diff --git a/lib/diaspora_federation/entities/comment.rb b/lib/diaspora_federation/entities/comment.rb
index a047560..dfd91b6 100644
--- a/lib/diaspora_federation/entities/comment.rb
+++ b/lib/diaspora_federation/entities/comment.rb
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@ module DiasporaFederation
       # @deprecated
       LEGACY_SIGNATURE_ORDER = %i(guid parent_guid text author).freeze
 
+      # The {Comment} parent is a {Post}
+      PARENT_TYPE = "Post".freeze
+
       include Relayable
 
       # @!attribute [r] text
@@ -22,7 +25,7 @@ module DiasporaFederation
       # The {Comment} parent is a Post
       # @return [String] parent type
       def parent_type
-        "Post"
+        PARENT_TYPE
       end
     end
   end
diff --git a/lib/diaspora_federation/entities/message.rb b/lib/diaspora_federation/entities/message.rb
index 3854463..892e37e 100644
--- a/lib/diaspora_federation/entities/message.rb
+++ b/lib/diaspora_federation/entities/message.rb
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@ module DiasporaFederation
       # @deprecated
       LEGACY_SIGNATURE_ORDER = %i(guid parent_guid text created_at author conversation_guid).freeze
 
+      # The {Message} parent is a {Conversation}
+      PARENT_TYPE = "Conversation".freeze
+
       include Relayable
 
       # @!attribute [r] text
@@ -29,7 +32,7 @@ module DiasporaFederation
       # The {Message} parent is a {Conversation}
       # @return [String] parent type
       def parent_type
-        "Conversation"
+        PARENT_TYPE
       end
     end
   end
diff --git a/lib/diaspora_federation/entities/poll_participation.rb b/lib/diaspora_federation/entities/poll_participation.rb
index 3f2534a..408181f 100644
--- a/lib/diaspora_federation/entities/poll_participation.rb
+++ b/lib/diaspora_federation/entities/poll_participation.rb
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@ module DiasporaFederation
       # @deprecated
       LEGACY_SIGNATURE_ORDER = %i(guid parent_guid author poll_answer_guid).freeze
 
+      # The {PollParticipation} parent is a {Poll}
+      PARENT_TYPE = "Poll".freeze
+
       include Relayable
 
       # @!attribute [r] poll_answer_guid
@@ -19,7 +22,7 @@ module DiasporaFederation
       # The {PollParticipation} parent is a {Poll}
       # @return [String] parent type
       def parent_type
-        "Poll"
+        PARENT_TYPE
       end
     end
   end
diff --git a/lib/diaspora_federation/entities/relayable.rb b/lib/diaspora_federation/entities/relayable.rb
index 948d638..abb8376 100644
--- a/lib/diaspora_federation/entities/relayable.rb
+++ b/lib/diaspora_federation/entities/relayable.rb
@@ -10,6 +10,10 @@ module DiasporaFederation
       # digest instance used for signing
       DIGEST = OpenSSL::Digest::SHA256.new
 
+      # parent entity
+      # @return [RelatedEntity] parent entity
+      attr_reader :parent
+
       # order from the parsed xml for signature
       # @return [Array] order from xml
       attr_reader :xml_order
@@ -68,6 +72,7 @@ module DiasporaFederation
       # @param [Hash] additional_xml_elements additional xml elements
       # @see DiasporaFederation::Entity#initialize
       def initialize(data, xml_order=nil, additional_xml_elements={})
+        @parent = data[:parent] if data
         @xml_order = xml_order
         @additional_xml_elements = additional_xml_elements
 
@@ -197,8 +202,18 @@ module DiasporaFederation
             end
           end
 
+          add_parent(entity_data)
           new(entity_data, xml_order, additional_xml_elements).tap(&:verify_signatures)
         end
+
+        def add_parent(data)
+          data[:parent] = fetch_parent(data)
+        end
+
+        def fetch_parent(data)
+          type = data[:parent_type] || self::PARENT_TYPE
+          DiasporaFederation.callbacks.trigger(:fetch_related_entity, type, data[:parent_guid])
+        end
       end
 
