A comparative analysis of the genesis of the Ukrainian Cossacks and the Hungarian Hajduks

Abstract

The Cossacks of Ukraine and the Hajduks of Hungary, as a new social and politi-cal factor, had evolved equally in the second half of the 15th century and they became a considerable factor in society only at the end of the 16th century. Comparing the origins of Hajduks and Cossacks doing military service, it can be stated that they can by no means be considered as a homogeneous group in society, yet from the beginning they came into being as a differentiated and “intermediate” social category. Both the name of Hajduks and the Cossacks can be traced back to a foreign origin. Initially, the denominations of the Cos-sacks and Hajduks were not applied for a specific ethnic minority, but for the designation of a specific profession and lifestyle.