The Hunt-Poznan family, or Huntovci-Poznanovci[1] [2] (basic form: Hunt-Poznan; Hungarian: Hont-Pázmány), was a Hungarian noble family (or, later on, two families merged into one).
Some earlier research suggested a Swabian origin for the families, but more recent studies indicate at least a Slavic origin for the Poznan branch. The ethnic origin of the Hunt family remains debatable to this day. The Poznan estates were originally located near the Nitra River, while the Hunt estates were near the Ipeľ River.
Later, the family acquired more properties and influence due to political and marital connections with the House of Árpád.[3]
History of the Family
Hungarian chroniclers attributed the origins of the family to Swabia in Germany. Simon of Kéza considered Hunt and Poznan to be brothers who, during their journey to the Holy Land, remained in Géza's Principality of Hungary. The chronicler John of Turc mentions them as follows:[4]
"In those days, Hunt and Poznan also came, who, according to German custom, girded Saint Stephen with a sword by the Hron River. Their lineage evidently differed little from those [Germans]..."
Today, historians know that Hunt and Poznan were certainly not brothers and, most likely, were not of German origin. The name Poznan is not derived from the German "Patzmann," as was once mistakenly interpreted, but instead has Slavic roots, meaning "known." The name Hunt appears in documents as Cuntius, and according to Professor Ján Lukačka, the frequent issues in interpretation may have arisen from an incomplete loop on the letter "G," suggesting that the original form might have been "Guntius." The Slavic origin of this name could be inferred from the letter "G," which was replaced with "H" only around the 12th century. The meaning of Hunt/Hont has nothing to do with the German word "hund" (dog), as some chroniclers mistakenly noted.[5]
Hunt and Poznan were old families whose roots most likely trace back to the times of Great Moravia. This is evidenced by the extent of their estates, which they already possessed by the end of the 10th century, and the fact that they were not part of the nomadic Hungarian aristocracy. The Hunts owned lands in the regions of Hont, Malohont, and Novohrad, while the Poznans’ lands were mainly around Nitra and in Ponitrie.[6]
The earliest family members, magnates Hunt and Poznan, are mentioned in 997 when, in Bína, the army of Grand Prince Stephen gathered, and Hunt and Poznan "girded him with a sword" and were appointed as Stephen's personal guards. Between 1001 and 1002, they also participated in Stephen's campaign against the Somogy Duke Koppány.
In the 10th century, the Poznans became secular patrons of the Benedictine monastery under Zobor. The descendants of Hunt held extensive lands in the Hont region in the 11th–12th centuries, while the Poznan descendants owned large estates in the valley of the Nitra River.[7] The Poznan family likely died out in the male line, and around the second half of the 12th century, the two families united through marriage. Lampert II of the Hunt-Poznan family married a sister of Hungarian King Ladislaus I. This close family connection to the royal dynasty and the rich dowry from the royal bride undoubtedly accelerated his career. Lampert was also the founder of the monastery at Bzovík and, in 1124, participated in King Stephen II's campaign to Dalmatia. Both Lampert II and his son Nicholas died in battle during a civil war.
Among the members of the Hunt-Poznan family was Count Thomas, who served as the Count of Nitra in the first quarter of the 13th century. Thomas distinguished himself in military service to King Emeric, leading troops in Bulgaria and also in the Holy Roman Empire, where he, along with Szekler troops, supported Přemysl Ottokar I in battles against the German Emperor. In the first half of the 13th century, the united family split into three branches, from which several other noble families eventually emerged (including the Forgách, Baťány, and Pázmány families).
Around 1201, Martin from the Hunt-Poznan family held the office of count and served as the Ban of Dalmatia and Croatia. Between 1202 and 1212–1213, he was the Ban of Slavonia, and in 1224 and 1234, he was a judge of the realm. He founded the Premonstratensian Abbey of Ipolyság (now Šahy in Slovakia). Other family members, Andrew and Thomas, sons of Ivanka, gave their horse to King Béla IV during his retreat after the Battle of the Slaná River in 1241, enabling the king to escape the battlefield.
