MEMORIAL DAY : UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

 

A LIST OF TITLED NOBLE FAMILIES IN HUNGARY - A GOOD WELL REFERENCED LIST - BUT OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

I'll admit that I think Wikipedia can be wonky and I don't rely on it, even though it often comes up first or high up in a search.  This list is well referenced and you might find the original source books in your library or perhaps in Google Books, or another way. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_titled_noble_families_in_the_Kingdom_of_Hungary

In looking over this list I want to emphasize that it is not comprehensive but is focusing on the Austrian-Hungarian empire era and these families are the ones that seem to have held onto their status for hundreds of years and were recognized by Austria.  You will notice that some were granted titles or acknowledged though they were Italian or from another country because they were living in Hungary at the time.  Most of the shown armory has the flourishes of the Austrian.

There are a number of other reference books one can use to locate those of noble or once-noble birth as well as the original Hungarian armory. Make sure your library has copies and let them know when they don't that you want them to make a purchase.  Some libraries will get rid of books that have not been taken out in a while so take them out!

Nobility was abolished in mid 19th century Hungary.  Never the less in archival records including church records many a baptism or marriage mentions that someone was of noble birth exist after 1848.  Much has been said about how this nobility was achieved and when. Rank and other conventions of nobility in Western Europe among the English and Germans has been applied to the Hungarian.

So, many a noble family died out over time.  If the family died out, sometimes a male who was married to a female from the family assumed the title or the arms.  You will see acknowledgement that something like this happened when you see a surname and the word alias (also known as) and another surname.

They died out because disease was equal opportunity, because women faced death due to pregnancy and child-birth, because men died in battle, and no offspring lived to be adult.  During the Ottoman Turk occupation of Hungary two thirds of the population was slaughtered, and women were likely raped or had to take an Ottoman Turk as a husband (and accept his religion), and so on. So, castles were built, and the people in the mountains and where castles existed had a better chance to persist than those on the flat lands. The mountainous regions were called Royal Hungary. 

A noble woman who married a non-noble man would keep her nobility and title but it would not transfer to their children.  This discouraged noble women from marrying outside their status.  People were pragmatic though and a woman would rather be married to a non-noble man who had some good income over a poor noble.  Never the less, there was pride in family history and that noble status, even if through the decades or centuries there was no land or riches remaining.  Noble status conferred privileges but also responsibilities such as military service and other obligations to one's fellows and the rulership - those of higher rank and status.  Most high nobles owned land had renters on the land.  Their opinions were sought.  They got to vote (but not in organized elections as we think of voting today).

LADY OF HUNGARY - FROM 1626

 

CASTLE FUZER BUILT DURING THE OTTOMAN WARS : WONDERFUL PLACES IN HUNGARY #24

HUNGARIAN OTTOMAN WARS : FUZER CASTLE

Castle Fuzer was a defense castle at Fuze and was paced on a volcanic mountain before the death of King Andras II in 1235 by members of the Aba Clan.  This link to provides us a history of the noble families that owned the castle, which is located above Tokaj wine country and south of Kassa (not in Slovakia.)  Among the highlights of this history is that the sacred crown of Hungary was hidden in the castle for a year in 1526,  In 1567 it went into the hands of the Bathory family, which you may know because of Elizabeth Bathory, known as the countess who was said to have murdered many servant girls.  (A story that has been disputed.)  She got the castle in 1603.

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Click on the label Wonderful-Hungary to bring up all posts on this theme.

HUNGARIAN FREE PRESS established in 2014 - INFORMED OPINIONS! SOCIAL JUSTICE

https://hungarianfreepress.com/   Excerpt: Established in 2014, Hungarian Free Press is an English language online newspaper offering informed opinion on current events in East/Central Europe.  While we focus primarily on Hungarian political news, we also aim to explore broader regional trends, as well as diaspora-related issues.  Our paper seeks to build on the longstanding tradition of free, democratic discourse in European coffee houses and aims to develop into a dynamic and energetic news source for inquisitive English readers interested in the political, cultural, and economic pressures in Hungary, whilst offering succinct, pertinent information and insightful commentary on broader developments in this region.

RAVEN WITH RING

 

HUNGARIAN AMERICAN COALITION USA - ADVOCATING FOR HUNGARIANS IN CARPATHIANS and

HUNGARIAN AMERICAN COALITION USA 

Excerpt:  We provide partial scholarships to young Hungarians from across the region to attend colleges in the US and Hungary through the Dr. Éva and Elemér Kiss and Bognár Family Hungarian Scholarship Programs.

We actively monitor human rights across the Carpathian Basin where ethnic Hungarians live in minority and provide information to decision makers and influencers on both sides of the ocean.

We reach out to the Hungarian American community through our annual Mikulás celebrations, White House briefings and Gala dinners. We also support community-wide events and resources.

The Hungarian American Coalition is proud to be the community’s largest umbrella organization, representing more than 38,000 members. The Coalition bridges the gap between our two countries, bringing the best of both worlds to one another. To date, we’ve raised over $7 million dollars to complete nearly 500 projects.

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Check out their resources!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HUNGARIAN CITY and WHY?

 Yes, if you think of an American city as "Hungarian" you can leave that answer....

What cities in Hungary would you recommend to travelers?

Leave a comment!

THE CIMBALOM IS A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT THAT ORIGINATES IN HUNGARY

 It's NOT a Dulcimer...

HUNGARIAN FLOWERS and BIRD

 

Image credit Gordon Johnson  - Pixabay