Dear Eric,
The sentence you have quoted from my essay is accurate, the Wends did protest
their separation from the Kingdom of Hungary.
As to your other questions concerning their history, I do not feel qualified
to answer, other than to say that I have met people who considered themselves
to be Hungarians od Wend origin. In order to assist you, I am posting your
letter on two Hungary-lists on the Internet, hoping that you will receive
useful and authoritative information.
Best regards: Bela Liptak
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Forwarded message:
From: (Erik S. Nowery)
To:
Date: 96-06-26 12:37:48 EDT
Dear Prof. Liptak,
Re: Your Essay on "The Future of Central Eruope" (posted to the Internet
on Sun. 15 Oct 1995 and Sat., 9 Mar 1966)
An article recently appeared in a local newspaper, THE MORNING CALL, of
Allentown, Pa, 18105, on June 20, 1996 regarding a Windish (Wendish)
community in Bethlehem, Pa. The article maintains that the name derives
from Hungarian and that these poeple are actually Slovenian. It claims
that these Wends (?) wsere in Hungary (Vas) since about the 6th century
and that they were united with "other" Slovenes sometime between the
Counter-Reformatin and the Treaty of Versailles. The city of Bethlehem
has recently established a sister city relationship with the
northeastern Slovenian town of Murska Sobota, and the Widish prodical
children of Bethlehem are now joining a city-wide Slovenian day
celebration.
(1) I know that the Wends are actually a West Slavic people who have
historically occupied areas in Pomerania, Silesia, and Lusatia, and that
the Wends (Sorbs) are now primarily located in Lusatia. I also know that
Wendish is a West Slavic language (Vanedi) akin to Polish, Czech, and
Slovak - and not a South Slavic language (Sklaveni) as is Slovenian.
(2) Of course, the Slavic peoples migrated far and wide and mingled
extensively with other Slavic tribes and with the peoples of other
nations, and, of course, it is possible that a group of Wends could have
migrated to and settled in southern Hungary (and Caranthia) anytime from
the 6th century A.D. through the 1800s.
(3) In the 3rd paragraph on page 3 of your essay, you state, "When the
WENDS and Slovenes of the Murakoz protested their separation from
Hungary ...."
(4) I am left with the following questions regarding these Wends to
which you probably know the answers.
(a) Who are these Wends to whom you refer? (b) Are they a small
group that migrated to Hungary? (c) Did they migrate directly to Hungary
or was it via Austria, Slovakia, or Prussia? (d) Did they migrate via
the Carpathian Mountains or via the Danube? (e) Were they then
assimilated with the Slovenes or did they maintain a separate and
distinct cultural entity, and if, so, did they continue to identify
themselves as Wends? (f) How numerous was this group of Wends, and did
the entire group eventually end up in Slovenia (or are some of these
Wends still in Hungary)?
I would appreciate it very much if you would be so king to enlighten me
a little on this matter. Thank you very much for any
information/clarification that you can provide.
Sincerely,
George A. Nowery
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