Tweet
I've ordered a DNA test from FamilyTreeDNA approx. 2 years ago, since then I've upgraded my test, ordered extras etc. The results of my tests was very interesting! On my direct paternal line I'm related to Armenians, we had a common ancestor (forefather) 800-1200 years ago. Since this 'discovery' I'm reading extensively on Armenian history, but I need some help from people who has more knowledge in the Armenian history during the Bzyantine Empire.
I read in many books and essays, that Armenians had an important role in the Byzantine Empire, both in military and state matters. I've also read that tens of thousands of Armenians settled or forced to settle in the Balkans, namely Thrace, Northern Greece and Epirus.
The earliest mention of Armenians in Hungary is from two Chronicles: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gesta_Hungarorum written between (1196-1203), and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronica_Hungarorum written in the 14th century. Both says that Armenian have lived in Hungary as the seven Hungarian tribe conquered the Carpathian Basin. As a direct evidence of Armenians living in Hungary there is Charta dated back to 1243, assuring duty free commerece rights to Armenian colony living in Esztergom (royal resort at that time).
Another interesting thing is Andrew II of Hungary participated in the Fifth Crusade. On his way back home he visited Cilician Kingdom of Armenia, and met with Levon I. He even engaged his son Andrew to Zabel, but the marriage never become alive.
I've contacted some Hungarian scholars about the Armenians in Hungary before the mass immigration to Transylvania in the 17th century. (Transylvania was a part of Kingdom of Hungary, allthough during Ottoman occupation it was a de facto sovereign state.) They told me that most probably the first Armenians came to Hungary from the Balkans, but evidence is really scarce about this.
Please help me to find out more about the Armenians in Hungary in the early period of its history!
I read in many books and essays, that Armenians had an important role in the Byzantine Empire, both in military and state matters. I've also read that tens of thousands of Armenians settled or forced to settle in the Balkans, namely Thrace, Northern Greece and Epirus.
The earliest mention of Armenians in Hungary is from two Chronicles: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gesta_Hungarorum written between (1196-1203), and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronica_Hungarorum written in the 14th century. Both says that Armenian have lived in Hungary as the seven Hungarian tribe conquered the Carpathian Basin. As a direct evidence of Armenians living in Hungary there is Charta dated back to 1243, assuring duty free commerece rights to Armenian colony living in Esztergom (royal resort at that time).
Another interesting thing is Andrew II of Hungary participated in the Fifth Crusade. On his way back home he visited Cilician Kingdom of Armenia, and met with Levon I. He even engaged his son Andrew to Zabel, but the marriage never become alive.
I've contacted some Hungarian scholars about the Armenians in Hungary before the mass immigration to Transylvania in the 17th century. (Transylvania was a part of Kingdom of Hungary, allthough during Ottoman occupation it was a de facto sovereign state.) They told me that most probably the first Armenians came to Hungary from the Balkans, but evidence is really scarce about this.
Please help me to find out more about the Armenians in Hungary in the early period of its history!