CHAIN IS NOT INCLUDED Picturesongold.Com Available in Solid 10K &14K Yellow Gold or White Gold, or Sterling Silver Size Reference: 17mm is the size of a US dime 19mm is the size of a US nickel 25mm is the size of a US quarter Stephen I, also known as King Saint Stephen , was the last Grand Prince of the Hungarians between 997 and 1000 or 1001, and the first King of Hungary from 1000 or 1001 until his death in 1038. The year of his birth is uncertain, but many details of his life suggest that he was born in or after 975 in Esztergom. At his birth, he was given the pagan name Vajk. The date of his baptism is unknown. He was the only son of Grand Prince Gza and his wife, who was descended from the prominent family of the gyu las. Although both of his parents were baptized, Stephen was the first member of his family to become a devout Christian. He married Gisela of Bavaria, a scion of the imperial Ottonian dynasty. After succeeding his father in 997, Stephen had to fight for the throne against his relative, Kopp ny, who was supported by large numbers of pagan warriors. He defeated Kopp ny mainly with the assistance of foreign knights, including Vecceline Hont and , but also with help from native lords. He was crowned on 25 December 1000 or 1 January 1001 with a crown sent by Pope Sylvester II. In a series of wars against semi-independent tribes and chiet ains including the Black Hungarians and his uncle, Gyula the Younger he unified the Carpathian Basin. He protected the independence of his kingdom by forcing the invading troops of Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor, to withdraw from Hungary in 1030. Stephen established at least one archbishopric, six bishoprics and three Benedictine monasteries; thus the Church in Hungary developed independently of the archbishops of the Holy Roman Empire. He encouraged the spread of Christianity with severe punishments for ignoring Christian customs
