History of the Hungarians

39 - Bitter Spoils 17.06.2026 22m

István V – the last Hungarian king to be named István – ascends to the throne after his father’s death. Conflict is pre-determined as his rule begins, with his sister leading a powerful faction of nobles to the court of Ottokar, the Iron and Golden King of Bohemia. But the famed Premyzlid, as well as his own barons shall soon learn that István is not his father, and has the power to stand up for himself, and for his crown.Alongside his tragic story today’s episode also features a longer discussion on what to expect from the podcast in the coming weeks and months. I rarely take such a chunk out to talk about this stuff, but…well, there is a lot to talk about.Website: historyofthehungarians.comFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579815072390Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofthehungariansSupport us at: https://buymeacoffee.com/historyofthehungarians The song heard in the intro and outro are parts of Johannes Brahms' Hungarian Dances no. 5, performed in G minor, arranged by Martin Schmeling.

38 - Family Affairs 10.06.2026 24m

After the Mongol invasion, Béla IV ruled for another twenty-eight years. While the most memorable reforms of that time we discussed last time, there are a few things that happen apart – like Hungary’s return to regional power-plays, or Béla’s conflicts within the family. Despite all the kingdom just survived, the Árpádians won’t be any less of a quarrelsome bunch. But there is a new element in these conflicts that was not really there before: the over-mighty barons, flexing their muscles.We also begin the discussion on the War of the Babenberg Succession – which would bring a family into our narrative whose role will grow and grow over time.Website: historyofthehungarians.comFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579815072390Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofthehungariansSupport us at: https://buymeacoffee.com/historyofthehungarians The song heard in the intro and outro are parts of Johannes Brahms' Hungarian Dances no. 5, performed in G minor, arranged by Martin Schmeling.

37 - The Second Founding 03.06.2026 26m

The medieval Kingdom of Hungary survived the Mongol invasion – but not intact. Vast swathes of the kingdom lay in ruin and depopulated. Yet, Hungary bounces back quickly. How is that possible? Join us today as we take a look at the massive societal and economic reforms, and the changes that accompany them that collectively would be called the Second Founding, and earn for Béla IV the name: the Second Founder.These reforms would reach and affect every part of Hungarian society in the middle ages, laying down the groundwork of what the state would become – reforms that would echo well past the 13th century.Website: historyofthehungarians.comFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579815072390Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofthehungariansSupport us at: https://buymeacoffee.com/historyofthehungarians The song heard in the intro and outro are parts of Johannes Brahms' Hungarian Dances no. 5, performed in G minor, arranged by Martin Schmeling.

36 - Where the Mongols Tread 27.05.2026 30m

“The Kingdom of Hungary, that stood for 350 years, was utterly destroyed by the Mongols.”This is how the annals of a Bavarian monastery refer to the year 1241 – and while they were not exactly correct, they were not far off the mark. Following the Battle of Muhi and its disastrous end, the invading Mongol forces moved swiftly to take control of their prize. What this meant for the population already living there was widespread slavery and death. For one year, the Mongol forces would hold absolute, uncontestable dominion over the eastern half of the Kingdom of Hungary.Come, join us today as we take stock of this horrific year, the lengths the population went to just to survive, and see what the king was willing to do to get help from the west.Website: historyofthehungarians.comFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579815072390Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofthehungariansSupport us at: https://buymeacoffee.com/historyofthehungarians The song heard in the intro and outro are parts of Johannes Brahms' Hungarian Dances no. 5, performed in G minor, arranged by Martin Schmeling.

35 - The Battle of Muhi 20.05.2026 23m

We put it off long enough, and cannot anymore – the Mongols are here! In 1241, the armies of Hungary massed against this threat, one that they seemingly did not even fully understand. The resulting battle shaped the future of the medieval Hungarian Kingdom, as Saint István’s system is put to the ultimate test. Come, find out if the time allotted to Béla for preparations thanks to Friar Julianus amounted to much, and if his policy of keeping the Cumans close gave him the edge he needed to safeguard the kingdom.Website: historyofthehungarians.comFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579815072390Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofthehungariansSupport us at: https://buymeacoffee.com/historyofthehungarians The song heard in the intro and outro are parts of Johannes Brahms' Hungarian Dances no. 5, performed in G minor, arranged byMartin Schmeling.