       # Raised, if creating the author_signature failes, because the private key was not found
diff --git a/lib/diaspora_federation/test/factories.rb b/lib/diaspora_federation/test/factories.rb
index c14946e..1f61cd7 100644
--- a/lib/diaspora_federation/test/factories.rb
+++ b/lib/diaspora_federation/test/factories.rb
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ module DiasporaFederation
 
           factory :relayable_entity, class: DiasporaFederation::Entities::Relayable do
             parent_guid { generate(:guid) }
+            parent { FactoryGirl.build(:related_entity) }
           end
 
           factory :participation_entity,
diff --git a/lib/diaspora_federation/validators/relayable_validator.rb b/lib/diaspora_federation/validators/relayable_validator.rb
index 7fc3557..3f14195 100644
--- a/lib/diaspora_federation/validators/relayable_validator.rb
+++ b/lib/diaspora_federation/validators/relayable_validator.rb
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ module DiasporaFederation
           rule :author, %i(not_empty diaspora_id)
           rule :guid, :guid
           rule :parent_guid, :guid
+          rule :parent, :not_nil
         end
       end
     end
diff --git a/spec/integration/comment_integration_spec.rb b/spec/integration/comment_integration_spec.rb
index a42930f..b48698a 100644
--- a/spec/integration/comment_integration_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/integration/comment_integration_spec.rb
@@ -60,8 +60,11 @@ KEY
     let(:new_data) { "foobar" }
     let(:text) { "this is a very informative comment" }
 
+    let(:parent) { FactoryGirl.build(:related_entity, author: bob.diaspora_id) }
     let(:comment) {
-      Entities::Comment.new(author: author, guid: guid, parent_guid: parent_guid, text: text, new_data: new_data)
+      Entities::Comment.new(
+        author: author, guid: guid, parent_guid: parent_guid, text: text, parent: parent, new_data: new_data
+      )
     }
 
     let(:legacy_comment_xml_alice) {
@@ -204,6 +207,9 @@ XML
         expect(DiasporaFederation.callbacks).to receive(:trigger).with(
           :fetch_author_private_key_by_entity_guid, "Post", parent_guid
         ).and_return(parent_key)
+        expect(DiasporaFederation.callbacks).to receive(:trigger).with(
+          :fetch_related_entity, "Post", parent_guid
+        ).and_return(parent)
 
         xml = Nokogiri::XML::Document.parse(new_data_comment_xml_alice).root
         Salmon::XmlPayload.unpack(xml).to_xml
@@ -221,6 +227,9 @@ XML
         expect(DiasporaFederation.callbacks).to receive(:trigger).with(
           :fetch_author_private_key_by_entity_guid, "Post", parent_guid
         ).and_return(parent_key)
+        expect(DiasporaFederation.callbacks).to receive(:trigger).with(
+          :fetch_related_entity, "Post", parent_guid
+        ).and_return(parent)
       end
 
       it "relays legacy signatures and xml" do
@@ -253,6 +262,9 @@ XML
         expect(DiasporaFederation.callbacks).to receive(:trigger).with(
           :fetch_author_public_key_by_entity_guid, "Post", parent_guid
         ).and_return(parent_key.public_key)
+        expect(DiasporaFederation.callbacks).to receive(:trigger).with(
+          :fetch_related_entity, "Post", parent_guid
+        ).and_return(parent)
       end
 
       it "parses legacy signatures and xml" do
diff --git a/spec/lib/diaspora_federation/entities/comment_spec.rb b/spec/lib/diaspora_federation/entities/comment_spec.rb
index c270ab3..37806cb 100644
--- a/spec/lib/diaspora_federation/entities/comment_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/diaspora_federation/entities/comment_spec.rb
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 module DiasporaFederation
   describe Entities::Comment do
     let(:parent) { FactoryGirl.create(:post, author: bob) }
+    let(:parent_entity) { FactoryGirl.build(:related_entity, author: bob.diaspora_id) }
     let(:data) {
-      FactoryGirl.build(:comment_entity, author: alice.diaspora_id, parent_guid: parent.guid).send(:xml_elements)
-                 .merge(created_at: Time.now.utc)
+      FactoryGirl.build(:comment_entity, author: alice.diaspora_id, parent_guid: parent.guid, parent: parent_entity)
+                 .send(:xml_elements).merge(created_at: Time.now.utc, parent: parent_entity)
     }
 
     let(:xml) {
@@ -19,7 +20,7 @@ module DiasporaFederation
 XML
     }
 
-    it_behaves_like "an Entity subclass"
+    it_behaves_like "an Entity subclass", [:parent]
 
     it_behaves_like "an XML Entity", [:created_at]
 
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@ XML
         created_at = Time.now.utc - 1.minute
         comment_data = FactoryGirl.build(:comment_entity, author: alice.diaspora_id, parent_guid: parent.guid).to_h
         comment_data[:created_at] = created_at
+        comment_data[:parent] = parent_entity
         comment = described_class.new(comment_data, %i(author guid parent_guid text created_at))
 
