Körmöczi Katalin szerk.: Historical Exhibition of the Hungarian National Museum 3 - From the End of the Turkish Wars to the Millennium - The history of Hungary in the 18th and 19th centuries (Budapest, 2001)
ROOM 9. The Rákóczi War of Independence and the Anti -Turkish Wars at the Beginning of the 18th Century (Gábor Németh)
2, Helmet of King Joseph I of Hungary, early 18th century troops, who also lost Transylvania. In 1709, they forced back behind the line of the mining towns. The following year Érsekújvár (Nővé Zámky), the forward bastion, capitulated, and Eger fell into imperial hands. The authority of the kuruc forces became confined to Upper Hungary and the northern reaches of the Great Main. After the Trencsén (Trencin) defeat, the numbers of the kuruc army gradually fell, and General János Pálffy, the imperial commander-in-chief appointed in 1710, was able to advance almost unopposed. On April 30, 1711, peace was concluded at Szatmár (Satu Mare), after which, on May 1, 1711, the kuruc troops led by Sándor Károlyi laid down their arms in the presence of the king's commissioners János Pálffy and Karl Locher von Lindenheim. Next to Joseph I's cuirass, items of imperial equipment can be seen. Conspicuous is its uniformity, an organic part of warfare waged by professional armies. Use of the musket with bayonet, the principle weapon used by modern armies, spread at the end of the 17th century. The bayonet, which could be fitted into the muzzle of the musket, illustrates this decisive innovation in warfare. The infantry used bayonets and muskets, while the heavy cavalry (the most important part of the cavalry) wore breastplates, backplates and helmets, and carried swords and pairs of pistols. A characteristic kuruc weapon was the axe, which was often the kuruc soldier's only weapon with the sabre. Worthy of note is the powder-flask embellished with a kuruc and labanc battle scene. A typical weapon used by the kuruc light cavalry was the dagger strapped to the right side of the saddle. A popular firearm was a hunting weapon with a butt shaped like a deer's hoof. A simpler version of this was used in Rákóczi's army. Next to the weapon exhibits is a portrait of Joseph I, Holy Roman emperor and king of Hungary. Following in the footsteps of his father Leopold I, he continued the War of the Spanish Succession. As the monarch in Hungary, he endeavoured to encourage the Hungarian nobility to give up the war of independence by offering concessions. Count János Pálffy (1664-1751) was an imperial general. Pálffy participated in the battles which drove the Turks from the territory of Hungary, and together with Sándor Károlyi played a significant role in ensuring that the war of independence ended in a compromise favourable to the Hungarians. Later on this outstanding commander gained merit in getting the Pragmatica Sanctio accepted in Hungary, and in persuading the Diet convened in 1741 to offer troops for the War of the Austrian Succession. From 1741 until his death Pálffy held the office of palatine. European public opinion continued to follow events in Hungary. Depictions of
