The East Eurasian Origins of the Hungarian Aba Royal Family

Latest archaeogenetic research reveals the East Eurasian origins of the Aba royal family of Hungary, connecting them to elite conquerors from Inner Asia.

DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110892

The Abas were one of the most prominent noble families in medieval Hungary, with ties to legendary figures like King Samuel Aba, the country’s first elected monarch.

But their true origins have been a mystery—until now.😏

Using Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) and radiocarbon dating, researchers identified 6 Aba family members buried at the Abasár necropolis, the clan’s political hub.

Their Y-DNA revealed a paternal haplogroup—N1a1a1a1a4—tracing back to Mongolia!

The Aba lineage’s haplogroup links them to Inner Asia’s Slab Grave culture and the elite Xiongnu warriors of Mongolia.

This finding suggests their ancestors migrated westward with the Hungarian conquest of the Carpathian Basin.

Historical texts described the Abas as descendants of Attila the Hun.

Archaeogenetic analysis reveals they were part of Hungary's early immigrant elite, bridging Eastern and Western cultures.

Kinship analysis confirmed ties between the Aba family and other Hungarian aristocratic dynasties, including the Árpád, Báthory, and Corvinus families.

This underscores the interconnectedness of medieval Hungary's ruling class.

Genome-wide analysis showed the Abas had mixed ancestry:

• European Neolithic farmers
• Early Bronze Age Western Eurasians
• East Eurasian (minor)

The Abasár site revealed fascinating findings:

• Graves of key family members adorned with the Aba coat of arms.

• Radiocarbon-dated burials from the 12th to 15th centuries CE.

Why does it matter? It doesn't. But it's interesting! How strange, how strange...🙃

Sources:

• https://nplus1.ru/news/2024/03/25/aba-royal-family
• https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042%2824%2902117-5?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS2589004224021175%3Fshowall%3Dtrue