Bányai Balázs - Kovács Eleonóra (szer.): A"Zichy-expedíció"- Szent István Király Múzeum közleményei. A. sorozat 48. (Székesfehérvár, 2013)
The "Zichy Expedition"
WE BUILT THIS STATUE FORTHE IMMORTAL SON OFTHE MUSES: 203 1865,81 and the members of the committee placed a memorial plaque in there that can be seen to this day. However, a lot of work had to be done until the statue could be unveiled on 6th May 1866. The leaders of the town, who were the hosts of the event, appointed more committees to further structure and decorate the square and to prepare for the ceremony. In March 1866 invitations were sent to the Vörösmarty family, to the National Congress, to the House of Lords, to the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, to the Kisfaludy Association and to many others. All these institutions sent several representatives who made the event a national celebration. The family of the poet was represented by his son Béla and the poet’s three siblings.82 The festivities began with a Mass, from where the ceremonial march moved to the “statue-square”. According to the Pester Lloyd “ancient Székesfehérvár has not seen such a crowd since the last coronation (1527)”. On the square, after singing the national anthem, the president of the Statue Committee, Jenő Zichy held his festive speech in which he remembered the poet as follows: “And you, leader of heroes, spirited singer of great emotions! Vörösmarty! You were the one who encouraged with your songs and led your people singing into the promised land; you were the one who... fuelled the faltering courage of your people to fight, bear and suffer! We built this statue for you, your glorious memory, for the immortal son of the muses!”83 During the speech, the cover was lifted and the statue was greeted by the crowd with the first verse of the Szózat („Appeal,” written by Vörösmarty). After Zichy finished his speech, János Fekete, notary of the Statue Committe relayed the history of the statue and more speeches were heard. Ede Zsömböry, first judge of the town, announced the decision of the General Assembly that the square be called Vörösmarty square. The celebration on this new square that has influenced the townscape to this day, was closed with singing three further verses of the Szózat.84 The programme continued with a festive lunch for 350 people in the great hall of the town’s rifle-range, where baron Splény, president of the Statue Committee, began the long series of toasts. During the lunch many greeting telegraphs were read from inside and outside of Hungary. The Committee and its president received congratulating letters even days after the celebration. The events of the glorious day ended the with the festive illumination of the major streets and squares and with a ball in the rifle-range.85 The activities of the Statue Committee did not end after the celebration. His task became now the maintenance of the poet’s spiritual legacy. On 6th May 1867, the first anniversary of the unveiling of the statue, the Vörösmarty Circle was founded with the transfer of the now closed down Casino’s traditions.86 Thus, only one proposal of Zichy and the citizens of Székesfehérvár remained unfulfilled, that of the theatre.
