Aba (genus)

Aba dynasty
CountryKingdom of Hungary
FounderPata
TitlesKing of Hungary
Estate(s)Kingdom of Hungary
Cadet branchesAthinai, Báthory family (of the Aba clan), Báthory de Gagy, Bertóthy, Budaméry, Csirke, Csobánka, Frichi, Gagyi, Hedry, Keczer, Kompolthi, Laczkffy de Nádasd, Lapispataky, Rhédey, Sennyey, Sirokay, Somosy de Somos, Vendéghy and Vitéz
Seal of Amadeus Aba (early 14th century)

Aba is a noble kindred (genus) of the Kingdom of Hungary which according to the Gesta Hungarorum ("The Deeds of the Hungarians" part 32) derives from Pata (Latin: Pota) who was a nephew to Ed and Edemen and the ancestor of Samuel Aba. Some modern scholars have proposed that the family's ancestors may have been among the tribal leaders of the Kabars (three nomadic tribes that joined the tribal federation of the Magyars in the 9th century).[1] The Gesta Hunnorum et Hungarorum ("The Deeds of the Huns and the Hungarians", 1282–85) connects the family to Attila the Hun.

Csaba was Attila's legitimate son by the daughter of the Greek emperor Honorius. Csaba in turn had two sons, Edemen and Ed. Edemen entered Pannonia with his father's and mother's great entourage (his mother being a Chorasminian) when the Hungarians came back for the second time, whereas Ed remained in Scythia with his father. Csaba is the ancestor of the clan of Aba.[2]

— Gesta Hunnorum et Hungarorum[3]

The Gesta Hungarorum mentions that Ed and Edemen received land possession around the forest of the Mátra Mountains, especially in Gyöngyöspata – Heves County, after the conquest of the Carpathian Basin by the Magyars (around 895). Pata built a castle in their forest where centuries later Oliver, Pata's descendant through Samuel Aba was slain by the descendants of Ed and Edemen during the reign of Ladislaus IV.

  1. ^ Peter F. Sugar, Péter Hanák, Tibor Frank, A History of Hungary, Indiana University Press, 1994 page 11.[1]
  2. ^ Iste igitur Chaba filius Ethelæ est legitimus ex filia Honorii imperatoris Græcorum genitus, cui Edemen et Ed filii sui sunt vocati. Edemen autem, cum Hungari in Pannoniam secundario sunt reversi, cum maxima familia patris sui et matris introivit, nam mater eius de Corosminis orta erat. Ed vero in Scitia remansit apud patrem. Ex isto enim Chaba generation Abæ est egressa.
  3. ^ of Kéza, Simon (1999). Veszprémy, László; Schaer, Frank (eds.). The Deeds of the Hungarians. Central European University Press. p. 73. ISBN 963-9116-31-9.