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Prince
Arpad
and his captains were told about the
riches of Pannonia, about its great
rivers and fertile lands.
They decided therefore to send
the brave Kusid, son of Kund, to explore
that country and to make inquiries
about its people.
Accordingly, Kusid and his
men entered Hungary.
They looked around in the region
of the Danube and saw that its soil
was fertile, its waters sweet, and
its grasses soft and beautiful.
Having
explored the lowlands of Pannonia,
Kusid decided to visit Svatopluk,
the Moravian prince who ruled over
a small corner of Attila’s former
empire.
Upon arriving, he greeted Svatopluk
in the name of his people and offered
Arpad’s gifts to him.
These gifts included a snow-white
Arabian stallion, a beautifully carved
gold-plated saddle, and an artistically
wrought golden bridle.
Upon
seeing these magnificent gifts, Svatopluk
was overjoyed.
He assumed that the Magyars,
who were asking for admittance, were
simple peasants who wished to work
his lands.
He was therefore gracious with
Arpad’s emissaries and inquired what
they wished in return.
Kusid replied: “All we want
is some soil, grass, and water.”
“So
let it be,” said the prince smiling.
“Take as much of each as you
want.”
Kusid
then filled his flask with water,
and his saddle bag with grass and
soil, and returned to his people. Arpad received him with much joy, especially
after Kusid showed him the fertile
soil of Pannonia and its sweet waters
and lush grasses.
Soon
after this Prince Arpad began his
invasion of Pannonia.
He rode at the head of seven
large armies, each led by one of his
princely generals. Arpad and his people, however, came not as
beggars, but as conquerors.
They regarded themselves as
the rightful owners of the land once
ruled by the mighty Attila.
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