The Eighth Tribe, 1978 (5. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1978-05-01 / 5. szám
May, 1978 THE EIGHTH TRIBE Page 17 Ladislas became the grandfather of Emperor Manuel Comnenus (1143- 80), one of the greatest rulers of the Byzantine Empire. And Empress Irene never forgot her origins. She had much to do with the improved Hungaro-Byzantine relations of the first half of the twelfth century, and indirectly even with the proposed Hungaro-Byzantine union that was explored in the latter part of that century. Irene-Piroska became one of the best loved and saintly empresses of Byzantium. She was responsible, among others, for the foundation of the magnificent Pantocrator Church and Monastery, where her remains were also buried. Irene was beatified soon after her death. And the church she founded — although in a bad state of repair — still stands in Istanbul (Constantinople) as a lasting memorial to St. Ladislas’s daughter and to the Hungaro-Byzantine friendship of the twelfth century. (Moravcsik: Byzantium, 61-76; Gyóni: Századok, 1947, 212-19.) The Crusades Hungary’s expansion to the Balkans and her relationship to the Byzantine Empire in the course of the late eleventh and the twelfth century was complicated by the start of the Crusades and by the role that the Crusaders played in the Hungarian and the Byzantine lands. Having been declared by Pope Urban II in 1095, the purpose of the Crusades was to free the Holy Land, the birthplace of Christianity, from the rule of the Moslems (Islamic People). The specific event that prompted this declaration was the conquest of Palestine by the Seljuk Turks in 1076. For over four centuries the Holy Land had been under the control of the Moslem Arabs. Contrary to the Seljuk Turks, they had shown much respect for the Holy Places, and also permitted Christian pilgrims to visit these sacred shrines. In the late eleventh century, the situation was further complicated by the Seljuk Turkish victory over the Byzantines at the Battle of Manzikert (1071) and by the subsequent Turkish conquest of most of Asia Minor. After this defeat — particularly in light of the Seljuk menace to Constantinople itself — Emperor Alexius I Commenus (1081-1118) was forced to turn to the Papacy for help. Their struggle against the Holy Roman Empire prevented the popes from responding immediately, but by the 1090’s Pope Urban II felt ready to answer this call. His ultimate goal, however, was not so much to help the Byzantines, but to drive the Moslems out from the birthplace of Christianity. The First Crusade (1096-99) achieved much of Pope Urban’s aim. It freed most of the Holy Land, and also led to the establishment of the 104 1910 According to Géza Hoffman’s data, in 1910 there were 1,046 Hungarian charitable and health insurance societies in the United States. The total number of Hungarian associations in the same year was 1,600. 1911 Count Albert Apponyi, the noted Hungarian diplomat and statesman, visited the United States. He spoke on the subject of peace to both Houses of Congress as well as to Hungarian-Americans. 1912 Joseph Pulitzer, a Hungarian immigrant and the founder of modern journalism, left a two and one-half million dollar fund for the establishment of the School of Journalism at Columbia University in 1912. The Columbia University trustees have continued to award the famous prizes in journalism and literature he established. Joseph Pulitzer was bom in Makó, Hungary, in 1847. He came to America in 1864 and participated in the Civil War. The young veteran lived as a hobo, then became a reporter on the Westliche Post, St. Louis. Having studied law, he was admitted to the bar in 1868. Soon he became part owner of the Westliche Post. In 1869, Pulitzer served as a member of the Missouri Legislature. In 1874, he participated in the State Constitutional Convention in Missouri. In 1876, he was elected congressman from Missouri. He aligned himself with the reform movement. He also bought the St. Louis Dispatch and merged it with the Westliche Post to form the Post- Dispatch. In 1883, Pulitzer became the owner and publisher of the New York World, which rapidly achieved mass popularity. The end of his life was marred by blindness. Louis Heilprin, second son of Michael Heilprin, died. He had edited the New International Encyclopedia and the literature section for the Evening Post. Visiting Hours to view the Crown of St. Stephen in Hungary. In case some of our readers will visit Hungary this summer — their plans should include a visit to the National Museum to see the Hungarian Crown Jewels. Visiting Hours: Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday 10:00 a. m. to 6:00 p. m. Thursday 12 noon till 8:00 p. m. i
