Hungary Looks West—Again

What may expansion of the European Union portend? What impact could it have on the prophesied formation of a European superpower? What part will Hungary play in an expanded Europe?

by David Dobson

In November of 2003, I had the opportunity to spend a week in Budapest, the capital city of Hungary. The independent cities of Buda, Óbuda and Pest combined to form Budapest in 1873. Buda was the old royal city built on a bluff overlooking the Danube River, and the castle of the Hapsburg dynasty is situated there. Pest was built across the river on the plains to the east and is the location of the Hungarian Parliament Building. Óbuda (Old Buda) lay north of Buda and is the site of the ruins of the Roman city Aquincum.

Hungary's place in history

To understand Hungary's place in an expanding European Union (EU), we need to first consider its rich history. In the first century after Christ, the Roman Empire established an outpost on the west side of the Danube River that served as their provincial seat of government. From the old Roman town of Aquincum, military consuls governed the province of Pannonia. The river marked the frontier between Rome and barbarian tribes to the east. Signs of Rome's presence are abundantly evident in the ruins of buildings, amphitheaters and baths.

One morning in Budapest, I rode Metro Line #1 from downtown to Heroes' Square. This underground rail opened in 1896 and is continental Europe's oldest subway. After disembarking, I made my way up the stairs to the plaza above, and a most remarkable sight lay before me! An imposing 118-foot column named the Millennium Monument rises in the center of the square.

Construction on the column began in 1896 to commemorate the 1,000-year anniversary of the conquest of the Danube River plains by Magyar tribes. Atop the column is a statue of the archangel Gabriel, who holds the crown of St. Stephen in one hand and a Christian cross in the other, symbolizing the unification of church and state through many centuries.

Read the full article at www.wnponline.org/wnp/wnp0403/hungarywest.htm

Related Information on UCG Sites:

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