34 - The Travels of Brother Julianus 13.05.2026 24m

Today we head back to whence we came: the Great Eurasian Steppe, as we follow a friar of the Dominican Order on a grand quest in search of Magna Hungaria – and some long-lost brothers they believed still dwelt there. Their journey, undertaken as the Steppe itself was undergoing afundamental change due to the emergence of the Mongol Empire, is an inspiring, and yet tragic tale that every Hungarian child learns of in school. It is also an immensely important journey, as Brother Julianus interacts directly with the threat – and lives to tell the tale back home.Website: historyofthehungarians.comFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579815072390Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofthehungariansSupport us at: https://buymeacoffee.com/historyofthehungarians The song heard in the intro and outro are parts of Johannes Brahms' Hungarian Dances no. 5, performed in G minor, arranged by Martin Schmeling.

33 - Before the Storm 06.05.2026 24m

Today, we begin discussing the life and reign of Béla IV – without question one of the most important, most influential kings of the Árpádian dynasty, with a long-lasting legacy. Béla would have to show his mettle in situations no other Árpádian faced, but his early years are mostly about dealing with the legacy of his father. András II broke the kingdom’s equilibrium, and Béla was intent on rebuilding the power and majesty the medieval Kings of Hungary once held – but time has passed, and turning back the clock always comes with upsetting the now-established status quo.Website: historyofthehungarians.comFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579815072390Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofthehungariansSupport us at: https://buymeacoffee.com/historyofthehungarians The song heard in the intro and outro are parts of Johannes Brahms' Hungarian Dances no. 5, performed in G minor, arranged by Martin Schmeling.

Special Episode - the 2026 Election 01.05.2026 28m

In the very first special episode of History of the Hungarians, we take a look at the 2026 election, how we got here, and why they were so important.Website: historyofthehungarians.comFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579815072390Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofthehungariansSupport us at: https://buymeacoffee.com/historyofthehungarians The song heard in the intro and outro are parts of Johannes Brahms' Hungarian Dances no. 5, performed in G minor, arranged by Martin Schmeling.

32 - Visit You in Your Descendent 29.04.2026 24m

András II found no rest even after issuing the Golden Bull – albeit never holding himself to what he promised in it might be the reason why. In the last decade of his reign, András struggled with his son, Béla, who was dead-set on ending the mass alienation of royal land, and the Church, who felt that they drew the short stick during the Golden Bull. During thislatter conflict, the king who has been threatened with excommunication basically all his life by various ecclesiastic authorities found the hammer finally coming down.Website: historyofthehungarians.comFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579815072390Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofthehungariansSupport us at: https://buymeacoffee.com/historyofthehungarians The song heard in the intro and outro are parts of Johannes Brahms' Hungarian Dances no. 5, performed in G minor, arranged by Martin Schmeling.

31 - The Golden Bull of 1222 22.04.2026 28m

Today, we reach the year 1222 – and the Golden Bull. Facedwith opposition, internal strife, and mounting pressure from his most loyal supporters, King András II is forced to issue a document that would become the basis of Hungary’s feudal development for centuries to come. It became a foundational document for the development of Hungarian Law, to the point that the justices of the constitutional court wear its insignia today. So come, join us today, as we discuss the Golden Bull, the circumstances of its birth, and how it influenced one of the more unique aspects of the Hungarian nobility.Website: historyofthehungarians.comFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579815072390Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofthehungariansSupport us at: https://buymeacoffee.com/historyofthehungarians The song heard in the intro and outro are parts of Johannes Brahms' Hungarian Dances no. 5, performed in G minor, arranged by Martin Schmeling.

