The remarkable heritage of Rome was constantly cultivated in Hungary

The heritage of Rome endured even after the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century, continuing to shape power structures and daily life. Recent research suggests that this influence extended to the western regions of the Carpathian Basin, as evidenced by archaeological discoveries at the Almádi Monastery.

The fall of Rome was not a sudden catastrophe but a gradual transformation. Some Roman cities survived in new roles, Latin remained a dominant language, and the Roman road network persisted for centuries. In the early Middle Ages, the Carolingians attempted to restore the imperial legacy, and although their empire eventually collapsed, the heritage of Rome endured, as noted by Archeologia.

By the 11th century, Europe’s economic and social development had surpassed that of Rome, yet contemporaries still regarded ancient civilisation as a model. Roman ruins and artworks continued to inspire art and architecture. In many areas, the road network and settlement structures remained based on Roman foundations, ensuring continuity in trade and governance. The heritage of Rome was not merely a historical memory but an active influence shaping medieval European society.

Heritage of Rome in Pannonia

West of the Danube, elements of Roman culture, particularly Christianity, persisted. The Carolingian conquests revived this heritage of Rome, including feudal structures. By the 10th century, the Hungarians recognised the benefits of Christian and feudal traditions and referred to themselves as kings of Pannonia, signalling their connection to both the Roman and Carolingian legacies. This title served not only as a political statement but also as a declaration of the new Hungarian state’s place in Western Christendom.

In the western regions of medieval Hungary, Roman remnants remained integral to daily life. New settlements emerged on the sites of former Roman cities, becoming key centres of the Árpád-era Hungarian Kingdom, such as Győr, Pécs, and Sopron. Local communities frequently repurposed Roman architectural remains, including walls and bridges, which continued to serve them for centuries. These physical remnants reinforced the heritage of Rome as a tangible part of everyday life.

Roman stones in Almádi

The Almádi Monastery, founded by the Atyusz clan in the early 12th century, was built on the site of a former Roman estate. The founders deliberately used Roman stones; for instance, a tombstone decorated the grave of the founder’s son. In the early 13th century, new choir sections were constructed using marble from Savaria, further reinforcing the heritage of Rome within the monastery.

Beyond their use as building materials, Roman stones also held symbolic significance. The Atyusz clan intended to express their role as the rightful heirs of ancient Pannonia. This perspective was not unique—across Western Europe, medieval nobility often incorporated Roman relics into their constructions to legitimise their own authority through the prestige of the heritage of Rome.

The case of Almádi illustrates how the classical legacy remained a living, respected part of society in medieval western Hungary. The reverence for Roman relics was not merely practical but carried ideological weight, reinforcing the medieval Hungarians’ sense of identity within the heritage of Rome and their place in the Western world.

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