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The Holy Crown of Hungary is arguably the most important physical embodiment of the Hungarian nation. No king of Hungary is considered legitimate unless crowned with the Hungarian Holy crown. It has transcended empires and dynasties, the multiple ascents and falls of the Hungarian nation, and remains now in this day closely guarded in the central dome of Hungarian Parliament for all visiting to behold. The Crown has just as much myth as it does fact surrounding it. One such legend, recorded within the Chronicon Pictum (Képes Krónika), says that a holy crown was promised to a descendant of Attila by Pope Leo I, during peace negotiations with the Hunnic leader who was threatening to conquer Rome. Another legend is that the Holy Crown is reinforced with wood from the cross that Jesus was crucified upon. As truth and lore swirls around this national relic, examining the Crown itself gives rise to some of the most poignant insights about the Hungarian identity.
Looking closely among the ornate decorations, we see a picture of Géza I (named after the earlier Grand Prince Géza of the Magyars, father of the first Hungarian king). Around him, is a Greek inscription, reading "ΓΕΩΒΙΤΖΑϹ ΠΙΣΤΟϹ ΚΡΑΛΗϹ ΤΟΥΡΚΙΑϹ"....
"Géza I, faithful King of the Turks"
Despite being lost and won, torn by fate from our nation's borders as well as hidden within it from invaders, the relic symbolizing our heritage and our people has stood the test of time. Only the future will tell what the world and its maps will be like, but wherever Hungarians gather, there is the Hungarian nation.
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