A Historical and Archival Guide to Székesfehérvár (Székesfehérvár, 2003)

A SUMMARY OF THE HISTORY OF SZÉKESFEHÉRVÁR

Following the Croatian offensive, compulsory military service was extended to all citizens with civic rights in Székesfehérvár. Jellasics's armv arrived in Székesfehérvár on 26 September. After the battle of Pákozd near Székesfehérvár, the people of the town took part in the disarmament of Jellasics's abandoned army. The first year of the War of Independence meant not only the first months of military events and preparations for civil rule, but Székesfehérvár became the focal point of interest for other reasons as well. The project to open the royal tombs of the Virgin Mary basilica started in December 1848. The mortal remains and the sarcophagus of Béla III and his wife's Anna of Antioch were uncovered during the excavations lead by János Érdi. Earlv in 1849 the town was occupied by imperial troops again; they left after a few months but new armies arrived soon and their provision lav a burden on the town and it meant requisitioning. The Austrian troops revenged the town's uprising on 10 August with arson, arrests, executions and then with reparations. (As commemoration of the executed a monument was erected in Halesz park in 1888 .) During the decades after the War of Independence, although there was some development - town improvement continued, industrial firms were opened and railway lines were built - the signs of stagnation can be seen. The population of town fell considerably. Besides economic development, new institutions were added to the wealth of Fehérvár in this period. In the 1850s a girls' school was founded by the foundation of Ferenc Farkas, also the town's first nursery school, the nursery of József Rapos was also opened at the time. We know of the first remedial bovs' and girls' school of the town from these years. In the age of neo-absolutism Székesfehérvár lost its municipal rights due to the reorganisation of administration between 1850 and 1860. Székesfehérvár became subordinated to Fejér county. During the re-establishment of the municipal system and after its second abolishment the town continued its traditions of independence. Among others the Committee of the Statue of Vörösmarty, founded in 1860 and the Hungarian Theatre Supporting Companv of Székesfehérvár were the scenes of this struggle.