THE MILITARY ENTOURAGE OF GYULA AS SHOWN BY THE BURIAL PLACE IN ALBA IULIA - IZVORUL ÎMPĂRATULUI (10TH -11TH CENTURY)
ANTURAJUL MILITAR AL LUI GYULA ILUSTRAT DE CIMITIRUL DE LA ALBA IULIA – IZVORUL ÎMPĂRATULUI (SEC. X-XI)

Summary/Abstract: The article is being focused on the Hungarian warrior graves discovered in the cemetery from Alba Iulia – Izvorul Împăratului/Crăicuta point, an important landmark for the history of Christianity from Transylvania and European space. The revitalization of Christianity on the Eastern way was produced through Gyula, one of the Hungarian leaders who entered in Transylvania in the first decades of the 10th century. The warrior graves from this cemetery contain in their funerary inventory pottery, armament pieces (Säbelschwert, quivers, arrow points, bone arc plates, battle axe), harness (stirrups, bit, belts), domestic usage objects (fire striker, flint, knifes) and garnishments (loop rings or finger rings). With only one exception (M. 115) the rest of the warrior graves are being grouped by two: group I, the largest, includes M. 133, M. 143, M. 144, M. 173, M. 177, M. 208 and M. 210; group II, a smaller one, composed of M. 165, M. 168 (the leader?) and M. 184. Most of the bone arc plates appear in the group I and in the case of group II, only in one grave (M. 184). In what concerns the pottery, the two pots were recovered from the graves belonging to group II (M. 165, M. 168). The leader of this military suite (M. 168) is being framed by two other warrior graves (M. 165, M. 184/profaned). In the ritual habits there are egg deposits offerings, horse deposits and the arranging of most of the sepulcher pits with lithic materials. These warrior graves indicate a military suite which ensured Gyula’s protection in this period of time (the second half of the 10th century). It is possible that, this military suite accompanied and assured his protection also in his ride to Constantinople in 953.

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