The Eighth Tribe, 1975 (2. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1975-04-01 / 4. szám
Page Four THE EIGHTH TRIBE April, 1975 “Are you the one who is called Arpad?” he asked. The commander of the riders smiled. “No, I am only Captain of a hundred men. You. still must go a long way if you wish to reach the main camp”, he answered. With a guide, the envoy rode for hours and hours, passing scores of riders. Finally, the guide took him to a camp made of light war-tents. By that time, the envoy’s only wish was to stretch his numb legs, to eat and drink. The Magyars entertained him in friendly fashion, with roasted deer and good wine. After his hunger and thirst was satisfied, he turned to the man who seemed to be the highest ranking among the others. “Are you Arpad?” the envoy asked. “I am Tuhutum, the leader of Arpad’s first armydivision”, the man said. ’’Give me your message and I shall relay it to Arpad, word for word. You will not be allowed to travel further into our land, anyhow.” “Your land?” the envoy burst out angrily. “Tell yopr Master to get out of here. He has no right to roam the Moravian land!” The Moravian was expecting an angry reply, but instead of that, Tuhutum’s face lit up with a merry smile. “You must be drunk, good man”, the leader of the Magyars chuckled, “or your Master does not know what he is saying. Has he forgotten that he sold us this land for the white horse, the water of this land for the golden saddle, and all the grass on it for the silver bridle?” Seeing the stupefied look on the envoy’s face, he added. “Since time exists, neighboring nations have declared wars on each other. Accepting the horse meant that there would be peace and protection. Denying it, would have meant war. Giving in exchange a shoulder-bag of soil, a goat-skin of water and a saddle-bag full of grass means that for the sake of peace and good relations you sold your land, your water and your pastures.” Red of face, the envoy shook his fist angrily. “We shall kill that horse, throw that saddle into the river and the bridle into the grass!” he shouted. Tuhutum just shrugged his shoulders. “You may do as you please”, he said pleasantly. ’‘Our dogs will eat the horse-meat, our fishermen will pull out the saddle in-their nets, and our herdsmen will find the bridle in the grass. The agreement stands. Everything this side of the mountains belongs to Arpad. The soil, the water and the grass. Tell your Master to keep his peace, lest he shall lose the rest of his country.” On his way back, the envoy questioned his guide. “How many men do you have in an army division?” he wanted to know. “Ten thousand warriors”, the guide answered willingly, “and Arpad has twenty divisions, it is no secret. You Moravians had better keep the peace.” Svatopluk did not listen to the good advice. The Moravians were brave fighters. They did not frighten easily. However, over-powered by the Magyar riders, they died like heroes, one by one, on the bank of the Danube River. NOTES:— In Lebedia, the Magyars lived a semi-nomadic life, cultivating the soil and building lofts for hay and grain. In Etel-Koz, they lived again as nomads. It is the best proof that they thought of Atilkoz as temporary quarters only, where they prepared themselves for the occupation of their homeland. # # * Despotism ruled the entire world, as it was known at the time. Such was the case with the Germanic tribes, as well as on the Balkan and the Italian Paninsula. Greek Chronicles assert that the Magyars held meetings in which they made decisions by voting on matters, such as war campaigns and the selection of a Chief of the army. In other words, they lived in complete democracy. * * * The Blood Union itself is the first Constitution of those times. Seven Magyar leaders and three foreign Kabar chieftains raised Arpad, the son of Almos, on a shield. They pledged their faith, but obliged him to rule constitutionally. Within every nation, as in Hungary, too, there were wars to determine the succession to the throne. In Hungarian history, assassination of a king has never occured. If a Hungarian King, under foreign influence, began to assume dictatorial power, the legislative group would force him to keep his constitutional obligation. The Hungarian Arany Bulla (1222 A.D.) was written only seven years after the English Magna Carta.
