Welcome to Budapest - Hungary and to the 136th edition of the Forum Song Contest (FSC).
Theme: ‘Medieval Hungary: The Age of Kings’
Winner FSC May 2020
Congratulations! ^^
Theme: ‘Medieval Hungary: The Age of Kings’
Winner FSC May 2020
Congratulations! ^^
The Host city for this FSC #136-edition is : Budapest - Hungary , the Capital and the most pop
ulous city of Hungary and the ninth-largest city in the European Union by population within city
limits. The city has an estimated population of around 1.750.000 over a landarea of about 525
km2. The Budapest Metropolitan Area (which is 7623 km2) , has a population of ca 3.3 million.
The history of Budapest began when an early Celtic settlement (before 1AD) transformed into
the Roman town of Aquincum , the capital of Lower Pannonia . The Hungarians , arrived in the
territory in the late 9th century,but the area was pillaged by the Mongols in 1241–42. Re-estab
lished Buda became one of the centres of Renaissance humanist culture, by the 15th century.
Budapest is a city of commerce , finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education,
and entertainment . It is Hungary's financial centre, and was ranked as the second fastest-dev
eloping urban economy in Europe . Budapest is the headquarters , of the European Institute of
Innovation & Technology , European Police College and the first foreign office of the China IPA
Over 40 colleges & universities are located in Budapest , incl. the Eötvös Loránd University, the
Semmelweis University and the Budapest University of Technology and Economics. Opened in
1896 , the city's subway system , the Budapest Metro , serves 1.27 million , while the Budapest
TramNetwork servs 1 million people daily. Part of Budapest is classified a World Heritage Site.
The previously separate towns of Buda, Óbuda, & Pest were in 1873 officially unified and given
the new name Budapest. The origin of the names "Buda" and "Pest" is uncertain. There are sev
eral theories. According to a legend recorded in chronicles from the MiddleAges "Buda" comes
from the name of its founder, Bleda, brother of Hunnic ruler Attila (who lived from 406-453 AD)
There are also several theories about the name “Pest". One states that the name derives from
Roman times, since there was a local fortress (Contra-Aquincum) called by Ptolemaios "Pess
ion" ( "Πέσσιον", iii.7.§ 2 ). Another has it, Pest originates in the Slavic word for cave , пещера,
or peštera. A third one cites пещ , or pešt , referencing a cave where fires burned or a limekiln.
The Roman settlement - Aquincum - became the main city of Pannonia Inferior , in 106 AD . At
first it was a military settlement, and gradually the city rose around it, making it the focal point
of the city's commercial life . The Romans constructed roads , amphitheaters, baths & houses
with heated floors in this fortified military camp . Aquincum is the best-conserved Roman site.
‘Medieval Hungary: The Age of Kings’
‘A Time of Power: 895-1526’
This period in Hungarian history is often divided into 2 parts: The Age of Árpádian Kings (ca
972-1300) and the Age of Elected Kings (ca 1300-1526) . The freshly unified Hungarians led
by Árpád, settled in the Carpathian Basin starting in 895. As a federation of united tribes, Hu
ngary was established in 895 , some 50 years after the division of the Carolingian Empire, at
the Treaty of Verdun in 843. Year 972 marked the date when the ruling Prince Géza of the Ár
pád dynasty officially started to integrate Hungary into the Christian Western Europe. His 1st
born son , Saint Stephen I , became the first King of Hungary, after defeating his pagan uncle
Koppány. Under Stephen , Hungary was recognized as Catholic Apostolic Kingdom. Applying
to Pope Sylvester II , Stephen received insignia of royalty ( including a part of the Holy Crown
of Hungary, is believed currently kept in the famous Hungarian Parliament ) from the Papacy.
The most powerful & wealthiest King of the Árpád dynasty , was Béla III who disposed of the
equivalent of 23 tonnes of pure silver a year . King Andrew II, issued the Diploma Andreanum
which secured the special privileges of the Transylvanian Saxons , and is considered the first
Autonomy law in the world . He led the Fifth Crusade to the Holy Land in 1217 , setting up the
largest royal army in the history of Crusades. In 1241–1242, the kingdom received a major bl
ow with the Mongol (Tatar) invasion. Up to half of Hungary's then population of 2.000.000 we
re victims of the invasion . King Béla IV , let Cumans & Jassic people, into the country who we
re fleeing the Mongols. Over the centuries they were assimilated into a Hungarian population.
The Kingdom of Hungary reached one of its greatest extents during the Árpádian Kings , yet
royal power was weakened at the end of their rule in 1301. After a destructive period of inter
regnum (1301-1308), the first Angevin King, Charles I of Hungary, successfully restored royal
power, & defeated oligarch rivals. The second Angevin Hungarian King, Louis the Great (1342
-1382) , led many successful military campaigns from Lithuania to Southern Italy , & was also
King of Poland from 1370. After King Louis died without a male heir , the country was stabiliz
ed only when Sigismund of Luxemburg (1387-1437) succeeded to the throne. The last strong
King of medieval Hungary was the Renaissance King Matthias Corvinus (1458-1490). He was
also King of Croatia . His election was the first time, that a member of the nobility mounted to
the Hungarian royal throne without dynastic background. He was a successful military leader.
