History of Budapest PDF Print E-mail
The first town, built by Celts in the first century BC along the slopes of Gellért Hill was called Ak Ink (meaning 'spring rich in water'). The town was occupied by the Romans and ruled for four centuries until the middle of the 4th century AD. During the Roman reign the city retained the Celtic name (Aquincum). As Aquincum was located on the border of the Roman Empire (formed by the Danube) it was often involved in wars. At the time Aquincum was a military base but also had a civilian quarter.

In the early fifth century the ever stronger attacks finally swept away the defence line of the Roman Empire along the Danube. The name of Attila, king of the Huns sounds familiar for many people. The Roman reign was followed by the rule of the Huns (5th c.). During the reign of the Huns the settlement was significant as a crossing point over the Danube. The legend says that Buda (the hilly part of present Budapest) was named after Attila's brother, Buda.

In the 400 years of the Great Migration Era the Avars ruled longer, for 200 years. The Hungarian tribe arrived in 896 with Árpád as a leader.

"You have brought our ancestors Onto the holy crag of the Carpathian,

Blood of Bendegúz have won a Beautiful homeland by you.

And where roar the surfs of Tisza, Danube, Heroic offsprings of Árpád Prospered."

The settlement underwent significant changes during the forthcoming centuries. The Tartar invasion left the country in ruin. Following the Tatar invasion, significant fortification work began all over the country. This was when the royal castle and the walled city were built on Castle Hill - an ideal location easy to defend.

The city flourished during the reigns of king Sigismund (1387-1437) and king Mathias (1458-1490). After the death of Matthias the country fell into political and economic decline. At the turn of the 15-16th centuries Buda had 12,000-15,000 inhabitants, Pest 10,000, and Obuda only 2,000-3,000.

Buda and Pest came under Turkish occupation for about 150 years (1541-1686). That part of the country not occupied by the Turks became part of the Habsburg empire.

"You have often planted our flag Onto the mound of wild Turk"

In 1686 Buda was liberated from the Turks, however during the siege the three cities, Pest (on the left of the Danube), Buda (on the right of the Danube) and Óbuda located to the north suffered severe damages. The majority of the population perished or fled to the country. The nineteenth century was characterised by the Hungarians' struggle for national independence from the Habsburgs.

"And ah, freedom does not flourish From the blood of the dead,

Tear of tormenting bondage drops From the heroic eyes of our orphans!"

The freedom fight of 1848-49 was defeated. In 1867 the Habsburg administration reached a compromise with the Hungarian nobility, and Hungary was granted a status equal to that of Austria within the Habsburg empire. This date marks the start of belated but rapid industrialization, urban growth and of catching up with the rest of Europe. In 1873 Pest, Buda and Óbuda were united and the city was named Budapest. The modern infrastructural development of the city was most impressive. The two world wars left the city devastated and the majority of monuments were damaged or completely destroyed.

The end of World War II. marked the beginning of the 40 years of Communist era. The "iron curtain" fell in 1989 and since that time Budapest has been rapidly developing. The present population of Budapest is roughly 2 million (one-fifth of the population of the entire country).