Page "Stephen I of Hungary" Paragraph 8

According to Hungarian tradition, Pope Silvester II, with the consent of Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor, sent a magnificent jeweled gold crown to Stephen along with an apostolic cross and a letter of blessing officially recognizing Stephen as the Christian king of Hungary.

Later this tradition was interpreted as the papal recognition of the independence of Hungary from the Holy Roman Empire.

The date of Stephen's coronation is variously given as Christmas Day, 1000 or 1 January 1001.