Forráskor

Forráskor is a term used in Hungarian historiography to describe the period of the Hungarian conquest of the Carpathian Basin, roughly from the late 9th century to the early 11th century. This era marks the establishment of the Hungarian state and the integration of the Hungarian people into the European political and cultural landscape. The name "forráskor" derives from the Hungarian word "forrás," meaning "source," signifying this period as the origin or source of Hungarian statehood and national identity.

During this time, the Hungarian tribes, led by figures like Árpád, migrated from their eastern homeland and settled in the Carpathian Basin. This migration was a complex process involving both military conquest and a degree of assimilation of the existing Slavic and Avar populations. The early Hungarian chieftains and rulers organized a semi-nomadic society, characterized by skilled horsemanship and raiding expeditions into neighboring territories, which were known as the "Honfoglalás" or homeland-taking.

The consolidation of power and the formation of a unified kingdom were gradual processes. Key developments included the adoption of Christianity, which facilitated closer ties with Western Europe, and the establishment of a centralized monarchy. The reign of Stephen I (Szent István), crowned king around 1000 or 1001 AD, is widely considered the culmination of the forráskor and the true beginning of the medieval Hungarian Kingdom. This period laid the foundational structures of Hungarian society, administration, and culture that would evolve over the following centuries.