Editing Ladislaus I of Hungary (section)

===Consolidation of the Christian monarchy ===

For centuries, hagiographers and historians have emphasized Ladislaus's prominent role in the consolidation of the Christian monarchy.{{sfn|Klaniczay|2002|p=173}} The chronicles also stressed his ''idoneitas'', or personal suitability, to reign, because the legitimacy of his rule was questionable.{{sfn|Klaniczay|2002|p=173}} The ''Illuminated Chronicle'' clearly states that Ladislaus knew that "the right of law between him and [Solomon] was not on his side but only the force of fact".<ref name="Chronicon_94_133_128" />{{sfn|Klaniczay|2002|p=173}}

After Ladislaus's victories over the Pechenegs and the Cumans, the nomadic peoples of the Pontic steppes stopped invading Hungary until the Mongol invasion of 1241.{{sfn|Engel|2001|p=37}} Kristó suggests that the [[Székelys|Székely people]]{{mdash}}a community of Hungarian-speaking warriors{{mdash}}started settling the easternmost borderlands under Ladislaus.{{sfn|Kristó|Makk|1996|p=121}}{{sfn|Engel|2001|p=115}} The "historic association of the Kingdom of Hungary and [[Croatia]]", which ended in 1918, began with Ladislaus's conquest of Croatia.{{sfn|Kontler|1999|p=63}} His conquest marked the beginning of a period of Hungarian expansion, which ensured that Hungary developed into a leading [[Central Europe]]an power during the following centuries.{{sfn|Engel|2001|p=37}} It became a customary rite for a newly crowned Hungarian king to make a pilgrimage to Ladislaus's shrine at [[Várad]].{{sfn|Engel|2001|p=32}} [[Louis I of Hungary]], who made many attempts to expand his territory in the Balkan Peninsula, showed a special respect for Ladislaus.{{sfn|Cartledge|2011|p=36}}

{{Blockquote|Hungary had never had as great as king, so they repute<br />And the land thereafter never bore that much and splendid fruit.|[[Gallus Anonymus]]: ''[[Gesta principum Polonorum|The Deeds of the Princes of the Poles]]''<ref name="Gallus_27_97" />}}