ABSTRACT
The law books of St Stephen, King of Hungary (1000–1038), represent one of the most remarkable sources that historians have for understanding the early implementation of the ideas of Christian kingship in the newly founded monarchies of East Central Europe at the beginning of the second millennium. In the preface to the first book, one reads the following:
since every people use their own law, we, governing our monarchy by the will of God and emulating both ancient and modern Caesars, and after reflecting upon the law, decree for our people too the way they should lead an upright and blameless life. 2
