Legal Position of Muslims in Medieval Hungary.

Muslim population was present in medieval Hungary since the conquest of Pannonia by the Hungarians. There are various theories about their origin. Hungarian Muslims were most often referred to az Petcheneguesm, Kalizes, Kwarezmies, etc. they also found their place in the legal system of the country. Very severe laws on Muslims in Hungary were adopted by king Laszlo I and his successor Coloman in 1092. and at the beginning of XIIth century. These laws prohibited newly converted Muslims of practising their old faith, marriage between Muslims was prohibited, and they were forced to eat only pork. In every village where the islamic population had lived a church was to be built. A prominent Muslim traveller Abu Hamid, who lived in Hungary between 1150-1153. taught his fellow Muslims about their, faith, language and law of inheritance. We do not know much about it, but it can be presumed that followers of islam in medieval Hungary had sufficient internal judicial autonomy. In 1217, as well as later, there were three ordeal cases in Varad registre which consider Muslims as a part in the litigation. In all three cases Christians were accused by the Muslims. Even though the laws were harsh and severe and conversion was always present the Muslim population has successed to persist in Hungary until late XIIIth century. Their legal position was interesting and sepcific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]