Magyar News, 1995. szeptember-1996. augusztus (6. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1995-09-01 / 1. szám

to speak Hungarian. But when he was 17 an unexpected event changed the direction of his life. It seems that the Emperor in Vienna was so pleased by the manner in which Rákóczi had been raised that he felt he didn’t need any further supervision. It has been noted, however, that this change of heart was not wholly the emperor’s doing. This change was partly due to the influence of Rakoczi’s sister Julianna. It happened that she had escaped from the convent to which she was sent. Later she married into an influential Austrian family. Julianna was able, there­fore, to influence and thereby convince Emperor Leopold I that Ferenc was no longer a threat. In September, 1694 Rákóczi married Princess Amelia, the daughter of the Duke of Hessen Theinfeld. After their marriage, Ferenc took his new bride back to his es­tates in Hungary; a place where he was as much a stranger as she. Once back in his ancestral home in Sárospatak, Rákóczi be­gan the difficult task of putting his long neglected affairs in order. Ferenc Rakoczi’s life went along rather uneventfully for a while. But on July 1, 1697, a rebellion amongst the people broke out in the Tokaj region, an area close to Rakoczi’s estates. It seems that the political and financial burden of Habsburg rule had FERENC RÁKÓCZI continued from page 1 pushed the people beyond their endurance. Estates, especially those which were Ger­man, were put upon. Land owners were forced off their land. The events surrounding the uprising were the result of years of Austrian policy. Cor­ruption , greed and poor adm in istration were rampant. The situation was so bad that prior to the uprising, some of the Hungarian officials loyal to Vienna were warning that change was in order. Pal Eszterhazy, a member of one of Hungary’s richest families, wrote to the Austrian government that the exorbitant taxes and high cost of providing for the army which was stationed in Hungary, was causing starvation in some regions of the country. Thousands were forced to leave the country. Others were forced into a class of society called bujdosok (refugees in hid­ing). An indication that the plight of the Hungarians had reached such a deplorable state that even the Magyar hating Austrian Cardinal Kollonich argued against the ex­cesses of the military and the high taxes. The discontent of the time was not limited to the poorer segments of society. Eventu­ally, the nobility also began to complain about their lack of influence in their own country. As a result of the leadership taken by Vienna in ousting the Turks from B udapest, the Austrians forced the Hungarian nobles to amend the Hungarian constitution at the Diet of 1687. First, the right of the nobles to take up arms against the king if they felt their freedoms threatened was taken away; a right which goes back to the Golden Bull which was Hungary’s equivalent of the Magna Carta. Secondly, the Magyar’srights to elect their own king was abolished, thereby making Hungary ’s crown the prop­erty of the Habsburgs. But, there was also a more sinister goal behind the Austrian’s policy toward Hungary. A program was devised and supposedly credited to Cardinal Kollonich, to make the Magyars beggars, change their religion from Protestant, which was spreading because of the Reformation, to Roman Catholic and finally to make them all “Germans.” Cardi­nal Kollonich justified this policy because he felt that the Hungarians were, “prone to revolution restlessness.” Germanizing them, he felt, would make them “faithful and attached towards their natural lord and he­redity king.” All of this put Rákóczi into a difficult position. He was aware that some in Vienna were suspicious of him. He felt that it was more than likely that Vienna would believe that he had something to do with the upris­ing. He, therefore, went to Vienna with the intention of reaffirming his connections to the emperor. Once in the capital he began to see his position clearly. Upon reflection, Rákóczi came to the conclusion that he was really a man without a country. Being in Continued on page 3 UPCOMING EVENTS AUG. 27 SUNDAY at 12:30 PM at the Calvin Hall Lasagna Dinner. $7.00 per person. Call 334-6982, or contact Juliett Gilliam or Marge Smeraglino. As an annual event, the American Hungarian Heritage Association is orga­nizing a SZALONNA SUTES. It will take place on the shady grounds of the United Church of Christ on North Ave­nue in Bridgeport. There is ample park­ing and civilized fascilities are available. A.H.H.A. will provide the szalonna, white or rye bread, nyars. the fresh vege­tables. and also coffee. Fires will be set up All you have to do is to bring your cooler with your favorit drinks. It will start at 2:00 PM on Sunday, September 17. To cover the expenses you are asked to pay $6.00 per person 2 SEPT. 17 SUNDAY from 2:00 PM at the United Church of Christ, spon­sored by the American Hungarian Heritage Association an annual Sza­lonna Sutes. Call 336-5958, 372-8643 or 377-0569. /children with grown-ups are free / and also if you so desire you could make a donation to the scholarship fund As with most of our events we ask the lovely ladies to share some of their delicious baking with the particiants of the event. Bring your American friends, we know that they will enjoy it, and we will teach them how to roast bacon Hungarian style. The committee has to know in ad­vance how many portions they have to make so please call for reservation. The Numbers are; 336-5958, 372-8643 or 377-0569. SEPT. 24, SUNDAY from 2 PM at the Calvin Hall Card Party sponsored by the Mission Guild. OCT. 7, SATURDAY AT 7:30 PM in the auditorium at the Tomlinson School in Fairfield (200 Unquowa Road, across the street fron the Rail­road Station) the famous SZALAI HUNGARIAN GYPSY ORCHESTRA will perform. (See article) This is the only performance they will give in Connecticut. Tickets are $15.00. For seniors and students it is $13.00. Make sure that you reserve your tick­et in time. This event is sponsored by all the local Hungarian organizations. EUROPEAN NAIL SALON Judith Racz Moved To: 565 Kings Highway, Fairfield, CT (Salon Maggi) Tel: 333-1468 SZALONNA SÜTÉS

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