Opos the Brave

The Illuminated Chronicle writes that Opos was "the son of Martin, of the line of Vecellin" ("Opus filius Martini de genere Vecellini").^[1] Other chapters mention the kinship of Vecellin, a German knight from Wasserburg who arrived in Hungary as a member of the entourage of Queen Gisela in 997 or 998. He played a decisive role in the defeat of Koppány, who contested the legitimacy of Stephen I, Grand Prince of the Hungarians. The chronicle also notes that "the aforesaid Vecellin begot Radi, Radi begot Miska, Miska begot Koppány and Martin",^[2] and states that the Ják kindred descended from the German knight.

Since the chronicle deals in detail with Vecellin's origins and Opos' exploits, historical scholars have long considered that these passages (the Gesta Ladislai regis) were written by a later descendant, plausibly Bishop Koppány, at the end of the 11th century. Hungarian scholars Gyula Pauler [hu] and György Székely [hu] both considered that Opos was the great-grandson of Vecellin.^[3] The Benedictine historian Lajos J. Csóka, showed that instead of the Jáks, the gens Rád descended from Vecellin, who had been granted lands in the northernmost part of Somogy County after Stephen's victory. Consequently, the clan was named after Radi (or Rád), the son of Vecellin. György Györffy argued that the connection of Vecellin with the Ják kindred was a mistake by mid-13th-century chronicler Ákos, who interpolated and supplemented the original chronicle text, often erroneously and anachronistically.^[4]

Györffy also argued that the chronicler Ákos mistakenly linked Opos to Vecellin's lineage because of his father's name, which, however, does not fall in the same generation as the lifetime of Vecellin's descendant, who was the brother of the aforementioned Bishop Koppány. Instead, Györffy proposed that Opos' father was that Martin, who fought against the Germans during the siege of Pressburg (present-day Bratislava, Slovakia) in 1052 and also appeared among the testimonies with the title of comes in the establishing charter of the abbey of Tihany in 1055.^[4] Most historians, including József Gerics and György Székely, accept Opos as an historical figure who lived in the 11th century. In contrast, Lajos J. Csóka considered that he was a fictional character who was invented in the 13th century.^[5] Gyula Kristó argued that Opos was of common descent because only his actions earned the respect of the "magnates of Hungary", and the descent from Vecellin is a result of the insertion of Ákos.^[6]

Opos' military exploits took place during the reign of King Solomon of Hungary. He appears as a loyal and steadfast soldier ("miles gloriosus") of the king. The chronicle speaks of him with sympathy and in a positive tone, despite the fact that the manuscript, on the whole, is overtly supportive of Solomon's rivals, Géza and Ladislaus. In addition to the family ties, this also ensures the relatively objective coloration of the chronicle.^[7]

In this conflict [the battle at Kemej], Opos, the son of Martin, of the line of Vecellin, who was a soldier of great renown, overcame in single combat a most valiant warrior of the duke whose name was Peter, and who on his chestnut charger rode out in front of the others, conspicuous in his shining breastplate and gilt helmet, challenging the warriors to combat. On his dun horse and in a hooded leather jerkin Opos charged forth alone from Solomon's ranks, and hurling himself upon Peter like a thunderbolt he shattered his breastplate with a blow of his lance and pierced him right through the heart. In the same battle Opos wrought such destruction with blow after blow of his sword that his right hand became cramped with the repetition of the blows and cleaved to the hilt of his sword. King Solomon and especially the Germans marveled at the power and audacity of Opos in battle.

His name "Opus" first appears in the 101st chapter of the chronicle. It narrates that in 1067, the Bohemians broke into Hungary and plundered the region of Trencsén (present-day Trenčín, Slovakia). In response, Solomon and his cousins, dukes Géza and Ladislaus, launched a retaliatory campaign into Bohemia in which Opos participated. There, Opos defeated a giant Czech warrior in a duel,^[3] stating: "for which memorable deed he was ever after held in high honor by the king and all the magnates of Hungary".^[8] The description of Opos' deed reflects the establishment of the chivalrous tradition in Hungary in the second half of the 11th century. The chronicler's style displays characteristics of the medieval chansons de geste. As a result of his victorious duel, Opos earned the epithet of "the Brave" (bátor or bator; the Latin chronicle preserved the nickname in its Hungarian form).^[3]

Opos was also present at the siege of Belgrade in 1071, which occurred during the Hungarians' war against the Byzantine Empire. Opos fought at the foot of the castle wall against the Saracens, who were sent by the Byzantine garrison to break the siege. When three of them broke out of the Belgrade Fortress and caused serious losses to the Hungarians, one of them was killed. When the Hungarians strove to carry off his corpse, the two remaining Saracens fought fiercely for its protection. This micro-scene and the corpse symbolized the outcome of the siege, and obtaining the corpse became of importance for the Hungarian king.^[9] Hearing Solomon and Géza's wish and words, three Hungarian warriors, Opos (Obus), George and Bors "rushed forth and leapt upon the Saracens like a thunderbolt. Most valiantly Opos pursued them to the very gates of the city. The defenders hurled stones and arrows from the city battlements, but Opos returned unhurt. Meanwhile George and Bors urged on the Hungarians, who bore off the body of the Saracen and disgraced it".^[10] While the majority of historians identified this Obus with Opos the Brave,^[11] Gyula Pauler has considered him as a different person.^[12]

After the Byzantine campaign, the relationship between Solomon and Géza had deteriorated. Opos remained a faithful partisan of the king and in this capacity, participated in the internal conflict. He was involved in the royal army, when Solomon – with the assistance of German troops – launched a military campaign against his cousin in early 1074. Opos participated in the battle of Kemej on 26 February 1074, when the significantly superior royal army defeated Géza's troops. Opos actively participated in the skirmish and defeated Peter, from the lineage Gurcu, in a knightly duel. After the victory, the royal army began to pursue Géza towards the interior of the realm.^[13] Opos took part in the battle of Mogyoród on 14 March 1074, where Géza and Ladislaus, with Bohemian assistance, achieved a decisive victory. Solomon managed to escape from the battlefield with the help of Opos; they crossed the Danube at Szigetfő, and the dethroned ruler fled to his last remaining strongholds, Pressburg and Moson, in the western part of the country.^[14]

While Géza I ascended the Hungarian throne and assumed control of the kingdom, Opos remained in the service of Solomon, who refused to recognize the new monarch. His brother-in-law Henry IV of Germany invaded Hungary in August 1074 to restore Solomon as king. Clashes between the imperial and royal armies took place at the walls of Nyitra (present-day Nitra, Slovakia), in which Opos also participated as a part of Solomon's three columns.^[15] The Illuminated Chronicle narrates that "seated upon his horse, Opos, who was a warrior among thousands, charged up to the gate of the city and struck down one of the combatants as if with a lightning stroke. The men of Nyitra bitterly bewailed the death of their comrade, and hurling their spears at Opos, they killed his horse; but he strongly resisted them and escaped unhurt".^[16] Returning to the camp, Henry IV "received him into his presence and commended him and praised him highly, and spoke to him sweet and pleasant words".^[16] After asking Solomon whether there were such great warriors in the enemy camp, Solomon thoughtlessly answered that "there are many, and even far better", which led to Henry deciding to suspend the campaign. This is the last time the name of Opos is mentioned in the chronicle.^[15]