Mounted archers from the Hungarian Conquest period by László 1982

June 13, 2024

Mounted archers from the Hungarian Conquest period by László 1982

In the year 899 CE the Hungarians invaded Italy (Liber Antapodoseos II.6-16). They were probably hired to do this by their East Francian ally, Arnulf of Carinthia, who was enemy of the Italian king. Berengar I, the king of Italy, raised an army that greatly outnumbered the Hungarians and began pursuit. Seeing themselves outnumbered the Hungarians offered to return what they stole, surrender their weapons, and establish a peace treaty stating they wouldn't enter Italy again. However, this made Berengar all the more confident of his pending victory. He rejected the Hungarian's offer for peace and attacked: "...the Christians, swollen with deceitful pride, thought that the Heathens were already beaten and answered them back with threats" (The Works of Liudprand of Cremona, trnsl by F.A.Wright). This event is known as the Battle of the Brenta River. Liudprand, through the voice of the Magyars, states that:

"We leave this reputation and heritage to our heirs, just as we received it from our fathers. We must believe in ourselves, at least in our own experience. Often we have defeated many with small numbers. Very frequently Mars kills the one who flees and zealously protects the one who stands and fights. And these people, who would not take pity on us...do not understand that to win is good but overkill is most odious" (Liber Antapodoseos II.14)&(Lundiak wordpress).

Nearly the entire Italian army was killed in the fight, the Hungarians took minimal casualties, and Berengar barely escaped into hiding. The Hungarians were free to roam Italy doing as they pleased and Berengar was helpless to do anything about it. A change came when Arnulf died later that year, the Franks dissolved the peace treaty with Hungary, began to act increasingly aggressive, a few years later assassinated a Hungarian leader trying to renew the peace deal, and finally formally invaded Hungary.

In the year 900 CE a peace deal between Berengar and the Hungarians was created. It became more solidified as the years went on and the Hungarians had to turn increasing attention to Frankish aggression: "In 905, the Magyars and King Berengar formed an amicitia, and fifteen years passed without Hungarian troops entering Italy." (Timothy Reuter, The New Cambridge Medieval History: c. 900-c. 1024).

Liudprand of Cremona notes that, ironically, after the peace deal the Hungarians became close friends and protectors of Berengar and were more loyal to him than his own Italian soldiers (The Complete Works of Luidprand of Cremona, p. 94.)(Antapodosis of Luidprand of Cremona. In Györffy György, 2002 p. 219). They were even noted for saving his life: "Marquess Adalbert, Count Odelric, Count Gislebert, and several others were in the mountains near Brescia...holding secret meetings to arrange for Berengar's downfall, when the king sent to the Hungarians, asking them, if they loved him, to fall upon his enemies. The Hungarians at once agreed". (The Works of Liudprand of Cremona, translated by F.A.Wright).