An international research team led by the National Institute of Oncology (OOI) has found that members of the Árpád dynasty (c. 850–1301) seem to have Eurasian genetic roots. Male DNA was identified through bone samples of King Béla III, who ruled Hungary from 1172 to 1196.

The finding is the result of an international project that was undertaken with the participation of world-renowned scientists of archeo-genetics of the University of Göttingen, Prof. Miklós Kásler the institute’s director highlighted. For this reason, Kásler claimed, the results are “unquestionable.” Researchers defined Béla III’s patrilineal (Y-chromosomal) profile, which can serve as a reference to identify the rest of the skeletal remains and to solve controversies over the possible descendants of the dynasty.

Out of the examined 11 skeletons excavated from the Basilica of Székesfehérvár, only two proved to be of the Árpád dynasty: the remains of King Béla III, and that of a man who lied close to Béla in the original burial place. Prof. Kásler said that, based on their research, the remnants of the dynasty members belong to the R1a haplogroup, which means that the Árpáds are definitely of Eurasian origin, rather than Finno-Ugric.

Kásler also argued that, if there will be enough resources, scientists will be able to take a closer look at the DNA and potentially go back to the origins of the Árpád dynasty on the paternal line, and find out exactly which ethnic groups the members of Árpád dynasty belonged to, and we may also be able to tell where they might have played a role in history.

The Árpáds were the ruling dynasty of the Hungarian Kingdom from the 9th century until the male line died out in 1301. It was named after Grand Prince Árpád, who was the head of the tribal federation during the conquest of the Carpathian Basin in 895. They played an important role in the medieval European history as well, and junior branches of the family married into virtually all of Europe’s ruling families.

via hirado.hu and magyaridok.hu

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