6. Floods in Medieval Hungary: General Analysis, Comparisons and Conclusions

Based on the case studies available in Chap. 5 and the evidence discussed in previous chapters, in this main chapter a complex overview and analysis of flood events are provided. The chapter is divided into three main sections. The first major section is concentrated on the physical–environmental aspects of reported floods of mainly or entirely natural origin: flood distribution, frequency and magnitude, origin of flood events, floods of main rivers, periods with highest flood frequencies, possible long-term consequences and hydromorphological changes and the weather-related information captured in flood events. The second main section specialised on human response on flood events both in its practical socio-economic consequences, responses and spiritual aspects is discussed. In the third part of the chapter, an analysis of the best-documented flood-rich periods and flood peaks, namely the late 1330s–1350s, late 1390s–early 1440s and late 1470s–1520s, is presented in more detail, in combination with related documentary and sedimentary evidence.