Hungary is new in Europe?

Last weekend Hungary became the official member of the European Union. It was a very long way to achieve our old dream to become a European country.

But what means this word European? I think all people have different explanations. Is it only a geographical name, or a territory that is situated west of Ural Mountains? Or means this world a culture or common traditions?

My opinion is that Hungary has been a European country for thousand years, when our first king, Stephen I established our country, settled down Hungarian tribes in the Carpathian Basin, and chose the western religious traditions and customs. He asked his crown from Rome instead of Byzantium or the German Emperor, so he funded a strong independent state in the heart of Europe.

Hungary was a European country during its first centuries when king built up good relationships with their neighbour countries. Our kings opened a safe way towards the Holy Land instead of the risky shipping journey and they also often joined to crusades. We learnt and used the western European life style and rules. This change was so successful that when, in the middle of the 13th century, Mongols came from the Eastern steppe, we were not able to fight efficiently against them, because we had forgotten the old nomad tactics. (Two hundred years before Hungarian tribes used to fight same tactics when they attacked western countries)

I would like to show you some other historical examples about our European past. When Turkish Empire expanded toward Europe, Hungary was the strongest bastion, which saved the Christian part of the continent, for centuries. Everyone knows that bells ring at noon in every church. The origin of this tradition is connected to the Hungarian fight against Turks a Nándorfehárvár in 1456, when Hunyadi stopped Turks for fifty years. During the 15th century Buda, the capital of Hungary, was one of the most famous centres of new European styles, Renaissance and Humanism. A hundred years later, the Eastern part of Hungary became the most important protestant education centre besides the Netherlands.

From the 17th century Hungary became part of the Hapsburg Empire. Hungarians fought many times for their independence. The most famous was in 1848, when the wave of revolution ran across Europe. Our revolution and independence war was the longest, but it was quelled by the strong power of Holly League.

After the World War II Europe was cut into two parts by the so-called iron curtain. According to the Treatment of Jalta, the territory of Hungary became part of the Soviet zone. According to western policy makers, the word Europe meant only the western part of the continent, so we were out of it. After 1989, Hungary wanted to gain back its traditional place and role in the European culture and economy.

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