beatæ Virginis"[293]. He was canonised in 1083 by the Catholic church, his feast-day being 4 Nov. m (996) GISELA of Bavaria, daughter of HEINRICH II "der Zänker" Duke of Bavaria and Carinthia [Germany] & his wife Gisela of Burgundy ([985]-Passau 7 May 1065, bur Passau Kloster Niedernburg). Herimannus names "Gisela, huius soror [=Heinricus imperator]" as wife of "Stephano regi Ungariorum"[294]. The Annalista Saxo states that "mater ipsius [Stephanus Ungariorum rex] Gisla" was sister of "Heinrici inperatoris Babenbergensis", when recording her husband's death[295], but clearly the text misstates "mater" for "uxor". This marriage was agreed by Gisela's brother Duke Heinrich IV and István's father to confirm the Hungarian/Bavarian alliance[296]. According to the legends of St Stephen, she founded Veszprém Cathedral and the convent of Veszprémvölgy[297]. The Gesta Hungarorum records that "Kysla regina" sent "comitem Sebus" to blind Vazúl, whom her husband wished to appoint as his successor after the death of their son Imre, and have moulten lead poured into his ears[298]. Bak suggests that Queen Gisela was blamed because of anti-German feeling in the Hungarian court[299]. According to another Hungarian chronicle, Queen Gisela took council from "an evil man named Buda" concerning her husband's plan to name his nephew Vazúl as his heir and sent Buda's son Egiruth to do the deed[300]. After her husband died, she was robbed of her possessions by her husband's successor and left Hungary, becoming Abbess of Niedernburg. King István & Queen Gisela had [five] children. The names and order of the children are as set out in Daniel Cornides[301], although Imre is the only child whose existence is corroborated in the primary sources so far consulted. Father: Geza Arpad Duke of Hungary b: BET 940 AND 945 Mother: Sarolt of Transylvania b: ABT 954 Marriage 1 Gisela of Bavaria b: ABT 980 Married: ABT 996