Since the Magyars' conquest of the Carpathian Basin in 896, Hungarians have had to be concerned about their national security. Twice in Hungary's history, a foreign invader killed nearly half of the country's population, and at other times Hungarians had to endure occupation by a foreign power seeking to destroy their national identity. For this reason, a military leader who delivered the people, however temporarily, from foreign oppression became a hero.

Data as of September 1989