House of Árpád

Coat of Arms Description

The family coat of arms of the Árpád dynasty was a shield divided into seven alternating red and silver stripes. In the state coat of arms, this motif appeared in the right field of a party per pale shield, with the left field displaying the double cross symbolizing Hungary. In foreign heraldic literature, the striped coat of arms is often referred to as Hungary’s “old” coat of arms, while the one with the double cross is called Hungary’s “new” coat of arms.

Árpád Stripes – Origin of the Red and Silver Stripes

The Árpád stripes are a heraldic motif of seven (less often five or eight) horizontal stripes alternating in red and silver, used by the later Árpád monarchs and appearing in the second half of the 13th century. The earliest known depiction of a flag with a red-and-silver striped shield dates from the 1270s. The motif became widespread by the end of the Árpád era and eventually developed into a permanent part of the Hungarian coat of arms.

Various versions of the Árpád-striped flag appear in the flags of Hungarian municipalities, with differing numbers of stripes. The symbol can also be found in the coats of arms of several state, military, and law enforcement institutions, such as the emblem of the Constitutional Protection Office. Striped flags form part of the historical flag array used on ceremonial occasions, including vertical, striped banners associated with the Árpád dynasty and the cavalry of Francis II Rákóczi.

Origin of the Name “Árpád Dynasty”

The ruling dynasty now referred to in historical terminology as the Árpád dynasty never called themselves by this name. Although Árpád, the leader of the Hungarian conquest, was an important figure, his name was rarely used for naming descendants: only one prince named Árpád (son of Géza II) is known, and only two princes named Álmos (sons of Géza I and Béla the Blind), with the latter’s name choice not necessarily referring to the conquering Álmos.

Medieval sources used other terms. Simon of Kéza referred to the dynasty as de genere Turul, or “of the Turul kindred,” a unique designation not found elsewhere. This interpretation likely reflected changes in the relationship between the king and the nobility. Contemporary usage tended to prefer the expression “the lineage of the holy kings.”

Árpád Princes and Kings

Princes

• Álmos, leader (858–895)

• Árpád, prince (895–907)

• Zolta, grand prince (907–947)

• Fajsz, grand prince (947–955)

• Taksony, grand prince (955–972)

• Géza, grand prince (972–997)

• Vajk (pagan name of King Stephen) (997–1000)

Kings

• Stephen I (Saint Stephen) (1000–1038)

• Peter of Hungary (1038–1041)

• Samuel Aba (1041–1044)

• Peter of Hungary (second reign) (1044–1046)

• Andrew I (1046–1060)

• Béla I (1060–1063)

• Solomon (1063–1074)

• Géza I (1074–1076)

• Ladislaus I (Saint Ladislaus) (1077–1095)

• Coloman (the Learned) (1095–1116)

• Stephen II (1116–1131)

• Béla II (the Blind) (1131–1141)

• Géza II (1141–1162)

• Stephen III (1162–1172)

• Béla III (1172–1196)

• Emeric (1196–1204)

• Ladislaus III (1204–1205)

• Andrew II (1205–1235)

• Béla IV (1235–1270)

• Stephen V (1270–1272)

• Ladislaus IV (the Cuman) (1272–1290)

• Andrew III (1290–1301) – The Last Golden Twig

Original image source: Internet
Text sources: Wikipedia, ChatGPT