Századok – 2013

TANULMÁNYOK - Süli Attila: Beöthy Ödön erdélyi főkormánybiztos (1848. december 19 - 1849 január 31) III/547

584

SULI ATTILA

ÖDÖN BEÖTHY, CHIEF GOVERNMENT COMMISSIONARY OF TRANSYLVANIA (19 DEC 1848-3 JANUARY 1849)

by Attila Süli (Summary)

The present study analyses the activities of Ödön Beöthy as a government commisionary. Although the period examined by the author extends to no more than one and a half month, it played a decisive role in the history of Transylvania in 1848-49. Beöthy was appointed by the first responsible Hungarian government first as főispán of Bihar county, then as government plenipotentiary of the southern regions. It was thanks to the results he had achived there that on 19 December 1848 Lajos Kossuth entrusted to him the government of Transylvania. His chief task was to provide support for the military offensive launched by major-general József Bem shortly thereafter. However, the commissionary came into conflict with Bem right at the beginning, because of the laconic reports sent by the latter and his constant interference with the operation of the civil authorities.

The research made by the author has successfully refuted the opinion, quite common in the literature, according to which general Bern was the protagonist of tolerance towards the nationalities, and his efforts only foundered on the resistance of the commissionaries appointed by the Hungarian government. It has also relieved Beöthy of the responsibility in the destruction of Nagyenyed by the Romanian rebels.

The study sheds light on the primary reason of Beöthy’s abdication, which the commissionaiy himself justified with his illness. Although the sources examined prove beyond doubt that Beöthy was in fact seriously ill, it is also true that he was shocked both by the conflict with Bem and by the destruction of the Hungarian settlements.