Historical Drama Series Ruffles Feathers in Romania, Author Responds

"There is no one who could give a definite answer to the question of what language Hunyadi's mother used with his son half a thousand years ago. Her name is not mentioned in any document or contemporary written source. That given, it is a question of beliefs. We Hungarians believe that she spoke in Hungarian. Romanians would like to think she used Romanian," says the author of the novels about John Hunyadi.

Scene from the Rise of the Raven, a historical series about John Hunyadi (Photo: Mate Bach)

The descent of the Hunyadi family cannot be translated into national belonging in today's sense

The Romanians are now asking why family members back home in Hunyad (present-day Hunedoara, Romania) do not speak Romanian to each other, when in the series the characters of different nationalities speak more or less in their own languages. First of all,

there is no one who could give a definite answer to the question of what language Hunyadi's mother used with his son half a thousand years ago. Her name is not mentioned in any document or contemporary written source. That given, it is a question of beliefs. We Hungarians believe that she spoke in Hungarian. Romanians would like to think she used Romanian.

The descent of the Hunyadi family cannot be translated into national belonging in today's sense, as nationality did not carry such significance in the 15th century, the novelist explained.

Click here for the full article in Hunagarian.