Battle of Ménfő facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Ménfő |
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| Part of German-Hungarian War (1044) | |||||||
 Battle of Ménfő. In the corner of the picture is a depiction of the killing of Samuel Aba (Chronicon Pictum) |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Kingdom of Germany Hungarian supporters of Peter Orseolo |
Hungarian supporters of Samuel Aba | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Henry III Peter Orseolo |
Samuel Aba † | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Light | Heavy | ||||||
The Battle of Ménfő was a very important battle in the early history of Hungary. It happened in 1044 near a place called Ménfő, close to Győr. This battle was fought between an army mostly from Germany and Hungarian forces. The Germans won, which meant that Western European ideas and ways of life became more important in Hungary.
What Led to the Battle?
Before this battle, a king named Peter Orseolo ruled Hungary. But in 1041, another leader, Samuel Aba, took his place. Peter wanted his throne back.
Peter asked for help from Emperor Henry III of Germany. Emperor Henry III agreed to help Peter. In June 1044, Peter and Henry's army invaded Hungary.
The Battle of Ménfő
Emperor Henry III's army was not very big. Samuel Aba's Hungarian army was much larger. However, many soldiers in Samuel Aba's army were not happy with him. They did not want to fight for him.
When the German cavalry (soldiers on horseback) attacked, Samuel Aba's large army quickly broke apart. Many Hungarian soldiers left the battlefield. Samuel Aba tried to escape, but he was caught and killed.
What Happened After the Battle?
Because of the German victory, Peter Orseolo became king of Hungary again. He was crowned in a city called Székesfehérvár. Peter then showed his respect to Emperor Henry III. He promised to be loyal to Henry.
Many important Hungarian nobles and other leaders also came to Henry. They swore to be loyal to him. For a short time, Hungary became a vassal state of the Holy Roman Empire. This meant Hungary was under the protection and influence of the Holy Roman Empire. However, Hungary did not stay a vassal for very long.
