Sarolt
Sarolt (c. 950 – c. 1008) was the wife of Géza, Grand Prince of the Hungarians.
| Sarolt | |
|---|---|
| Grand Princess of the Hungarians | |
Stephen's birth depicted in the Illuminated Chronicle | |
| Tenure | before 972 – c. 997 |
| Born | c. 950 |
| Died | c. 1008 |
| Burial | St. Peter and Paul Cathedral, Székesfehérvár |
| Spouse | Géza of Hungary |
| Issue | Judith of Hungary Margaret, Tsaritsa of Bulgaria Saint Stephen Grimelda of Hungary Sarolt?, Queen of Hungary |
| House | House of Arpad |
| Father | Gyula of Transylvania |
| Religion | Eastern Christianity |
She was born a daughter of Zombor (or Gyula II), gyula of Transylvania, second in rank among the leaders of the Hungarian tribal federation.
Sarolt exerted a powerful influence on her husband which allowed her to also influence his government. She was watched with suspicion by Catholic missionaries. The chronicles accused her of drinking insatiably and even committing manslaughter.
Sarolt and her husband received baptism late in life. They raised their son as a Christian and changed his name from Vajk to Stephen as a sign of their faith. After her husband's death in 997, one of his distant cousins, Koppány, who declared his claim to the leadership of the Magyars against her son, Stephen (Vajk), wanted to marry Sarolt, referring to the Hungarian tradition. Koppány, nevertheless, was defeated, and shortly afterward Sarolt's son was crowned as the first King of Hungary.