The Elefánthy : : The Hungarian Nobleman and His Kindred / / Erik Fügedi; ed. by Damir Karbić, Frank Schaer.

• Superior document: Title is part of eBook package: De Gruyter Central European University Press eBook-Package 2013-1998
• VerfasserIn: Fügedi, Erik,
• MitwirkendeR: Bak, János M.,
• HerausgeberIn: Karbić, Damir,; Schaer, Frank,
• Place / Publishing House: Budapest ;, New York : : Central European University Press, , [2022]; ©1998
• Year of Publication: 2022
• Language: English
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (184 p.)

In an exploration of the life and customs of the Hungarian nobility, this book compares historical reality and legal literature on the example of one noble family--the Elefánthy kindred from northern Hungary (present-day Slovakia). The author begins by outlining the customary law regarding noble status, inheritance and marriage, as summarized in the famous code of Stephen Werbőczy (1514). He then compares these norms with the documentary evidence and establishes the fact that the legal literature differs in regard to social mobility and kindred solidarity. With this frame of reference in mind, the fate of the Elefánthy family is traced through several generations, enabling the author to make some general statistical statements on inheritance, the rise and fall of various branches, marriage strategies, and the "survival skills" of the kindred. In his summary, the author outlines some of the major avenues for further research, including the peculiar Hungarian form of retainership (familiaritas), and the relationships between noble families and between the nobility and local communities.

Table of Contents

Frontmatter -- Contents -- Foreword -- CHAPTER I Introduction -- CHAPTER II The Tripartitum and Reality -- CHAPTER III The Elefanthy Kindred -- CHAPTER IV Epilogue -- Notes -- List of Abbreviations -- Gazetteer of Geographical Names -- List of Figures -- List of Tables