The distance between Buda-Pesth and New York rendered it impossible for me to give my personal attention to the proofs while the volume was being put into type. The proof-reading was therefore entrusted to the care of Mr. Louis Heilprin, a gentleman who is evidently thoroughly familiar with the subject, and to whom I desire to express my obligations not only for the care he has taken with the proof-reading, but also for his attention in securing in my English text the most accurate and most effective forms of expression. I take this opportunity of expressing, also, my thanks for the kind coöperation of my countrymen, Messrs. Sebestyén, Csánki, Acsády, and Vargha. A. V. BUDA-PESTH, _August, 1886_. CONTENTS. I. PAGE THE COUNTRY AND THE PEOPLE OF HUNGARY, 1-17 A bird’s-eye view, 1—Carpathian mountains, 5—Water system, 7—Climate, 9—Various nationalities, 13—Constitution, 16. II. HUNGARY BEFORE THE OCCUPATION BY THE MAGYARS 18-26 Prehistoric times, 18—Pannonia and Dacia, 20—The Marcomanni, 21—Huns, 23—Gepidæ, 24—Baján, prince of the Avars, 25. III THE ORIGIN OF THE HUNGARIANS 27-41 Nimrod and his descendants, 27—Two kindred races, 29—Cradle of the Magyar race, 32—Country between the Volga and Danube, 33—The seven dukes, 36—Invasion of Hungary, 37—Defeat of Svatopluk, 39. IV. THE REIGN OF THE DUKES 42-52 Árpád the first duke, 42—Defeat of King Berengar, 44—Battle of Presburg, 45—Battle of Merseburg, 47—_Melancholy Magyars_, 49—Duke Geyza, 51. V. THE CONVERSION TO CHRISTIANITY 53-64 Shamanism, 53—Missionaries, 55—Baptism of Stephen, 58—Discontent, 59—Rigorous laws, 61—Changes in manners and customs, 63. VI. ST. STEPHEN, THE FIRST KING OF HUNGARY 65-96 St. Stephen’s Day, 66—Influence of religious ideas, 69—Character of Stephen, 71—Embassy to Rome, 74—St. Stephen’s crown, 75—Papal bull, 77—Christian church the corner-stone, 79—Cathedral of Stuhlweissenburg, 81—Increase of royal authority, 83—Revenues, 85—Prosperity of the country, 87—Attack of Conrad, 89—Stephen’s advice to his son, 91—Stephen canonized, 96. VII. THE KINGS OF THE HOUSE OF ÁRPÁD 97-150