It was caught by a sudden gust of whirlwind that picked it up and swept it toward the West until it was lost from the sight of the amazed multitude.  “See!” exclaimed Attila, the son of the Hun king Bendeguz: “This is a clear sign that we should go westward.”  Then turning to the Magyars, he said: “We shall undoubtedly find the sacred sword one day, and with its help we shall build a great empire.  Then we shall send word for you to follow us.”

The appearance of a wondrous stag, central to early Hungarian legends regarding the founding of the nation, remained a feature of Hungarian legends even after Christianization. This detail from the Viennese Illuminated Chronicle depicts a stag showing King Geza I and Prince (later King) Ladislas where to build the cathedral of Vac.

And so it came to be.  The Huns began their trek to the West, led by King Bendeguz, who was assisted by his two gallant sons, Attila and Buda.  After many months they finally crossed the Carpathian Mountains and entered beautiful Pannonia, which was watered by the great rivers Danube and Tisza.

In Pannonia they clashed with the forces of the Longobard Makrin and Detre of Verona.  This battle took place at Tarnokvolgye and claimed many victims.  The Huns alone lost 125,000 men, including their princely captain, Keve.  Makrin and Detre, however, lost even more: 210,000 of their warriors remained on the battlefield.  This was soon followed by a second battle at Cezumor, where 40,000 Huns died, along with three of their top commanders: Bela, Reva, and Kadocsa.  The Germans and the Romans, however, were finally defeated.  Makrin was killed, Detre seriously wounded, and their armies all but destroyed.  Only a few of the enemy escaped.

After this victory the Huns buried their dead under a great mound, and following their ancient custom they built an idol on top of it.  They called it Balvanyko (Idol Rock) and named the region around it Kevehaza (Keve’s Home) in honor of their fallen hero Keve.

And so the time passed.  The Huns lived peacefully, but Attila had no peace of mind.  He found the region of the Danube and the Tisza too small.  He was dreaming of an empire that would embrace the world.  But his father, the elderly Bendeguz, held him back.  “Don’t even think about new conquests, my son, until you have found the Sword of God.  For no matter how brave you are, no matter how large your armies may be, you cannot build an empire without the help of the sacred sword.”