         parsed_comment = described_class.from_xml(comment.to_xml)
diff --git a/spec/lib/diaspora_federation/entities/conversation_spec.rb b/spec/lib/diaspora_federation/entities/conversation_spec.rb
index 8022170..0bf4425 100644
--- a/spec/lib/diaspora_federation/entities/conversation_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/diaspora_federation/entities/conversation_spec.rb
@@ -1,13 +1,14 @@
 module DiasporaFederation
   describe Entities::Conversation do
     let(:parent) { FactoryGirl.create(:conversation, author: bob) }
+    let(:parent_entity) { FactoryGirl.build(:related_entity, author: bob.diaspora_id) }
     let(:signed_msg1) {
       msg = FactoryGirl.build(:message_entity, author: alice.diaspora_id, parent_guid: parent.guid).send(:xml_elements)
-      Entities::Message.new(msg)
+      Entities::Message.new(msg.merge(parent: parent_entity))
     }
     let(:signed_msg2) {
       msg = FactoryGirl.build(:message_entity, author: alice.diaspora_id, parent_guid: parent.guid).send(:xml_elements)
-      Entities::Message.new(msg)
+      Entities::Message.new(msg.merge(parent: parent_entity))
     }
     let(:data) {
       FactoryGirl.attributes_for(:conversation_entity).merge!(
diff --git a/spec/lib/diaspora_federation/entities/like_spec.rb b/spec/lib/diaspora_federation/entities/like_spec.rb
index daf1af8..bbce006 100644
--- a/spec/lib/diaspora_federation/entities/like_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/diaspora_federation/entities/like_spec.rb
@@ -1,13 +1,15 @@
 module DiasporaFederation
   describe Entities::Like do
     let(:parent) { FactoryGirl.create(:post, author: bob) }
+    let(:parent_entity) { FactoryGirl.build(:related_entity, author: bob.diaspora_id) }
     let(:data) {
       FactoryGirl.build(
         :like_entity,
         author:      alice.diaspora_id,
         parent_guid: parent.guid,
-        parent_type: parent.entity_type
-      ).send(:xml_elements)
+        parent_type: parent.entity_type,
+        parent:      parent_entity
+      ).send(:xml_elements).merge(parent: parent_entity)
     }
 
     let(:xml) {
@@ -24,7 +26,7 @@ module DiasporaFederation
 XML
     }
 
-    it_behaves_like "an Entity subclass"
+    it_behaves_like "an Entity subclass", [:parent]
 
     it_behaves_like "an XML Entity"
 
diff --git a/spec/lib/diaspora_federation/entities/message_spec.rb b/spec/lib/diaspora_federation/entities/message_spec.rb
index e203314..48b710c 100644
--- a/spec/lib/diaspora_federation/entities/message_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/diaspora_federation/entities/message_spec.rb
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 module DiasporaFederation
   describe Entities::Message do
     let(:parent) { FactoryGirl.create(:conversation, author: bob) }
+    let(:parent_entity) { FactoryGirl.build(:related_entity, author: bob.diaspora_id) }
     let(:data) {
-      FactoryGirl.build(:message_entity, author: alice.diaspora_id, parent_guid: parent.guid).send(:xml_elements)
+      FactoryGirl.build(:message_entity, author: alice.diaspora_id, parent_guid: parent.guid, parent: parent_entity)
+                 .send(:xml_elements).merge(parent: parent_entity)
     }
 
     let(:xml) {
@@ -20,7 +22,7 @@ module DiasporaFederation
 XML
     }
 
-    it_behaves_like "an Entity subclass"
+    it_behaves_like "an Entity subclass", [:parent]
 
     it_behaves_like "an XML Entity"
 
diff --git a/spec/lib/diaspora_federation/entities/participation_spec.rb b/spec/lib/diaspora_federation/entities/participation_spec.rb
index 4e0e5ba..a47cf67 100644
--- a/spec/lib/diaspora_federation/entities/participation_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/diaspora_federation/entities/participation_spec.rb
@@ -1,13 +1,15 @@
 module DiasporaFederation
   describe Entities::Participation do
     let(:parent) { FactoryGirl.create(:post, author: bob) }
+    let(:parent_entity) { FactoryGirl.build(:related_entity, author: bob.diaspora_id) }
     let(:data) {
       FactoryGirl.build(
         :participation_entity,
         author:      alice.diaspora_id,
         parent_guid: parent.guid,
-        parent_type: parent.entity_type
-      ).send(:xml_elements)
+        parent_type: parent.entity_type,
+        parent:      parent_entity
+      ).send(:xml_elements).merge(parent: parent_entity)
     }
 
     let(:xml) {
@@ -23,7 +25,7 @@ module DiasporaFederation
 XML
     }
 
-    it_behaves_like "an Entity subclass"
+    it_behaves_like "an Entity subclass", [:parent]
 
     it_behaves_like "an XML Entity"
 
