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TheSeven chieftains of the Magyars (orHungarians) were the leaders of theseven tribes of theHungarians at the time of their arrival in theCarpathian Basin in AD 895.Constantine VII, emperor of theByzantine Empire names the seven tribes in hisDe Administrando Imperio, a list that can be verified with names of Hungarian settlements. The names of the chieftains, however, are not precisely known, as the chronicles include contradictory lists, some of which have been found to be false.
Constantine VII does not give the names of the chieftains of the Hungarian tribes, but describes some aspects of the leadership.
A Hungarian chronicler known asAnonymus, author ofGesta Hungarorum, names the seven chieftains as:
Most probably all persons on this list were real and significant personalities, but the list, as that of the seven chieftains who started the conquest of the Carpathian Basin, is certainly false.[1]Constantine VII names Tas as a grandson ofÁrpád. The relations of the early Hungarian leaders are subject of debate between historians.
Hungarian chroniclerSimon of Kéza names seven captains who led seven tribes in theGesta Hunnorum et Hungarorum:
This list, having more legendary elements, is even less credible than that of Anonymus: only Árpád and Szabolcs match the time of the conquest.
Hungarian chroniclerMark of Kalt names seven captains who led seven tribes in theChronicon Pictum:
And this Captain Árpád had a special dignity in Scythia, it was the custom of his clan, according to the Scythian law and tradition, that he went alone before those who went to war and those who retreated, saying, therefore he was the first to enter this land before the other captains going to Pannonia.
Hungarian chroniclerJohannes Thuróczy names seven captains who led seven tribes in theChronica Hungarorum:
The seven Hungarian leaders depicted inNádasdy Mausoleum:
InBudapest,Hungary, the Heroes' Square, better known asHősök tere, has a representation of the different chieftains at the base of the column.At the base of the column is a group of seven mounted figures representing the Magyar chieftains who led the Hungarian people into theCarpathian basin. In the front isÁrpád, considered the founder of the Hungarian nation. Behind him are the chieftainsElőd, Ond,Kond, Tas,Huba, and Töhötöm (Tétény). Little survives in the historical record about these individuals and both their costumes and their horses are considered to be more fanciful than historically accurate.
