Magyars
Homeland [300 BCE]. The Magyar homeland was in northern Russia near the Ural Mountains. Their language is a member of the Uralic family. Uralic languages are spoken today in Hungary, Finland and Siberia. Magyars earned their living by hunting and herding animals.
Magyars move south [300 CE]. The Maygars expanded south and settled near the Bulgars.
Ruled by Khazars [600]. The Khazars grew powerful and controlled the Magyar farmlands.
Magyars move west [880]. The Magyars grew strong enough to free themselves from Khazar rule. The Magyars moved west [889] to escape attacks by a new group of Turks, the Pechenegs [Patzinaks] who were entering the region. The Bulgars attacked and forced the Magyars even further west into present-day Hungary [895]. Magyar raiding parties plundered cities and farms in Germany and Italy for 60 years until the East Franks defeated them [955, Lechfeld].
Magyars form Hungary [970]. When Byzantium defeated the Bulgars [972] and extended its control to the Magyar border, the Magyars became allies with the Pope at Rome. The Magyars agreed to stop their raids and to accept Roman Christianity [975]. Because of these choices the Magyar culture became influenced by Western Europe and the Latin language, rather than Byzantium and the Greek language. The Pope recognized Hungary as an independent state by crowning its king [1000].
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