Legendary Magyar-Serbian conflict

There is a legendary account of a '''Magyar-Serbian conflict''' in the areas of the [[Drina river]] and [[Syrmia]] dated to the mid-10th century, found in the ''[[Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja]]'' (LPD). Historiography has attributed this to a conflict surrounding the [[Principality of Serbia (early medieval)|Serbian principality]] under [[Časlav of Serbia|Časlav]], a Byzantine ally, and the [[Magyar tribes|Magyars (Hungarians)]] that raided Byzantine territory in 933 and again in 943.{{sfn|Živković|2006|p=70}}

There is a legendary account of a '''Magyar-Serbian conflict''' in the areas of the [[Drina river]] and [[Syrmia]] dated to the mid-10th century, found in the ''[[Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja]]'' (LPD). Historiography has attributed this to a conflict surrounding the [[Principality of Serbia (early medieval)|Serbian principality]] under [[Časlav of Serbia|Časlav]], a Byzantine ally, and the [[Magyar tribes|Magyars (Hungarians)]] that raided Byzantine territory in 933 and again in 943.{{sfn|Živković|2006|p=70}}

The accounts in the LPD were based on folklore and the work is filled with gross chronological and genealogical inconsistencies, the personal names, however, tend to be true.{{sfn|Živković|2006|pp=68-69}} The LPD mentions how Magyar chieftain Kys ({{langx|sr|Kiša}}) raided and devastated Bosnia and that Časlav ({{langx|lat|Ciaslavus, Seislav}}) clashed with him in the [[Drina (župa)|Drina ''župa'' (county)]], next to [[Drina|the river]], at the location of ''Civedino'' (identified as [[Cvilin]] in the upper Drina near [[Foča]]) where Kisa fell, and the place was called ''Ciscovo'' at the time of the scribe.{{harvnb|Živković|2006|p=69}}; {{harvnb|Živković|2009|pp=202-203}} The region of Bosnia at the time was an integral part of Serbia.{{sfn|Živković|2006|p=71}} For distinction in the battle, Časlav gave Tihomil, who slew Kisa, the administration of the Drina ''župa'' and wed him with the daughter of the ''ban'' of Raška.{{harvnb|Živković|2006|p=69}}; {{harvnb|Živković|2009|p=205}} In the prelude to the battle, the narrative of Tihomil is based on Biblical motives, the king [[David]].{{sfn|Živković|2009|pp=201-202}} In the meantime, Kys' widow was given troops by the Magyar king to avenge him and entered [[Syrmia]] where Časlav was captured and thrown bound by the hands and feet into the [[Sava|Sava river]].{{harvnb|Živković|2006|p=69}}; {{harvnb|Živković|2009|p=206}} The analysis of events surrounding LPD's Časlav point to the mid-10th century.{{sfn|Živković|2006|p=69}}

The accounts in the LPD were based on folklore and the work is filled with gross chronological and genealogical inconsistencies, the personal names, however, tend to be true.{{sfn|Živković|2006|pp=68-69}} The LPD mentions how Magyar chieftain Kys ({{langx|sr|Kiša}}) raided and devastated Bosnia and that Časlav ({{langx|lat|Ciaslavus, Seislav}}) clashed with him in the [[Drina (župa)|Drina ''župa'' (county)]], next to [[Drina|the river]], at the location of ''Civedino'' (identified as [[Cvilin]] in the upper Drina near [[Foča]]) where Kisa fell, and the place was called ''Ciscovo'' at the time of the scribe.{{harvnb|Živković|2006|p=69}}; {{harvnb|Živković|2009|pp=202-203}} The region of Bosnia at the time was an integral part of Serbia.{{sfn|Živković|2006|p=71}} For distinction in the battle, Časlav gave Tihomil, who slew Kisa, the administration of the Drina ''župa'' and wed him with the daughter of the ''ban'' (an anachronistic title) of "Raška".{{harvnb|Živković|2006|p=69}}; {{harvnb|Živković|2009|p=205}} In the prelude to the battle, the narrative of Tihomil is based on Biblical motives, the king [[David]].{{sfn|Živković|2009|pp=201-202}} In the meantime, Kys' widow was given troops by the Magyar king to avenge him and entered [[Syrmia]] where Časlav was captured and thrown bound by the hands and feet into the [[Sava|Sava river]].{{harvnb|Živković|2006|p=69}}; {{harvnb|Živković|2009|p=206}} The analysis of events surrounding LPD's Časlav point to the mid-10th century.{{sfn|Živković|2006|p=69}}

It is known that the Magyars raided Byzantine territory in 933 and again in 943.{{sfn|Živković|2006|p=70}} For a decade, the Magyars did not raid south of the Danube and Sava, and perhaps, Časlav was the cause of stopping those operations.{{sfn|Živković|2006|p=70}} In fighting the Magyars, Časlav would have been supported by both Byzantium and Bulgaria.{{sfn|Živković|2006|p=70}} As Časlav began his rule by 933 (as per T. Živković's view), the exact same year that Byzantium was raided by the Magyars, it is clear that Časlav was chosen to deal with them on the initiative of Byzantium.{{sfn|Živković|2006|p=70}} Časlav could have been alive during the 943 Magyar incursion, and failed to stop it, however, T. Živković deemed it very likely he died just prior, perhaps in battle.{{sfn|Živković|2006|p=71}}

It is known that the Magyars raided Byzantine territory in 933 and again in 943.{{sfn|Živković|2006|p=70}} For a decade, the Magyars did not raid south of the Danube and Sava, and perhaps, Časlav was the cause of stopping those operations.{{sfn|Živković|2006|p=70}} In fighting the Magyars, Časlav would have been supported by both Byzantium and Bulgaria.{{sfn|Živković|2006|p=70}} As Časlav began his rule by 933/934 (as per T. Živković's view), the same time that Byzantium was raided by the Magyars, it is clear that Časlav was chosen to deal with them on the initiative of Byzantium.{{sfn|Živković|2006|p=70}} Časlav could have been alive during the 943 Magyar incursion, and failed to stop it, however, T. Živković deemed it very likely he died just prior, perhaps in battle.{{sfn|Živković|2006|p=71}}

The legend originated in folklore, perhaps even as a heroic poem.{{sfn|Živković|2009|p=205}} The legend includes characters such as:

The legend originated in folklore, perhaps even as a heroic poem.{{sfn|Živković|2009|p=205}} The legend includes characters such as: