The coexistence of ‘Dual Identity’:Non European origin of Hungarian and aSelf-identification as an EuropeanJi Young Kim*15)The Hungarians(magyar tribe) moved from previously inhabited theforest area between the Volga River and the Ural Mountains, and by the9th century, they had settled in today's land what known as theCarpathian Basin. In A. D. 1000, with the adoption of Christianity, the Hungarian tribehad formally been recognised as a European nation and, in fact, that hadthe Hungarians fall within European culture. The Hungarians had longperpetuated their nation for 1100 years thereafter. When defining theiridentity, the Hungarians take the pride in the genesis of nation, whichis, in certain perspective, viewed as a non-European. Indeed, a generalconsensus that has offered by the existing literature suggests that theHungarians tend to underscore the nature of their origin as anon-European, and that has distinguished themselves from otherEuropean nations. Furthermore, the Hungarians hold high esteem in their history, duringwhich the critical juncture of history, they sacrificed themselves fordefending Europe from any threats that had come from non-European the Hungarians. Chapter 2 discusses the ancient myth of Hungary, andanalyses the nature of a non-European culture that might havedistinguished themselves from other European nations. Chapter 3examines the process of the "Great Conquest"(honfoglalás) in theCarpathian Basin, and that of Christianisation, as well as the defendingrole of the Hungarians from the aggressions of the Ottoman-TurkEmpire. Chapter 4 analyses the historic process of constructing theAustro-Hungarian Empire, during which the Hungarians had establishedtheir own identity in one form or another.

The Hungarians(magyar tribe) moved from previously inhabited theforest area between the Volga River and the Ural Mountains, and by the9th century, they had settled in today's land what known as theCarpathian Basin. In A. D. 1000, with the adoption of Christianity, the Hungarian tribehad formally been recognised as a European nation and, in fact, that hadthe Hungarians fall within European culture. The Hungarians had longperpetuated their nation for 1100 years thereafter. When defining theiridentity, the Hungarians take the pride in the genesis of nation, whichis, in certain perspective, viewed as a non-European. Indeed, a generalconsensus that has offered by the existing literature suggests that theHungarians tend to underscore the nature of their origin as anon-European, and that has distinguished themselves from otherEuropean nations. Furthermore, the Hungarians hold high esteem in their history, duringwhich the critical juncture of history, they sacrificed themselves fordefending Europe from any threats that had come from non-European aggressors. With this in mind, the article examins the "dual" identity of the Hungarians. Chapter 2 discusses the ancient myth of Hungary, andanalyses the nature of a non-European culture that might havedistinguished themselves from other European nations. Chapter 3examines the process of the "Great Conquest"(honfoglalás) in theCarpathian Basin, and that of Christianisation, as well as the defendingrole of the Hungarians from the aggressions of the Ottoman-TurkEmpire. Chapter 4 analyses the historic process of constructing theAustro-Hungarian Empire, during which the Hungarians had establishedtheir own identity in one form or another.