There was no Budapest until 1873 when the cities of Obuda and Buda on the west bank of the Danube were united with Pest on the east to form modern Budapest. The history of the area, however, dates back much further than that.
The first developed culture in the area of Budapest was that of the Eravisci, a Celtic tribe dating from around 300 BC. In 11 BC, the Romans conquered the Celts and established a camp known as Aquincum at a Danube crossing site in what is now Obuda. Romans ruled for the next 400 years. In the 5th century, the Romans were overrun by the Huns and, during the next several centuries, different groups settled the area including Goths, Gepids, Lombards, and Avars. The Magyars, a people from beyond the Urals, permanently settled the area in the late 9th century and the year 896 is considered the founding date of the Hungarian nation.
The Magyars, led by prince Arpad, were a nomadic, pagan people with an equestrian-based culture. They may have extended their territorial conquests further into western Europe, but were stopped at the Battle of Lechfeld (955) by the forces of the Holy Roman Empire under Otto I. After Lechfeld, the Magyars united under Stephen I, a direct descendant of Arpad, who Christianized the people and brought them into the family of European nations. Stephen ruled from 997-1038 (crowned in 1000 or 1001) and was canonized in 1083. He is the principal hero and historical figure of Hungary. His crown, with its bent cross, is the nation's most important symbol. Hungarian patriots had the crown stored safely at Fort Knox from 1945 until 1987. Today, the crown, along with the nation's other important symbols, can be seen in the National Museum.
In the 11th and 12th centuries, the Magyars succeeded in extending their area of control. King Saint Ladislas I (canonized in 1192) acquired Croatia in 1089 which remained a part of Hungary until 1918. In the 12th century, Hungary also gained Bosnia. But then came the devastating Mongol (Tatar) invasion of 1241. The nation was greatly weakened and much of the country was destroyed.
With the death of Andrew III in 1301, the Arpad dynasty came to an end. Soon thereafter the Angevin (Anjou) dynasty, beginning with Charles I (1308-1342), came to power. Louis I ( the Great) ruled from 1342-1382. The embodiment of a Christian knightly ruler, Louis rebuilt the country and again extended Hungarian influence. His son-in-law, Sigismund (1387-1437), even went on to become Holy Roman Emperor (1410-1437).
Hungary now faced the rising threat of the Ottoman Empire. Janos Hunyadi and his son King Matthias Corvinus (1458-1490), who led the large, formidable Black Army, were able to fend off the Turkish threat. But when Matthias died, the kingdom disintegrated, and the Turks routed the 20,000 man Hungarian army at the Battle of Mohacs (1526). Louis II, then king of the Hungarians, drowned during the retreat. The Turks ruled Hungary for 160 years.
The Austrian Habsburgs ousted the Turks in 1686. Austrian rule, however, was so severe it prompted several uprisings (which created a number of national heroes most notably Ferenc Rakoczi and Lajos Kossuth). Although each uprising failed, Austria eventually agreed to a settlement which created the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy (symbolized by the two headed eagle) in which Hungarians acquired equal status with Austrians (1867). "Budapest" was co-capital with Vienna and prospered. The city came to rival Vienna in architecture and life style.
Austria-Hungary sided with the Axis powers in World War I. Following their defeat, the dual monarchy was dissolved and, by the Treaty of Trianon (1918), Hungary lost 68% of its territories and 58% of its population (10 million). To regain some of its lost territories, Hungary sided with Germany in World War II. When Hungary later tried to break away from the Germans, Nazis occupied the country (1944). Budapest suffered tremendous damage during the 14 week siege of the city by Soviet troops. Three out of every four buildings and every bridge were destroyed.
From 1947, Hungary was a Soviet dominated Communist state. The Hungarians revolted in 1956, but the revolt was put down by Soviet tanks with a heavy loss of life. Most of the fighting occurred in the streets of Budapest. Again the city suffered heavy damage, and another 200,000 Hungarians fled the country. After the failed revolt, Hungary enjoyed a period of liberalization and prosperity under Janos Kadar. By the 1980s, however, the system began to fail. The Kadar regime was replaced by "Reform Communists" in 1988. The Reform Communists instituted multiparty government in 1989 which proved to be their undoing. The Communists were ousted from office by the Hungarian Democratic Forum in 1990.
Hungary is smaller than Kentucky and ranks among the most densely populated nations in the world (114 people per square kilometer). It is a Republic with a written constitution. Its colors are red, white, and green. The red pepper (called paprika) is a basic food and is used to season most dishes. Kiel basa is a good snack food assuming you like sausage. Barack is a traditional apricot aperitif. The principal monetary unit is the forint. Forints are like our dollar, and there are Hungarian "cents" called fillers. You won't see any fillers though because they have no practical value. The Budapest subway is the oldest on the continent built in 1896 as part of the Millennial celebrations. Dr. Rubik, the man who invented that maddening cube, is a resident of Buda.