The Eighth Tribe, 1978 (5. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1978-06-01 / 6. szám
June, 1978 THE EIGHTH TRIBE Page 5 HUNGARIAN ART NOUVEAU Early 20th Century Collection From Budapest Rutgers University Art Gallery, New Brunswick, New Jersey March 12 - April 23, 1978 Through the courtesies of The Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service in cooperation with The Hungarian Institute for Cultural Relations and The Museum of Applied Arts, Budapest, with support from The American Revolution Bicentennial Administration, a selected collection was organized for display to the general public. Exhibited on the main and second floors were 150-200 items which included prints, graphics, posters, books, architectural drawings, and other decorative art specimens, such as embroidered garments, textile furnishings, pictorial rug/wall hangings, ceramics, leather, wood, plus glass, brass/ bronze and enameled works. In addition, an automated slide show offered insights on a variety of topics that covered humor, architecture, actors, actresses, composers and musical compositions; recorded music was available, too, which could be heard of works by Kodály, Bartók and other Hungarian composers of that particular time period. Also, a couple of lifesized displays were provided of high-fashioned women’s attire (one being an ensemble of a trademarked, plumed straw hat, together with beaded and pleated silk dress plus ruffled lace parasol). Other diverse objects created by men and women were available. THE MAGYARS IN HISTORY by S. B. Vardy, Ph.D. Professor of History — continued — CHAPTER XVIII TOWARD A PROPOSED HUNGARO-BYZANTINE UNION (The Age of Emperor Manuel and King Béla III) Internal Turmoil After Colomon’s Death The fifty-six years between the death of King Coloman (1116) and the accession of Béla III (1172) was a period of internal turmoil in Hungary. This internal turmoil, however, was still accompanied by the continued expansion of Hungarian power and influence beyond the country’s original frontiers, particularly into the Balkans. True, occasionally Hungary also suffered some territorial losses, but these were always limited to fringe territories, and — what is even more significant — these losses all proved to be temporary. Moreover, during the last third of the twelfth century, simultaneously with the proposed Byzantine-Hungarian union, Hungarian power extended even into the East Slavic lands in the northeast (Halich or Galicia). Hungary’s main problems during this turbulent period included the lack of effective central control and the consequent lack of political stability. These five and a half decades witnessed the rule of four kings (Stephen II, 1116-31, Béla II, 113141, Géza II, 1141-61, and Stephen III 1161-72), none of whom were especially gifted, and all of whom suffered from one of several disabilities. The latter included youth or minority status (Stephen I, Géza II, Stephen III), blindness (Béla II), and in one instance even a cruel and violent temper (Stephen II). These rulers were also constantly challenged by rivals to the throne, whose ranks included both pretenders (Álmos d. 1127, Boris, d. 1155), as well as anti-kings (Ladislas II, 1162-63, and Stephen IV, 1163-65), the latter of whom were supported by Emperor Manuel of Byzantium. In spite of these disabilities and challenges, however, Hungary managed to retain her growingly preponderant position in the Carpathian Basin and the Northern Balkans, and in the last third of the century there even appeared some hope for the creation of a Hungarian-initiated union with the Byzantine Empire. (Hóman: Magy. tört., I, 365-86.) 107
