Hungary is a central European country bordered by Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, and Austria. Its largest city and current capital is Budapest, which has a population of nearly 2 million. Before it became a democracy, for nearly 1,000 years since its founding, it was a kingdom.
On this day August 20th, in 1000, Stephen the I founds Hungary and converts all of its residents to Christianity. Converting a nation had become fairly popular: think back to Poland with Mieszko in 966.
During the middle ages the Kingdom of Hungary was considered the epicenter of culture and western civilization. The mixture of politics and religion turned Stephen the I into a saintly ruler. He was canonized in 1083, and his feast day is today. In Hungary August 20th is also celebrated as a public holiday to observe the foundation of the State and its entrance into Christianity. The Hungarian kingdom at its height covered Slovakia, Transylvania, parts of Ukraine, Serbia, and Austria as well.