Armenians in Hungary

Armenians in Hungary ( _hu. Örmények) are ethnic Armenians living in the modern republic of Hungary. An estimated15,000 [ [http://www.tlfq.ulaval.ca/axl/europe/hongriegeneral.htm Généralités ] ] to 3,500 live in the nation today, making up roughly 0.01% of the population. Approximately two thirds of Hungary's Armenians population is found in Budapest and the surrounding Pest county. Armenians in Hungary have established 31 "self-governments" and roughly half of them speak Armenian as their mother tongue. [http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/languages/langmin/euromosaic/hu8_en.html EUROPA - Education and Training - Regional and minority languages - Euromosaïc study ] ] . The Armenian Catholic Priesthood has existed in Hungary since 1924 and hosts a number of cultural programs, as does the Armenian Cultural and Information Centre in Budapest. The few Armenians who immigrated to Hungary during the 17th century are thought to have since assimilated. Most modern Armenians in Hungary have immigrated to the country after the dissolution of the USSR.

Armenians were present from early on in Hungary (then Kingdom of Hungary), clearly attested in a document issued by Hungarian King Ladislaus IV the Cuman (late 13th century). Here, they were even allowed to found their own trading towns, the most notable one being Szamosújvár (today Gherla, Romania) called "Armenopolis"/"Armenierstadt" or "Hayakaghak" (Հայաքաղաք).

The Armenian national Gurgen Markarian was infamously murdered in his sleep by an Azeri named Ramil Safarov during a NATO Partnership for Peace program. Safarov is currently serving a life sentence in a Hungarian prison.

Notable Hungarians of Armenian heritage

*Erika Marozsán (1972) Hungarian actress. Her father is Armenian, despite this, the whole family writes their name in a slightly magyarized form.
*General Ernő Kiss (1799-1849), one of the main figures of the revolutions of 1848 in Hungary, and one of the 13 Martyrs of Arad
*General Vilmos Lázár (1817-1849) another one of the main figures of the revolutions of 1848 in Hungary, and also one of the 13 Martyrs of Arad
*Gábor Agárdy (born "Gábor Arklian") notable actor, "actor of the nation" (the highest civil rank and honor, an actor can have in Hungary)
*Ferenc Szálasi fascist dictator of Hungary during World War II. (only on paternal line)
*Miklós Horthy the Regent of Hungary during the interwar years and throughout most of World War II

ee also

*Armenian Diaspora
*Demographics of Hungary

References