The Legend of King Saint Stephen

In his efforts to Christianize his people, King Stephen often had to use harsh methods.  The regional princes were still very much attached to their pagan faith and ways, and to the relative independence that went along with them.  But Stephen pursued his policy of Christianization and centralization relentlessly.  He was driven both by his dedication to the new faith, and by the conviction that unless they accepted Christianity, his people would ultimately be defeated and expelled from Christian Europe.  He thus became the second founder of the Hungarian state and the first hero of Hungarian Christianity.

There are many legends connected with King Stephen’s life, which have been preserved in medieval chronicles, hagiographies, and folk traditions.  Sections of these are reproduced here, based on Stephen’s Legenda Minor (Short legend) Legenda Maior (Long legend), and the Chronicon Pictum (Illustrated chronicle).

In his great wisdom, King Stephen knew that he would be unable to prevent the destruction of his people without forcing them to accept Christianity.  For this reason he was extremely zealous in his efforts to convert them.  He was aided in this task by many western European priests and monks, who were most pious in their faith.

Seeing the happy results of the work, Stephen decided to send a certain Abbot Astrik to Rome to ask for the pope’s blessings and to seek a royal crown for himself.  Abbot Astrik immediately departed for Rome, but his arrival was preceded there by the envoys of the duke of Poland, who also sought a crown and a royal title.

Pope Sylvester II was about to dispatch the specially prepared crown to Poland when he had a dream, the night before Astrik’s arrival.  The Lord’s angel appeared before him and told him: “Tomorrow the envoys of an unknown people will come before you, who will ask for a crown for their ruler.  Give the crown that you have already prepared to them, for they are more worthy of it.”