Battle of Ménfő

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Battle of Ménfő was an important battle in the early history of the Kingdom of Hungary. Fought in 1044 at Ménfő, near Győr, between an army of mostly Germans and another of mostly pagan Magyars, it was a great victory for the Germans and thus for Westernising influences in Hungary.

The Emperor Henry III invaded Hungary for the second time on 6 July 1044. His force was small and the Hungarian army of Samuel Aba large. However, there was disaffection in the Hungarian ranks and the army quickly fell apart in the face of the German cavalry. Samuel fled the field, but was captured by his rival for the throne, Peter Orseolo, and beheaded. Peter was reinstalled as king at Székesfehérvár and did homage for his kingdom to Henry. The leading magnates and the less important nobles all came to Henry to make oaths of fidelity and vassalage. Hungary was made a vassal of the Holy Roman Empire, though it was not to remain so for long.

[edit] Sources

• Gwatkin, H.M., Whitney, J.P. (ed) et al. The Cambridge Medieval History: Volume III. Cambridge University Press, 1926.