Greeks in Hungary
Encyclopedia
Greeks in Hungary constitute one of the thirteen officially recognized ethnic minorities
in Hungary
since The Rights of National and Ethnic Minorities Act was enacted by the Hungarian parliament
on July 7, 1993.
Hungarian law recognizes individuals' minority rights, establishes the concept of the collective rights of ethnic minorities, and states the inalienable collective right of minorities to preserve their ethnic identity. The law also permits associations, movements, and political parties of an ethnic or national character and mandates the unrestricted use of ethnic languages. To be recognized, an ethnic group must have at least 100 years' presence in the country, and its members must be citizens
.
The earliest migrations of Greeks to the territory of present-day Hungary (as part of the Austrian Empire
) were noted in the 15th and 16th centuries and consisted primarily of isolated highly educated individuals. Mass migrations did not occur until the 17th century, the largest waves being in 1718 and 1760-1770; they were primarily connected to the economic conditions of the period It is estimated that 10,000 Greeks emigrated to Hungary in the second half of the 18th century.
The present-day Greek community consists primarily of political refugees from the Greek Civil War
and numbers 2,509 people according to the 2001 census. In the village Beloiannisz
(Greek: Μπελογιάννης Beloyannis), founded in 1950 from Greek refugees, the mayor is traditionally Greek although the number of the Greeks has dwindled to about 300 out of a total population of 1,200.
Minority group
A minority is a sociological group within a demographic. The demographic could be based on many factors from ethnicity, gender, wealth, power, etc. The term extends to numerous situations, and civilizations within history, despite the misnomer of minorities associated with a numerical statistic...
in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
since The Rights of National and Ethnic Minorities Act was enacted by the Hungarian parliament
National Assembly of Hungary
The National Assembly or Diet is the parliament of Hungary. The unicameral body consists of 386 members elected to 4-year terms. Election of members is based on a complex system involving both area and list election; parties must win at least 5% of the popular vote in order to enter list members...
on July 7, 1993.
Hungarian law recognizes individuals' minority rights, establishes the concept of the collective rights of ethnic minorities, and states the inalienable collective right of minorities to preserve their ethnic identity. The law also permits associations, movements, and political parties of an ethnic or national character and mandates the unrestricted use of ethnic languages. To be recognized, an ethnic group must have at least 100 years' presence in the country, and its members must be citizens
Hungarian nationality law
right|100pxHungarian nationality law is based on the principles of jus sanguinis. Hungarian citizenship is acquired mainly on the basis of a Hungarian parent, or by naturalisation. Children born in Hungary to foreign parents do not generally acquire Hungarian citizenship...
.
The earliest migrations of Greeks to the territory of present-day Hungary (as part of the Austrian Empire
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
) were noted in the 15th and 16th centuries and consisted primarily of isolated highly educated individuals. Mass migrations did not occur until the 17th century, the largest waves being in 1718 and 1760-1770; they were primarily connected to the economic conditions of the period It is estimated that 10,000 Greeks emigrated to Hungary in the second half of the 18th century.
The present-day Greek community consists primarily of political refugees from the Greek Civil War
Greek Civil War
The Greek Civil War was fought from 1946 to 1949 between the Greek governmental army, backed by the United Kingdom and United States, and the Democratic Army of Greece , the military branch of the Greek Communist Party , backed by Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and Albania...
and numbers 2,509 people according to the 2001 census. In the village Beloiannisz
Beloiannisz
Beloiannisz is a village in Fejér county, Hungary. It was founded by Communist Greek refugees who left Greece after the civil war, and was named after Nikos Beloyannis .-Location:...
(Greek: Μπελογιάννης Beloyannis), founded in 1950 from Greek refugees, the mayor is traditionally Greek although the number of the Greeks has dwindled to about 300 out of a total population of 1,200.