diff --git a/spec/lib/diaspora_federation/entities/poll_participation_spec.rb b/spec/lib/diaspora_federation/entities/poll_participation_spec.rb
index 9b61744..e886475 100644
--- a/spec/lib/diaspora_federation/entities/poll_participation_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/diaspora_federation/entities/poll_participation_spec.rb
@@ -1,12 +1,14 @@
 module DiasporaFederation
   describe Entities::PollParticipation do
     let(:parent) { FactoryGirl.create(:poll, author: bob) }
+    let(:parent_entity) { FactoryGirl.build(:related_entity, author: bob.diaspora_id) }
     let(:data) {
       FactoryGirl.build(
         :poll_participation_entity,
         author:      alice.diaspora_id,
-        parent_guid: parent.guid
-      ).send(:xml_elements)
+        parent_guid: parent.guid,
+        parent:      parent_entity
+      ).send(:xml_elements).merge(parent: parent_entity)
     }
 
     let(:xml) {
@@ -22,7 +24,7 @@ module DiasporaFederation
 XML
     }
 
-    it_behaves_like "an Entity subclass"
+    it_behaves_like "an Entity subclass", [:parent]
 
     it_behaves_like "an XML Entity"
 
diff --git a/spec/lib/diaspora_federation/entities/relayable_spec.rb b/spec/lib/diaspora_federation/entities/relayable_spec.rb
index 99747b5..0161bdf 100644
--- a/spec/lib/diaspora_federation/entities/relayable_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/diaspora_federation/entities/relayable_spec.rb
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ module DiasporaFederation
     let(:author) { FactoryGirl.generate(:diaspora_id) }
     let(:property) { "hello" }
     let(:new_property) { "some text" }
+    let(:parent) { FactoryGirl.build(:related_entity, author: bob.diaspora_id) }
     let(:hash) { {guid: guid, author: author, parent_guid: parent_guid, property: property} }
 
     let(:legacy_signature_data) { "#{guid};#{author};#{property};#{parent_guid}" }
@@ -15,12 +16,14 @@ module DiasporaFederation
     class SomeRelayable < Entity
       LEGACY_SIGNATURE_ORDER = %i(guid author property parent_guid).freeze
 
+      PARENT_TYPE = "Parent".freeze
+
       include Entities::Relayable
 
       property :property
 
       def parent_type
-        "Parent"
+        PARENT_TYPE
       end
     end
 
@@ -300,6 +303,10 @@ XML
           expect(DiasporaFederation.callbacks).to receive(:trigger).with(
             :entity_author_is_local?, "Parent", parent_guid
           ).and_return(false)
+
+          expect(DiasporaFederation.callbacks).to receive(:trigger).with(
+            :fetch_related_entity, "Parent", parent_guid
+          ).and_return(parent)
         end
 
         let(:new_signature_data) { "#{author};#{guid};#{parent_guid};#{new_property};#{property}" }
@@ -359,6 +366,10 @@ XML
             :fetch_public_key_by_diaspora_id, author
           ).and_return(author_pkey.public_key)
 
+          expect(DiasporaFederation.callbacks).to receive(:trigger).with(
+            :fetch_related_entity, "Parent", parent_guid
+          ).and_return(parent)
+
           expect {
             SomeRelayable.from_xml(xml)
           }.to raise_error DiasporaFederation::Entities::Relayable::SignatureVerificationFailed
diff --git a/spec/support/shared_entity_specs.rb b/spec/support/shared_entity_specs.rb
index 8890a20..c70cbfc 100644
--- a/spec/support/shared_entity_specs.rb
+++ b/spec/support/shared_entity_specs.rb
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
-shared_examples "an Entity subclass" do
+shared_examples "an Entity subclass" do |ignored_props=[]|
   it "should be an Entity" do
     expect(described_class).to be < DiasporaFederation::Entity
   end
 
   it "has its properties set" do
-    expect(described_class.class_props.keys).to include(*data.keys)
+    expect(described_class.class_props.keys).to include(*(data.keys - ignored_props))
   end
 
   context "behaviour" do
@@ -26,7 +26,9 @@ shared_examples "an Entity subclass" do
 
     describe "#to_h" do
       it "should resemble the input data" do
-        expect(instance.to_h).to eq(data)
+        hash = instance.to_h
+        ignored_props.each {|key| data.delete(key) }
+        expect(hash).to eq(data)
       end
     end
   end
diff --git a/spec/support/shared_validator_specs.rb b/spec/support/shared_validator_specs.rb
index 4f424fc..a78c93c 100644
--- a/spec/support/shared_validator_specs.rb
+++ b/spec/support/shared_validator_specs.rb
@@ -33,6 +33,14 @@ shared_examples "a relayable validator" do
       let(:property) { :parent_guid }
     end
   end
+
+  describe "#parent" do
+    it_behaves_like "a property with a value validation/restriction" do
+      let(:property) { :parent }
+      let(:wrong_values) { [nil] }
+      let(:correct_values) { [FactoryGirl.build(:related_entity)] }
+    end
+  end
 end
 
 shared_examples "a property with a value validation/restriction" do