Legends of Saint Ladislas

As time went on, Christianity gradually won out.  And as the new religion spread among the Magyars, so grew the number of Christian heroes.  Understandably, at first most of these heroes came from the clergy and the royal family, which explains why most eleventh-century Hungarian legends deal with the members of these estates.

According to legend, early Christian heroes were almost superhuman.  Yet, none were greater or received more recognition than Hungary’s second canonized king, Saint Ladislas, or Laszlo (reigned 1077-1095).  While a devoted and pious Christian, Ladislas displayed all the military skills of a medieval knight, as well as the virtues of medieval chivalry at its best.  He was a tall and noble warrior who always led his armies personally and always fought in the front lines.  As a warrior, he was feared.  Yet he was always generous to his defeated enemies, and when in grave difficulty, he always turned to God for help.  And apparently God did hear his pleas, for Saint Ladislas is credited by his people with having performed many miracles.

What follows is a brief selection from some of the legends associated with Saint Ladislas: “The Battle of Cserhalom,” “The Mountain Crevice of Torda,” “Saint Ladislas’ Coins,” and “Saint Ladislas’ Herb.”  They have been taken from the already mentioned Chronicon Pictum (Illuminated chronicle), the Chronicon Dubnicense (Dubnic chronicle), and from various Transylvanian and Trans-Danubian folktales.

Even in his early youth King Ladislas was known for his piety and his bravery.  He would often pray to God, but he would also fight the enemies of his people with the fury of one obsessed.

It so happened that one day the pagan Cumans broke into Hungary.  They were led by a certain Kapolcs, who brought destruction upon Hungary’s eastern provinces, especially Transylvania.  They destroyed many of her towns and villages and took captive many of her citizens, including women and children.