During the 8th to 10th centuries CE, the Magyars, who initially retained a semi-nomadic lifestyle characterized by transhumance, began transitioning to a settled agricultural society. This change was driven by economic necessities such as insufficient pasturage for nomadism and the inability to migrate further. As a result, the Magyars, merging with local Slavic and other populations, became more homogeneous and began developing fortified centers which later evolved into county centers. The Hungarian village system also took shape during the 10th century.

Significant reforms in the power structure of the emerging Hungarian state were initiated by Grand Princes Fajsz and Taksony. They were the first to invite Christian missionaries and established forts, marking a shift towards a more organized and sedentary society. Taksony, in particular, moved the center of the Hungarian principality from Upper Tisza to new locations at Székesfehérvár and Esztergom, reintroduced traditional military service, updated the army's weaponry, and organized large-scale resettlements of Hungarians, further consolidating the transformation from a ranked chiefdom to a state society.