30 - Holy Tourism 15.04.2026 20m

Send your questions for the Q&A to: historyofthehungarians@gmail.comWe take a view at something that took up much of András II’s time: his wars and his ambitions abroad. From his attempt to reclaim the kingdom he held as a child, to attempting to take the crown of the Latin Empire, András was active on the European stage. Come, join us, and see how his desire for the Latin Emperorship finally got András to make good on the oath he inherited from his father, and go on Crusade – and what he did once in the Holy Land.Website: historyofthehungarians.comFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579815072390Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofthehungariansSupport us at: https://buymeacoffee.com/historyofthehungarians The song heard in the intro and outro are parts of Johannes Brahms' Hungarian Dances no. 5, performed in G minor, arranged by Martin Schmeling.

29 - Afraid you should be not 08.04.2026 26m

Send your questions for the Q&A to: historyofthehungarians@gmail.comToday’s topic is the first part of András II’s reign: a period characterized by the immense favor the king showed to his wife’s family. This favoritism would end in tragedy, when a group of leading Hungarian noblemen decided that Gertrude was the source of their problems. But what was it they thought the queen threatened? What was the great reorganization of the kingdom András II undertook, and what were the consequences? Join us as we begin this month-long tale of András II’s reign, full of twists, turns, and medieval politicking!Website: historyofthehungarians.comFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579815072390Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofthehungariansSupport us at: https://buymeacoffee.com/historyofthehungarians The song heard in the intro and outro are parts of Johannes Brahms' Hungarian Dances no. 5, performed in G minor, arranged by Martin Schmeling.

28 - Brotherly Love 01.04.2026 23m

We begin the 13th century – and close out the 12th – with the tale of two brothers. The sons of Béla III they both may be, but their differing personalities, ambitions and goals will quickly reignite the old plague of their dynasty. Meanwhile, the kingdom truly stands on the precipice of a new era, with our friends in the Most Serene Republic of Venice banging on the doors accompanied by thousands of fighters from the Fourth Crusade.Website: historyofthehungarians.comFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579815072390Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofthehungariansSupport us at: https://buymeacoffee.com/historyofthehungarians The song heard in the intro and outro are parts of Johannes Brahms' Hungarian Dances no. 5, performed in G minor, arranged by Martin Schmeling.

27 - The Forgotten Century 25.03.2026 24m

Often I heard the 12 th century be called Hungary’s forgotten century: it is skipped over entirely in public education, and even in my university course, I remember not much being said about it, unless you dug for it yourself. Meanwhile it is an important bridge between what was – Saint István’s kingdom, straddling the place between the feudal west and the imperial east – and what will be: an eventually powerful medieval kingdom. Come, join us as we take stock of this century, the economics, the foreign settlement, and even a shift that will become the driving force behind the internal conflicts of the next century…Website: historyofthehungarians.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.phpid=61579815072390Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofthehungariansSupport us at: https://buymeacoffee.com/historyofthehungariansThe song heard in the intro and outro are parts of Johannes Brahms's Hungarian Dances no. 5, performed in G minor, arranged by Martin Schmeling.

26 - Back to the Stage 18.03.2026 24m

The second half of Béla’s reign was dedicated to Hungary’s great re-entry to the medieval power-politics of his day. On today’s episode, we shall discover how this was possible, why it happened now – and the results of taking up such an aggressive stance again, after decades on the mend. Come, join us as we discuss Hungary’s attempts to seat an Árpádian on the throne of Halics, Béla’s role in diplomacy between two emperors, and the moment when the man they once called Alexios almost returned as Byzantium’s ruler…Website: historyofthehungarians.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579815072390Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofthehungariansSupport us at: https://buymeacoffee.com/historyofthehungarians The song heard in the intro and outro are parts of Johannes Brahms' Hungarian Dances no. 5, performed in G minor, arranged by Martin Schmeling.

