 A plundering raid in East Francia in 862 was the Magyars ' first recorded military expedition in Central Europe . This raid may have been initiated by Rastislav of Moravia , who was at war with Louis the German , according to Róna @-@ Tas and Spinei . The longer version of the Annals of Salzburg said the Magyars returned to East Francia and ransacked the region of Vienna in 881 . The same source separately mentioned the Cowari , or Kabars , plundering the region of Kulmberg or Kollmitz in the same year , showing that the Kabars formed a distinct group . In the early 880s , a " king " of the Magyars had an amicable meeting with Methodius , Archbishop of Moravia , who was returning from Constantinople to Moravia , according to Methodius ' legend . 
