The Eighth Tribe, 1980 (7. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1980-11-01 / 11. szám

Page 6

THE EIGHTH TRIBE

November, 1980

against the invading forces of Asia. (The Hungarian national tragedies also seemed to prove that the European “great powers” did not really care that the Magyars had made those sacrifices. Western Europe became wealthy and brilliant — at the expense of the overflowing Hungarian blood.. .)

The heroic rule of the Hunyadi dynasty was especially significant. In 1456, John Hunyadi successfully defended Nándorfehérvár (known as Belgrad today, the capitol of Yugoslavia) against the Turks. Since then, by special papal decree, all churches of the world were instructed to ring their bells at noon every day and offer up prayers to God for the victory of Hungary! John Hunyadi’s son, King Matthias “the Just” (1458-90), became one of the greatest Renaissance rulers of Europe. Hungary was an earthly paradise at this time; a bastion of European science, literature and art.

With the Turkish invasion and conquest of Hungary, which lasted for 150 years, Hungarian political power vanished. The country was divided among the German-Au8trian Hapsburgs, the Turks and the semiindependent Princes of Hungarian-Transylvania (1540).

Transylvania became a true pearl of European civilization; a spirit of Hungarian patriotism and a bastion of national survival between the hungry forces of German and Turkish imperialism. While the Reformation (mostly in Transylvania) and the Counter- Reformation) in Hapshurg-Hungary) produced great national elements, let us mention that the Diet of Torda (Transylvania) declared the liberty of religious conscience for the very first time in European history! (1568).

After the final rcoccupation of the Carpathian Masin from the Turks (1697), the Hungarians became subjects of the Austrian-Hapsburgs. Several attempts at freedom fights and revolutions proved, however, that the Hungarians had not given up their desire for national independence. István Bocskai (1604-06), Gabriel Bethlen (1613-29), Count Nicholas Zrínyi (died in 1664), Francis Wesselényi (d: 16711, Imre Thököly (d: 1705) were great names and symbols of these struggles for freedom. Two of the most significant freedom fights were directed bv Francis Rákóczi II (1703-11) and by Louis Kossuth (1848-49), both against the Hapsburgs. In 1849, only the military aid of Russia secured Austria against those heroes who were fighting for Hungary’s national freedom and independence.

In 1867, Hungary made a compromise with Austria and, as an important part of the “Dual” Monarchy, became once again a European power. In spite

of the fact that Hungarian statesmen attempted to pacify Austria prior to World War I (1914-18), Hungary was unjustly punished by the Treaty of Trianon (1920). Rumania was allowed to conquer Transylvania, Slovakia joined the Czechs and Croatia joined the Serbians. This unprecedented “treaty” took 72% of the original territory and 6491 of the population away!

The unfortunate “treaties” of 1919-20 created a tragic “vacuum of power” in Central Europe. The old Monarchy was not faultless, but it served as a useful “balance of power” between the hungry, imperialistic forces of Pangerinanism and Panslavism. In its place a number of artificially created, powerless, multinational states (in permanent intrigue against each other) were unable to defend this important area of Europe. The result was inevitable: first German- Fascism used this area for imperialistic advance (1939-45), and later, as an unfortunate reaction, Russian imperialism penetrated into the very heart of Europe. Hungary suffered under both; becoming an unwilling and enforced satellite of Nazi-Germany and, since 1945, of the Soviet-Union.

That the Magyars still had not given up their endless desire for national independence became clear once again following the East-German uprising (1954) and the Polish revolt (1956). In October and November, 1956, only the most brutal forces of the Russians were able to crush the Hungarian Revolution and freedom fight. Since 1956, hundreds of thousands of Hungarian refugees have become citizens and beneficial participants in many western democracies. Magyars of Hungary (10 million) and Magyars in other countries (5 million) remain hopeful, however, that justice, democracy, and freedom will reapper in their beloved Fatherland one day again... Our slogan is: “Freedom for Hungary — Freedom for All!”

Hungarian literature, art and science represent the highest level in the world. With Franz Liszt, Erkel, Bartók and Kodály, Hungary has been one of the musical centers of our planet. There are many Hungarian Nobel prize winners, and Hungary is one of the greatest sport-nations, with more than 100 Olympic gold medals.

Hungary survived more than 1,000 years of historical hardships, and today this heroic nation is still one of the most brilliant examples of European culture.

Faith, talent and heroism have given the Hungarian people the strength to stand up against fate through a millennium. In the future only the strength of th is same faith, talent and heroism can change their fate.