Hungarian Heritage Review, 1989 (18. évfolyam, 1-9. szám)
1989-02-01 / 2. szám
Rakoczi’s revolt and previous struggles for national liberty. But, by their own standards, the nobles had made a good bargain. They were now permitted to rule (and, in many cases, to misrule) Hungary as they saw fit. Although France had yet to formally declare war on Austria, an entire army of volunteers, commanded by Marshall Belle-Isle, accompanied the Bavarians on the eastward march. Prominent among them were the Bercsényi Hussars, consisting of 662 men. They advanced as far as Maulthausen, and it seemed apparent to the sons of the "kuruc" that their hereditary enemy, Imperial Vienna, was about to fall. But the French command suddenly shifted its forces northward into Bohemia in November. This action was undertaken for political reasons: the French wanted to capture Prague before their ally Fredrick did, and so install their own candidate on the throne in Bohemia. Bercsényi covered the rear of the main forces, and reached Budweis (Budjovice) on November 12, where the French Hungarian hussars fought their opposite numbers serving the Austrian side. The Franco - Bavarian forced captured Prague on the 26 th, while Bercsényi was ordered to close the ring around the city. This was duly accomplished, and his hussars went into winter quarters along the banks of the river Sazava. Writing to King Louis XV on February 8, 1742, Belle-Isle expressed concern over the security of Bercsenyi’s ammunition magazines. He stated that 200 men would not be enough to strengthen the hussars, and that the magazines might be captured. The Austrians were aware of t his and attacked, but Bercsényi managed to hold the line until Charles of Lorraine (Maria Theresa’s brother-in-law) turned northward to face the Prussian threat. There were Hungarian hussars serving in the Prussian army as well, and Bercsényi now made Fredrick an astounding proposition: unite both forces under his own command. Fredrick thought the idea interesting, but dismissed it as being "impolitique." The French general Duc de Broglie, f or his part, wanted to mix French officers among the hussar units. Bercsényi objected, stating that it was the king’s express wish that the hussars retain their exclusively Hungarian character. Louis XV made it clear that Frenchmen could become hussars only if there were not enough Hungarians. This was no problem, explained Bercsényi, since 800 hussars from the enemy side had deserted to the French. It was true that a number of hussars deserted the French side as well, but these went home rather than joined the Habsburgs. Charles Albert of Bavaria was duly crowned king of Bohemia that winter, but by May there were ominous new developments. Maria Theresa was now willing to make peace with Fredrick and cede Silesia, so to have a free hand to deal with the French occupation of Prague. The French were aware of this, and on June 8 pulled back from the countryside into the Czech capital. During this withdrawal Bercsényi halted the Festisch corps, getting his horse shot dead under him in the process. Prague was now encircled and besieged. Bercsényi was given the defense of a gap between Karlin Gate and Mansfeld Garden, and placed in charge of four regiments of curassiers, while his hussars were placed under Bavarian command. He also commanded several sortees to gain supplies and inflict damage. On July 29, Bercsényi broke out of Prague and gained food for the horses; on the night of August 18 - 19 he staged another raid for munitions. Bercsenyi’s greatest action came on August 22, when he commanded one of the three columns breaking out of Prague. He destroyed an Austrian munitions dump, spiked the enemy’s cannon, and captured General Monty and 150 men. Two Austrian squadrons of dragoons rushed to the scene, but Bercsényi repulsed them with bayonets bef ore returning to the city. The entire action lasted only two hours. Resuming the def ense of Karlin Gate, Bercsényi took back an entrenchment from the enemy on September 3, and enjoyed similar successes on the 10th and 21st. By now French reinforcements had advanced from Bavaria, but on September 14 the Austrians succeeded in turning them back. Advancing on the right bank of the Elbe River, Bercsényi covered the French retreat. On November 3, while returning to Prague, he was ambushed from the rear by 800 enemy hussars. He repulsed them and again reached the safety of the city. By now, however, the Austrians were f orming an even tighter ring around Prague, and the French decided to abandon the city. The retreat began on December 17, and Bercsényi covered the rear with three infantry and three cavalry regiments. Many French soldiers froze to death during the evacuation, but Bercsényi, after ten days of march, reached the border town of Eger. For good measure, he staged one last raid for supplies. A grateful Louis XV awarded Bercsényi the Order of Saint Louis Commander Cross on March 16, 1743. His powerful antagonist, Count Palffy, remained chancellor until his death in 1751. Ironically, soon afterwards France and Austria became allies against the Prussia of Fredrick, now called the Great. Palffy was thus spared the burden of reconciliation with his old "kuruc" enemies. Ultimately, the new political alignment made it possible for László Bercsényi to visit his Hungarian home. 14 HUNGARIAN HERITAGE REVIEW FEBRUARY 1989
