The first surviving written records in the Hungarian language appear in the early 14th century, around 1301. These are primarily ecclesiastical documents and funeral sermons. This marks the beginning of the development of a vernacular literary tradition in Hungarian.

The emergence of written Hungarian in the 14th century laid the groundwork for the development of a national poetry and literature. It allowed for the translation of religious texts and the creation of original works in the Hungarian language. This event is foundational for the later development of Hungarian literature, including the works of poets like Bálint Balassi.