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)

8. Seal of Ferenc Rákóczi II, early 18th century Beneath the paintings visitors can see items recalling the history and the principal events of the war of independence. The princely seal of Ferenc Rákóczi II was probably made after the outbreak of the war (Fig. 8). Attached to iron spikes, the large silver plate beneath the ermine canopy depicts the family coat of arms, with a Latin inscription listing the family's titles and estates. The man who made it was either Dániel Warou, a Körmöcbánya (Kremnica) engraver of Swedish descent who worked for Rákóczi during the war of independence, or Dániel Ocsovay, an "engraver" at Nagybánya (Baia Mare). Similar in execution is the seal of the princes of Transylvania. By virtue of his ancestors, Rákóczi was elected prince of Transylvania in 1704. Of the documents, the decrees of the Diet of Ónod refer to the dethronement of the House of Habsburg (June 13, 1707). The proclamation made to the peoples of the world, with its explanation of the reasons for the freedom struggle, was drafted in Latin by Chancellor Pál Ráday, but was actually published in Hungarian as well. The Mercurius Hungaricus, the first Hungarian newspaper, was published in Latin between 1705 and 1710, and served to keep foreign opinion abreast of events in the country. Next to these, the text of the Peace of Szatmár (Satu Mare) (April 30, 1711), which ended the war of independence, can be read. The main events are brought to life through the medium of coins and medals. Accordingly, there is the medal struck to commemorate the start of the war of independence; this was the work of Dániel Warou. One side shows Rákóczi, while the other symbolizes religious reconciliation, the basic principle behind the prince's policy - one which was ahead of its time. (Rákóczi returned Protestant property that had been taken by force, and churches were apportioned between the rival claimants in disputed areas.) The coins exhibited show the deteriorating economic situation during the time the war of independence was being fought. The standard of the prince s bodyguard regiment is the last of the relics recalling the Rákóczi war of independence period. On the strongly faded standard, with redand-white stripes recalling the colours of the original coat of arms of the Hungarian state, there feature the titles of the ruling prince and one of his slogans: IUSTAM CAUSAM DEUS NON DERELINQUET (God Does Not Desert a Just Cause). On the other side it reads: CEL. [issimus] P.[rinceps] ac D.[ominus] D.[ux] F.[ranciscus] R.[ákóczi] de Feölsö Vadász (His Excellency Prince Ferenc Rákóczi de Felsővadász); underneath is DEUS NOBISCUM STAET (May God Stand With Us).