 The Byzantine Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus ( r . 913 – 959 ) states that the Hungarians " had never at any time had any other prince " before Árpád , which is in sharp contrast to the Hungarian chronicles ' report of the position of Árpád 's father . In Porphyrogenitus 's narration , the Khazar khagan initiated the centralization of the command of the Hungarian tribes in order to strengthen his own suzerainty over them . The khagan initially wanted to appoint a chieftain named Levedi to lead the Hungarians . However , Levedi did not accept this offer and suggested that either Álmos or Árpád should be promoted instead of him . The khagan approached the Hungarians with this new proposal . They preferred Árpád to his father , because he was " greatly admired for wisdom and counsel and valour , and capable of this rule " . Thereafter , Árpád was made " prince according to the custom ... of the Chazars , by lifting him upon a shield . " Constantine Porphyrogenitus refers to Árpád as " great prince of Hungary " ( Greek : μέγας <unk> <unk> ) . 
