The Jasz

The Jasz are an Indo-Iranian ethnic group, who arrived, along with the Kuns, in Hungary starting in the 13th century.  Prior to settling in Hungary, they worked the earth and worked as mercenaries in the various clashes between nations in eastern Europe.  They tried (unsuccessfully) to defend the area from Mongol invaders, and also fought against Russians and Turks.   Large portions of the Jasz were wiped out during this stormy period of frequent fighting, but those who survived chose to settle in Hungary in the area known to this day as the "Jaszsag" region.

The symbol of the Lehel horn originated in these times.  Lehel's horn (Lehel kürtje) belonged to Lehel, a descendent of the ruler Arpad.  Lehel was an adventurous Magyar general.  According to one legend, Lehel was captured in a battle fought on the Lech field.  When he was led in front of the enemy leader known as Kaiser Conrad, Lehel struck him in the forehead with his horn, striking him dead.  An ornately carved ivory horn traditionally believed to be Lehel's horn remains housed to this day in the Jasz Museum in Jaszbereny.

By this time, the struggle to convert the Pagans of Europe to Christianity was underway, and the Jasz were among the groups targeted by missionaries.  Christianity was changing the landscape of Europe.  In a census taken in 1323, a little more than half of the Jasz were designated as Christians, while the other half retained their Pagan identities.  Amulets with horse designs were found at archeological sites dating from these times, among other Pagan religious symbols, and none of the people had Christianized their names, so it appears that even the Jasz Christians maintained many elements of their past culture.  (And the ones who were Christian were at this time influenced by the Byzantine tradition, not the more Western traditions.)

They Jasz retained their language and cultural identity through the time of King Matthias.  In 1474 the Franciscan monks were given orders to convert the Jasz to Catholicism, and to build a church and monastery in Jaszbereny.  Following their efforts, the Jasz assimilated further with the other Hungarians they were living near, and in the short span of a century their entire language died out as well.  To this day, the Jasz are known as devout Catholics with a strong Franciscan flavor of religion, maintaining a humble lifestyle and a strict adherence to various fasts throughout the liturgical year.

When the Turkish people conquered Hungary, the Jasz people suffered a great deal under their rule.  After the Turkish rule ended, there was an effort to repopulate the Alfold region of Hungary, whose population had been decimated in the time of war.  The Jasz people were directed to settle down in various areas, and most went to live in the region between the Duna and Tisza rivers, named Kiskunsag.  They organized their own governments named and chose their own leaders, independent from mainstream Hungarian rulers. 

This did not last a long while, however, because while during the late 17th century they gained a certain level of autonomy, the politicians soon clamped down on them.  They were promoting a feudalist state, and wanted taxation from the Jasz.  They resisted and argued they should be able to maintain their independence.  Finally, on May 6th of 1745, Queen Maria Theresa signed the "redemptio" document, granting them independence from taxation and having to serve in the military.

This lasted until 1848, when feudalism was abolished in Hungary.  With the end of the treaty, the Jasz finally had to cede to the state government and give up the measures of independence they had achieved.  Rivalries sprang up between Jasz cities and more progressive cities that promoted capitalism.  The Jasz simply couldn't compete, and they lost even more power.  Cities cultivated rivalries, and the Jasz way of thinking couldn't compete with the growing capitalist influence in the region, and they lost power once again.  By the turn of the 20th century, the Jasz had lost practically all political power.

However, they maintained their local customs.  They had nurtured independence for centuries, and it was hard for them to suddenly assimilate into a generalized Hungarian identity.  Jasz customs are still alive today, including in their music and dance, their culinary traditions, and their fine craftsmanship.