Stephen I was the first King of Hungary and founder of the Arpad Dynasty. He was also known as Saint Stephen.

A pagan at birth, Stephen converted to Christianity in his youth. He became Duke of Hungary in 997. Shortly thereafter, a pagan revolt broke out in several Hungarian provinces. Stephen immediately attacked the insurgents and defeated them at Veszprem.

Stephen was crowned King in 1001, and upon his coronation, Pope Sylvester II sent a crown from Rome and accorded him the title “Apostolic Majesty,” which was borne by Hungarian sovereigns until the overthrow of the Hungarian monarch in 1918. Stephen’sreign was notable for the propagation of Christianity and the suppression of paganism throughout Hungary. King Stephen I of Hungary died during the year 1038.

Stephen was canonized in 1083 and became the patron saint of Hungary. His feast day is celebrated in Hungary on August 20 (and elsewhere on August 16).