Historian Ján Lukačka confirmed that among the names of the Hunt-Poznan family from the 11th–13th centuries, there is no indication of German names. Instead, a strong Slavic influence is apparent in both branches of the family up until the early 14th century. The successors of the Hunt-Poznan family included the Counts of Svätý Jur and Pezinok and the noble Forgách family. The family also produced nobility from Šíšov, Sek, Hradná, Nýrovce, Bučany, and Nitrianska Blatnica.[8]
By the 13th century, the clan divided into 12 branches:
The first notable members of the clan were the brothers Hont and Pázmány who assisted Géza's son, the future King Stephen I of Hungary against his relative, the pagan Koppány who claimed for Géza's inheritance. The deed of foundation of the Pannonhalma Archabbey (issued in 1001) referred to both brothers as the king's military leaders (duces).[9] The brothers were granted possessions on the north-western parts of the kingdom (primarily in present-day Slovakia). Hont County was named after one of them.
Lampert (? - 1132) founded the Abbey of Bozók. His first wife was the sister of King Ladislaus I of Hungary. He held about 30 possessions and thus he was one of the wealthiest landowners of the kingdom. In 1124, he took part in the campaign of King Stephen II of Hungary against Dalmatia. Lampert was murdered by the followers of King Béla II the Blind, because he was suspected of supporting Boris Kalamanos's claim to the throne.
Around 1201, Martin (? - 1236/1245) held the office of count (comes) at the court of the future King Andrew II of Hungary, and served as the Ban of Croatia and Dalmatia. In 1202 and between 1212-1213, Martin was the Ban of Slavonia and he was styled Ban also in 1224 and 1234. In 1214, he held the office of judge royal (országbíró). He founded the Abbey of Ipolyság (today Šahy in Slovakia).
Achilles (b. 1210 - 1252) was bishop of Pécs between 1251 and 1252.
Lampert (of the branch of Csalomja) was bishop of Eger from 1247 to 1275.
Ivánka II from the Szeg branch was Judge royal sometime before 1289.
Andrew I was a confidant of Béla IV of Hungary. He erected the castles of Gímes (Jelenec) and Turóc (Zniev). His sons were John, archbishop of Kalocsa from 1278 to 1301, and Thomas III, an influential baron. Both were strong partisans of King Andrew III of Hungary. Another sons were Andrew II and Ivánka III, who were killed by Matthew III Csák.
Some modern authors suggest that the clan Hont-Poznany was formed by intermarriages of two separate families, the Hunts and the Poznans ("Pázmánys", "Posnans") when the latter's male line died out in the mid-12th century. They claim that the ancestors both of the two families were already nobles at the time of Great Moravia and preserved their possessions after the incorporation of their territories into the arising Hungarian state.[10] [11] The theory suggests that they kept their Christian faith during the 10th century and its followers claim that the foundation deed of the Benedictine monastery of Bzovík proves that hereditary estates from the time before the arrival of the Magyars prevailed in the Hunts' property. The Pázmánys oversaw the Benedictine monastery below Zobor hill near Nitra and became its secular patrons. According to the theory, the seat of the Hunt family was the Hont castle and they ruled in the Central Ipeľ region in today's southern Slovakia, while the Pázmánys ruled in the region of today's north western Slovakia in the 10th century. Both families acknowledged the sovereignty of Michael of the House of Árpád and thus they became nobles at his court in Nitra. After Michael's death, the new ruler, Vajk (Stephen I) and the local nobility, spearheaded by the Pázmány and Hunt houses, developed very close personal ties and while fighting the Koppány rebellion in 997, Stephen took shelter with Pázmány and Hunt ("Poznano" and "Cuntio"); they in turn added their troops to the retinue of Stephen's Bavarian wife Giselle. The united forces then defeated Koppány, making Stephen the sole ruler of the emerging Hungarian state. In the 11th and 12th century the Hunts owned estates mainly in the county of Hont and along the Ipeľ river. By the 11th and 12th centuries the Pázmáns' estates were mainly in the valley of the Nitra river. According to the alternate theory, the Pázmáns' male line died out in the mid-12th century; allied by marriage to the Hunts, the line became "Hont-Pázmány".
The oldest genealogic data about the Poznans are preserved in the Zobor charters (1111-1113). The charters contain names at least of fourth nobles from the Poznan family - Una, Bacha (Bača) and two sons of Bukven - Deda (Dedo) and Caca (Kačä). The high number of Slavic names in the Hunt-Poznan family is obvious until the 14th century (Stojslav, Vlk, Držislav, etc.). The character of their hereditary property also indicates pre-Hungarian origin Naturally, those who belonged to the royal court or obtained property in Hungarian ethnic territories self-identified with the majority population in the area.