The Grand Prince of the Magyars (known also as Hungarians), Arpad was born around the year 845. Hungarians typically regard Arpad as one of the forefathers of the Kingdom of Hungary since his dynasty led to the founding of the kingdom a century after him. In fact, his descendant, Saint Stephen I, would actually found the Kingdom of Hungary, but scholars believe that Arpad was instrumental for laying the groundwork for the eventual kingdom due to his leadership of the Magyar tribal federation.
Arpad’s father was also the Grand Prince of the Magyars; his name was Almos. Historians are uncertain who Arpad’s mother was. Though the Magyars had previously been regarded as part of the larger umbrella of Ugric-speaking tribes, by the time they settled in the Carpathian Basin they were wholly recognizable as a distinct tribal people. Under Arpad’s leadership, the seven major Magyar tribes eventually moved into Pannonia with some 250,000 people. Today this area is known as the nation of Hungary.
Information surrounding Arpad’s life is scarce. He did have children and his male descendents would rule the Magyars until 1301. Rulers after this time have traced their ancestry to Arpad along matriarchal lines as well. Historians note that Arpad considered himself a descendant of Attila the Hun and Hungarians still today acknowledge this Hunnish connection. At some point Arpad’s father must have relinquished allegiance to the Khagan of the Khazars in order to establish his role as Grand Prince of Magyars. Scholars are uncertain, but some have suggested that Almos may have died according to ritual sacrifice after the Magyars were attacked by rival tribes. His son Arpad succeeded him as leader of the fledgling federation.
During his tenure as leader, Arpad launched invasions into Italy, Germany, and even far-off France and Spain. These raids would continue even after Arpad’s death in 907 to roughly the year 970. Arpad’s forces also invaded territories belonging to the Byzantine Empire. Aside from their contact with the Khazars, the Magyars were also in contact with the Greeks and Slav peoples. At some point Historians believe that Arpad settled in the area of present-day Pecs in order to safeguard the southern border of his lands while other Magyar tribes protected other borders. Historians note that Arpad had several sons: Liuntika, Tarkatzus, Jelekh, Jutotzas, and Zoltan. Various descendents of Arpad would also be canonized like Stephen I, Saint Emeric, Saint Ladislaus, and Saint Margaret. The Hungarians have honored Arpad and his legacy with his famed statue at the National Historical Memorial Park Opusztaszer.