25 - The Direction of the Kingdom 11.03.2026 22m

Béla III’s reign is a pivotal time in the history of the medieval Hungarian Kingdom – he is the last king to rule the way Saint István intended, and the first to usher in some new practices. He was given the task of overseeing Hungary’s recovery from the conflicts of the decades prior, something he manages to the tune of being one of the richer crowned heads of Europe. Come, join us today as we examine the first decade and a half of Béla’s rule, and the state of the Hungarian kingdom under his leadership.Website: historyofthehungarians.comFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579815072390Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofthehungariansSupport us at: https://buymeacoffee.com/historyofthehungarians The song heard in the intro and outro are parts of Johannes Brahms' Hungarian Dances no. 5, performed in G minor, arranged by Martin Schmeling.

24 - The Boy They Called Alexios 04.03.2026 27m

“What kind of blasphemy has our emperor committed, that he not only denied his daughter’s hand to us Romans, but this foreigner, he considers better than us all, and places above us into power?”These were the words that accompanied Béla, from theHouse of Árpád when he was proclaimed the heir to the Byzantine emperor. To say that his potential elevation was not unanimously approved of would be an understatement. Today, we shall follow the young prince as he embarks fromHungary to the beating heart of the Byzantine Empire, where political prophecies dictate the name of the heir, and one can be made, or unmade in mere weeks.REGISTER TO VOTEIF ELIGIBLE: https://vtr.valasztas.hu/ogy2026/valasztopolgaroknak/kulkepviseletek-listaja?tab=hogyan-szavazhatWebsite: historyofthehungarians.comFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579815072390Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofthehungariansSupport us at: https://buymeacoffee.com/historyofthehungarians The song heard in the intro and outro are parts of Johannes Brahms' Hungarian Dances no. 5, performed in G minor, arranged by Martin Schmeling.

23 - In his father's shadow 25.02.2026 25m

István III may have triumphed over his uncles, but he is far from being in the clear. His father, Géza II created many issues, and Hungary had few friends to call on for help – all this coming down on István’s head. The young king’s reign would be filled with trying to extricate himself from these struggles. Let us see whether he manages to stabilize his kingdom, or will the newly minted power in Europe fall under the umbrella of the Byzantine Empire?Website: historyofthehungarians.comSupport us on BuyMeaCoffeehttps://buymeacoffee.com/historyofthehungariansFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579815072390Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/historyofthehungarians⁠The song heard in the intro and outro are parts of Johannes Brahms' Hungarian Dances no. 5, performed in G minor, arranged by Martin Schmeling.

22 - A Lingering Question 18.02.2026 25m

To say that the Dynasty of Árpád was a tumultuous bunch would be an understatement. Time and again we have seen infighting regarding the succession. But this latest spat, the subject of today’s episode might be the worst yet – as two Istváns and a László gear up to fight it out for the crown. This tale has all the hallmarks of historical tragedy, witharmies clashing, duplicitous nobles, a priest making a principled stand, and poison claiming lives. Meanwhile the great powers of medieval Europe watch, eager to claim the spoils of victory.Website: historyofthehungarians.comFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579815072390Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofthehungariansSupport us at: https://buymeacoffee.com/historyofthehungarians The song heard in the intro and outro are parts of Johannes Brahms' Hungarian Dances no. 5, performed in G minor, arranged by Martin Schmeling.

21 - The Two Sides of Power Politics 11.02.2026 23m

Géza II’s reign is, in a way, a premature show of the strength the medieval Kingdom of Hungary would be able to wield one day. With the homefront secure, Géza threw himself into European power-politics, standing toe-to-toe with some of the greatest powers of his time. While initially successful, the king’s rashness to make enemies and maintain the fight would cause problems that would reverberate through a generation…Website: historyofthehungarians.comFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579815072390Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofthehungariansSupport us at: https://buymeacoffee.com/historyofthehungarians The song heard in the intro and outro are parts of Johannes Brahms' Hungarian Dances no. 5, performed in G minor, arranged by Martin Schmeling.