ABSTRACT
Medieval narratives and modern histories alike exaggerate the military prowess of the Hungarian mounted archers. Despite their vaunted tactical and strategic advantages, the Magyars were frequently defeated by the armies of settled powers well before their disastrous encounter with Otto I in August 955. Already during the first two decades of the tenth century, Duke Arnulf of Bavaria had ambushed Magyar forces that had invaded his territory on several occasions. It took the Saxons under Henry I much longer to adjust to Hungarian strategy and tactics than it did the Bavarians. Even the Italian ruler, Berengar I, who had a poor reputation as a military leader, learned to deal successfully with the Magyars, not by engaging them in the field, but rather by employing them as mercenaries.1 In fact Berengar owed his elevation to the imperial dignity in 915 to Magyar forces in his service. The papacy also occasionally hired Hungarians for the protection of the Holy See. While their armies frequently entered Italy during the first half of the tenth century, the damage that they inflicted has been overstated. They served their wealthier neighbors for subsidies and tribute, then they returned to the Carpathian Basin when their special skills were no longer required.
