Saint Stephen I, a devout Christian king, was baptized at ten with his father, the Magyar chieftain Geza. Stephen married Gisela, daughter of Duke Henry of Bavaria and then succeeded his father as leader in 997 and devoted most of his reign to the devotion of the Christian faith. In 1000 Stephen was anointed the first king of Hungary. He established Churches, a monastery in Jerusalem for pilgrims, a system of tithes to support the Church and the poor, and abolished pagan customs. He died on August 15 after an assassination attempt and many illnesses. He was buried alongside his son St. Emeric, and the two were canonized together in 1083.
