Lehel

This article is about the 10th-century Magyar chieftain. For Lehel (disambiguation), see Lehel (disambiguation).

Lehel killing his captor, miniature of the Chronicon Pictum, 1360.

Lehel or Lele or Lél (died 955) was a Magyar chieftain, one of the brilliant military leaders of prince Taksony of Hungary, the descendant of Árpád. He was one of the most important figures of the Magyar invasions of Europe. During his military campaigns, he managed to attack the complete West Europe, therefore it was a common saying at that time: "A sagittis Hungarorum, libera nos Domine" (Lord, save us from the arrows of the Hungarians"). He died at the Battle of Augsburg.

Origin

Anonymus calls him the son of Tas, who was one of the "Seven chieftains of Hungary", and descendant of Árpád. Most Historians agree that there is a mismatch in the timing, so he should be the son of Tas, but the grandson of Árpád.

Dukedom

His dukedom was the Principality of Nitra, whose territory was the Kabarian part. Cities of Alsólelóc and Felsőlelóc kept the name of Lél. The dukedom could refer to the possibility of Lél being a would-be duke.

Battle of Augsburg

See more: Battle of Augsburg Lél was leading the Nitrian Kabars at the Battle of Augsburg. The commander was horka Bulcsu, who was not descendant of the Árpád. The other main military leader was Súr.

The battle ended with the defeat of the Hungarians, which was not overwelming defeat, as the Germans were not launching a campaign against Hungary for decades after the battle. However, the three military leaders were caught and were hanged at Regensburg

The Lehel's horn myth

The Chronicon Pictum, by Márk de Kált, writes about the following (originally in Latin):

"In 955, (...) the Hungarians reached the city of Augsburg. Close to the city, at the Lech-field, the Germans have smashed the Hungarians, part of them were killed brutally, some others were emprisoned. At that place Lehel and Bulcsu were also emprisoned, and taken in front of the emperor. When the emperor asked, why the Hungarians are so cruel against the Christians, they replied, "We are the revenge of the highest God, sent to you as a scorge. You shall emprison us and kill us, when we ceise to chase you." Then the emperor called them: "Choose the type of death you wish". Then Lehel replied, "Bring me my horn, which I will blow, then I will reply". The horn was handed to him, and during the preparation to blow it, he stepped forward, and hit the emperor so strong he died instantly. Then he said: "You will walk before me and serve me in the other world", as it is a common belief within th Scythians, that whoever they killed in their lives will serve them in the other world. They were taken to custody and were hanged quickly in Regensburg."

There was surely the Battle of Augsburg, but the army was not led by Conrad, Duke of Lorraine but by Otto I the Great. Conrad was killed by an arrow during the battle (by Widukind of Corvey).

Lehel's horn today

Nowadays there is one horn kept as "Lehel's horn" at Jászberény, at the Museum of Jász. This horn is an ebony horn from 10-11th century, and is most probably not the same as the horn from the myth.

The horn of Lehel, kept in Jászberény