The Hungarian nobility were initially a diverse body of people, but from
the late 12th century only high-ranking royal officials were regarded as
noble. Most claimed ancestry from chieftains of the period preceding the
establishment of the kingdom around the year 1000, or were descended
from western European knights who settled in Hungary. Only those who
owned lands free of obligations were regarded as true noblemen. Other
groups, known as conditional nobles, also existed. Under customary law,
only males inherited noble estates. The poorest nobles lost their tax
exemption from the mid–16th century. The ennoblement of whole groups
was not unusual in the 17th century. A group of 10,000 hajdúk received
nobility in 1605. After the Diet was divided into two chambers in 1608,
noblemen with a hereditary title had a seat in the upper house.
Reformist noblemen demanded the abolition of noble privileges from the
1790s. Noble titles were only abolished in 1947, after Hungary was
proclaimed a republic.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungarian_nobility>
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1100:
Henry I was crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_I_of_England>
1689:
Beaver Wars: Aggravated by increased French incursions into
their territory, a large force of Mohawk warriors substantially
destroyed the settlement of Lachine in present-day Quebec.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lachine_massacre>
1969:
Police raided a screening of the film Lonesome Cowboys in
Atlanta, Georgia, leading to the creation of the Gay Liberation Front.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lonesome_Cowboys_police_raid>
1993:
Wizards of the Coast released Magic: The Gathering, the first
trading card game.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic:_The_Gathering>
_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:
rootin' tootin':
1. (US, informal, traditionally associated with the Wild West) Loudly
exciting or impressive; boisterous, riotous.
2. (Lancashire, archaic, rare) Overly inquisitive about other's affairs;
interfering, nosy.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/rootin%27_tootin%27>
___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:
It is very important that the world sees: a fair and honest end
to Russian aggression will benefit everyone in the world. Everyone!
Liberating Ukrainian land from the occupiers means restoring full
respect for international law and the UN Charter. Eliminating all
threats created by Russia to Ukrainian and global security means
returning peace to international relations and stability to global life.
--Volodymyr Zelenskyy
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Volodymyr_Zelenskyy>
Show replies by date