Sometime in the 1000's, King Stephen founded the state of Hungary
From 1241-1242 the Mongols attacked causing major destruction and enslavement of one million citizens. This led King Béla to order the construction of many castles along the boarders as a defensive line. When the Mongols attacked for the second time, they were successfully stopped.
In 1526 a Turkish army defeated the Hungarian royal army, and split the country into three around 1541. It took 150 years to build up enough power to drive the Turks out. Ferenc Rákóczi the second gained the country's full independence in 1711.
In 1867 Ferenc Deák reunited the tree parts of Hungary creating peace amongst the land.

Hungarian History - 1000's to 1867