The history of Hungary is a story of relentless conflict, invasions and resilience that has moulded the nation into what it stands as today. The Magyar tribes were the earliest known settlers of Hungary and their presence dates back to the year 1000.
Led by Árpád, the Magyars established Hungary as a state and converted it to Christianity under King Stephen I. Hungary was a cultural and economic hub in Europe during this era and Buda was its capital.
During the 16th century the Ottomans vied for power in Hungary and this resulted in it being split into two distinct parts. The Habsburg and the Ottoman regions.
After World War II Hungary fell to the communists and became a part of the Eastern Bloc. It was only in 1989 that Hungary truly gained independence and became a democratic republic.