Miklós Horthy: An Admiral & Regent of Hungary

Miklós Horthy was born into a family of mixed religions and backgrounds. His paternal family were middle-class to upper nobility and were of the Calvanist (Reformed) religion.  His maternal side was half middle-class and upper nobility, as well as German. I did some research in Miklós' family tree, and these are my results.

Miklós was born on 18 Jun 1868 and baptized on 10 Jul 1868, in Kenderes, Jász-Nagy-Kun-Szolnok, Hungary. He was the son of István Horthy de Nagy-Bánya and Paula Halasy de Dévaványa. Make note in his baptismal record of this parent's religions; his father is listed as Reformed and his mother as Roman Catholic.

Research into István's family yields that he was born on 13 Feb 1830 and baptized on 17 Feb 1830, in Ramocsaháza, Szabolcs, Hungary, to István Horthy de Nagy-Bánya and Amália Puky de Bizák. Make note of his well-off godparents: Baron Pál Bánffy de Losoncz and his wife, Amália Borbély de Tiszaroff.

A marriage record for István and Amália provides a tiny bit more information; Amália was a resident of Tiszaroff. They were married on 31 May 1827 in Ramocsaháza, Szabolcs, Hungary.


Although Amália was living in Tiszaroff at the time of her marriage, she was born in a different town: Pánd,​ Pest-​Pilis-​Solt-​Kis-​Kun,​ Hungary. She was baptized on 26 Jul 1805 and was the daughter of Simon Puky de Bizák and his wife, Borbála Borbély de Tiszaroff. Her residence in Tiszaroff makes sense now, as her mother's family owned land in the town.

Going back into Ramocsaháza, you can find the baptism of István, Amália Puky's husband. He was baptized on 02 Dec 1795 and was the son of László Horthy de Nagy-Bánya.

Starting from the beginning, I went back to Miklós Horthy's mother, Paula Halasy. She was baptized on 18 Mar 1838 in Kenderes, Jász-Nagy-Kun-Szolnok, Hungary. Her full name listed on her baptismal record is listed as "Paulina Alexandrina Katalin Josepha". She is the daughter of József Halasy de Dévaványa and his wife Erzsébet Gerber. The godparents to her baptism were Ferencz Gerzon and his wife, Baroness Katalin Vay de Vaja.

Research into further books and nobility resources yielded more information, which you can find detailed in the pedigree chart above. Any information concerning Erzsébet Gerber's parents would be greatly appreciated.


Sources:

Dr. Csikszensimoni Endes Miklós. A Bizáki Puky család
Nemzedékrendje. Budapest: Kiadásért felel Baín Kálmán szerkesztö, 1938.

Kempelen Béla. Magyar nemes családok. Budapest: Bőjtelő-hava, 1911.

Református Egyház, Pánd, Anyakönyvek, 1754-1895; microfilm no. 622843, Family History Library [FHL], Salt Lake City, Utah.

Református Egyház, Kenderes, Anyakönyvek, 1757-1895; microfilm no. 631426, Family History Library [FHL], Salt Lake City, Utah.

Református Egyház, Ramocsaháza, Anyakönyvek, 1758-1895; microfilm no. 632255, Family History Library [FHL], Salt Lake City, Utah.

Római Katólikus Egyház, Kenderes, Anyakönyvek, 1776-1895; microfilm no. 623228, Family History Library [FHL], Salt Lake City, Utah.