He was also an enlightened patron of the arts & learning (ref. also his royal library, the famous
Bibliotheca Corviniana). The serfs and common people considered him a just ruler because he
protected them from excessive demands from & other abuses by the magnates. King Matthias
died without lawful sons, & the Hungarian magnates procured the accession of the Pole Vladis
laus II (1490–1516). Hungary's international role declined, its political stability shaken, & social
progress was deadlocked . In 1514, the weakened old King Vladislaus II faced a major peasant
rebellion led by the soldier György Dózsa, which was ruthlessly crushed by the nobles led by Jo
hn Zápolya. The resulting degradation of order paved the way for Ottoman (Turk) pre-eminence
The Magyar tribes led by Árpád, forced out of their original homeland north of Bulgaria by Tsar
Simeon after the Battle of Southern Buh settled in the territory at the end of the 9th century dis
placing the founding Bulgarian settlers of the towns of Buda and Pest and a century later offici
ally founded Kingdom of Hungary. The residence of the Árpáds was at what became Budapest
In the 16th and 17th century Hungary was often affected by war & occupation (Ottoman rule)
In the 1699 Treaty of Karlowitz, the former territorial changes were officially recognized to sh
ow the end of the rule of the Ottomans (Turks) & by 1718 the entire Kingdom of Hungary was
removed from Ottoman rule. The last war-raid into Hungary by Ottoman vassals was in 1717.
The 19th century was dominated by the Hungarian struggle for independence and modernisa
tion. 1867 was the year of Reconciliation that brought about the birth of the dual-monarchy of
Austria-Hungary. This made Budapest the twin capital of a dual monarchy. In the 20th century
the empire collapsed, a Republic created, and after WW2 it was a communist state until 1991.
Modern Budapest is a thriving city which has much to offer its inhabitants and visitors from all
over the world . The city has old historic landmarks but also modern ones . Among Budapest’s
modern structures is the Papp László Budapest Sportaréna. Another of the city's newer sights,
the Bálna (Whale) , was opened in November 2013 , at the Danube bank near the Petőfi Bridge.
This modern shopping , cultural , and entertainment centre, which aims to be tourist attraction
such as, the Covent Garden in London , was designed by Dutch architect Kas Oosterhuis , who
transformed the location’s former 19th century public warehouse buildings into a 21st century
colossal glass and metal multifunctional complex: a meeting point and place for experiences.
Budapest is served by Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport ( BUD ) ( named after Franz
Liszt, the notable Hungarian composer ) , one of the busiest airports in Central and Eastern Eu
rope’ . It also has a huge public transport system . It has hotels and restaurants, cafees & bars
aplenty as well as cultural venues , theatres , concert halls , the opera, museums and galleries.
Budapest has many sights for tourists: most famous are perhaps Buda Castle and Castle Hill
(towering over the Danube , contains many of the city’s most important medieval monuments
, and museums) , and the magnificent Hungarian Parliament Building (the world’s third largest
parliament building, built in Neo-Gothic style, inaugarated in 1886 ref. the FSC Show banners)
Other sights are : St. Stephen’s Basilica , Fisherman’s Bastrion , Danube Promenade , Matthias
Church (The Church of Our Lady , a prominent landmark on Castle Hill) , Gellért Hill, The Muse
eum of Fine Arts , Heroes’ Square, & the Millennium Monument , Széchenyi Thermal Bath , Hu
ngarian State Opera House , the Hungarian National Museum , and also the University Church.
Budapest is also a city of sports, and has hosted many global sport events in the past . It has
several Hungarian League football clubs . The Hungarian Grand Prix in Formula One has been
held at the Hungaroring just outside the city. Numerous Olympic, World, and European Champ
ionship winners and medalists reside in the city (in fencing , swimming, water polo, canoeing).
Hungary! 
It's wonderful 
Something personal from me: I choose Budapest, because after the first victory, the capital city is an obvious choice. And Budapest is my birthplace also (the ninth district called "Ferencváros", next to the downtown area, and the home of the most popular Hungarian football club, FTC).
Actually, I have lived in Budapest my whole life, or in its agglomeration! Now I live in the third district, which is also the third biggest one (Budapest has 23 districts), near to Aquincum. My district is located north of Budapest, on Buda side.
Hungary has so many magical cities and places, every year I travel around the country, and discover new buildings, landscapes, etc. But Budapest is my home.
Anyway, thank you Malagant again for this great show, and thanks everyone who join this event! (and sorry for my english, it's kinda bad, but I hope you understand that).
Performer of “I’ll Wait”, and returning to the FSC for Norway after more than 2 years, is the famous Norwegian EDM-producer, DJ and artist Kygo with Sasha Sloan on vocals. This is one of Kygo’s new 2020 singles. For more information and promotion of the entry (including lyrics in English) please check out the FSC Norway-thread and/or the FSC Promotions-thread! Hope you’ll enjoy it! 
