Posted on 01/11/2005 7:08:28 PM PST by blam
Attila descendants want recognition
By Kate Connolly in Berlin
(Filed: 12/01/2005)
More than 2,000 Hungarian descendants of Attila the Hun, once described as the "Scourge of God", are demanding official recognition as an ethnic minority. "As a member of the European Union, Hungary should not be suppressing a minority," said Joshua Imre Novak, the group's self-appointed leader.
Mr Novak has collected more than 1,000 signatures to pursue the group's claim through Hungary's parliament. Many experts dismiss the group's initiative as bogus, arguing that Hungary has no existing descendants of the barbarians who gave the country its name.
Under Hungarian law, ethnic groups of 1,000 or more qualify for the status of an official minority and a generous selection of special privileges and subsidies.
Since the collapse of Communism, Hungarians have been hunting for a new national identity and have found inspiration in the figure of Attila.
GGG Ping. (I suppose...?)
Somebody better tell them what the word "reparations" means. The interest from a "your ancestors pillaged my ancestors" claim would be astronomical.
How do they know if they are lineal descendants?
Hell as many wives as Attila had a lot of people could be decendants of the man.
Some months ago I remember reading about genetic tracking of Genghis Khan descendants - seems like there was quite a bunch of them, IIRC.
Wasn't this a Monty Python sketch? "Mrs. Atilla the Hun, Atilla the Hun Junior," and so on?
Most of us posting probably are. I read somewhere that if you are of European descent on both sides, you just about a 100% chance of being descended from Charlemagne.
That means there is also a good chance we are related to people like Louis the Sluggard and Charles the Fat. That's kind of cool. I'd like to mix in some Ethelred the Unready and Hardicanute.
It's DNA time to prove their lineage.
Don't leave out the Merovingians (Clovis, Childeric, Theuedebert, etc.) who were as murderous as they were gluttonous.
Ah, names I have not heard in years. I guess Aleric and Theodoric are lurking in the back somewhere too.
I think quite a number of Attila's descendants ended up in Baltimore (pronounced Bawlmer) Hon.
Ridiculous.
The modern day Hungarians are descended from the Magyars, not the Huns. The Huns died out as a people over 1000 years ago and not even a single word of their language is preserved.
Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on, off, or alter the "Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list --
Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
The GGG Digest -- Gods, Graves, Glyphs (alpha order)
""Hi, I'm a descendant of Hitler, and would like special recognition."
===
I am disappointed in you, comparing Attila to Hitler.
As a student of history, I thought you would know better.
"Hey hun. How ya doin'?"
There's a modern effort to portray Attila as something more than the if it feels good do it reaver, but he wasn't. Hitler and Attila were similarly charismatic, and devoted to sacking civilization.
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