Hungarian Heritage Review, 1986 (15. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1986-08-01 / 8. szám
20 HUNGARIAN HERITAGE REVIEW AUGUST 1986 ^Sungartan ^Heritage (Ealettfrar by DR. ANDRAS BOROS-KAZAI AUGUST 1986 1 • 1690: KELEMEN MIKES was bom in Zagon. After becoming a page in the service of Ferenc Rákóczi II. Mikes became inseparable from the Transylvanian Prince. In 1711, after the defeat of the Rakoczi-led war of independence by Habsburg imperial forces, Mikes chose to escort his master into exile .His Letters from Turkey, written to a fictional Aunt, provide us with an accurate picture of Hungary’s first political emigres, who lived out their lives in Rodosto (now= Tekirdeg) on the shores of the Sea of Marmara. 1898: The son of the great nationalistpopulist man of letters, Janos Arany, LÁSZLÓ ARANY died in Budapest. He chose to become a banker-economist, but his essays, poems and critical writings (though few in number) are among the most significant representations of the Hungarian fin de siecle. 1947: The new, and relatively stable, postwar money, the FORINT entered into circulation. 3 • 1689: Count LÁSZLÓ BERCSÉNYI, (son of Miklós B.) was born in Eperjes. He became a captain of Rakoczi's bodyguards. After the 1711 defeat of the kurucz cause, he served with distinction in the army of France, organizing light cavalry (huszar, French: hussardor housard) units and achieving the rank of Marechal de France. 1863: The writer GÉZA GÁRDONYI (Ziegler), author of perhaps the most popular youth novel of Hungarian literature (The Stars of Eger [Egri csillagok]) was born in Agard. 1919: Romanian troops entered the Hungarian capital city. 1941: The poet, literary translator, novelist and essayist MIHÁLY BABITS died in Budapest. One of the luminaries of the “first generation” of writers gathered around the journal NYUGAT, in the interwar period he was considered the pre-eminent figure on the Hungarian literary scene. 5 • 1848: The Finance Minister of the independent Hungarian cabinet, LAJOS KOSSUTH, issued the first “Kossuth bankó," the 2-forint note. 6 • 1757: ADAM MANYOKI, the most important Hungarian painter of the Baroque period, the creator of the best-known Rákóczi portrait, died in Dresden. 1792: Count GEDEON RADAY died. He was among the most active patrons of literature in 18th century Hungary, devoting much of his energy and his wealth to the cause of national culture. He maintained correspondence with most of the country’s writers, and supported the publication of their works. In his (largely unpublished) writings he was the first in Hungary to combine rhyme and meter (the so-called Raday form) thus enriching Hungarian literary expression. 7 • 1822: SAMUEL TELEKI, the enlightened Chancellor of Transylvania, died in Vienna. In addition to encouraging and supporting the publication of literary and scientific works, he founded the 50,000 volume library at Marosvasarhely (the Teleki Téka). 8 • 1799: FERENC KÖLCSEY, poet, critic, politician, one of the major figures of the Hungarian Reform Period, was born in Szodemeter. At times bitterly, at times hopefully, he voiced the patriotic issues of his days in his elegies and odes. His “Himnusz” was put to music by Ferenc Erkel in 1844 and became the national anthem of the Hungarians. 9 • 1472: The Humanist clergyman JANOS VITÉZ died in Esztergom. He began his state service under King Zsigmond (Sigismund,) and later became Janos Hunyadi’s diplomatic representative. Appointed bishop of Nagyvarad, Vitéz was the family tutor of the Hunyadi children, and was instrumental in Matyas’s election to the Hungarian throne. From 1464 to his death he was confidential chancellor to the royal court and the Archbishop of Esztergom. 10 • 955: On this day Hungarians raiding the German countryside were defeated in the battle of Augsburg (Lechfeld). 1456: On this day, just weeks after his most significant victory over the Ottoman Turks at Nándorfehérvár, JANOS HUNYADI fell victim to the plague epidemic raging in the Hungarian camp. He was the first Regent in Hungary’s history and the most effective military leader and politician of the period. 13 • 1849: On this day General ARTUR GÖRGEY unconditionally surrendered before overwhelming Russian forces, thus ending the 1848-1849 War of Independence. Most of the Hungarian forces laid down their arms under the citadel of Világos, on the field at Nagyszollos. 1865: The best-known Hungarian physician, IGNÁC SEMMELWEIS died in Vienna. While working at a Vienna clinic, he demonstrated the connection between the then-common child-bed fever and infection, and recommended simple disinfection of hands and implements as a preventative measure. Although the leading medical authorities of his time rejected his views, Semmelweis is now widely recognized as “the Saviour of Mothers.” 14 • 1811: ADAM CLARK was born in Edinburgh. In cooperation with Tierney William Clark (no relation) in 1842^49 he supervised the construction of the Chain Bridge (Lanchid) between Buda and Pest, one of the most characteristic and beautiful sights of the Hungarian capital city. 15 • 1038: ISTVÁN I. (Saint Stephen), the first Christian ruler of the Hungarians and the first king of Hungary, died. His body was laid to rest in the royal chapel at Szekesfehervar, but his right hand (the Szent Jobb) is preserved in the Budapest Szent István Bazilika as one of the most revered relics of Hungary. 1890: The novelist and playwright SÁNDOR HUNYADI was born in Kolozsvár. He was an outstanding prose-writer of the post-NYUGAT generation, who presented the life of urbanizing and gentrifying Hungarians with strong realistic powers. Several of his works have been made into films in Hungary and abroad. 16 • 1570: In the treaty signed at Speyer, the pretender ZSIGMOND JANOS recognized the legitimacy of Habsburg claims to the Hungarian throne. 17 • 1487: The troops of King MATYAS occupied Wiener Neustadt. 1884: One of the characteristic landmarks of the Hungarian capital, the East Railroad Station (Keleti pályaudvar) was opened. 18 • 1830: The birth-date of FRANZ JOSEPH I, who ruled Austria, Hungary and the associated lands from Decemberi, 1848 to November21, 1916, (although he was not actually crowned King of Hungary until 1867.) 19 • 1083: Hungary’s first ruler, ISTVÁN I, his son, Prince IMRE, and Bishop GELLERT (Gerardus) who was instrumental in bringing Christianity to the Hungarians, were made saints by Pope Clement III. 20 • 1876: One of the most charming and pleasant thoroughfares of the rapidly growing Hungarian capital was opened: Modeled on the boulevards of Western European cities and named Sugarut, it was later named Andrassy ut, Sztálin ut (alas!), and is presently labeled Nepkoztarsasag utja. 21 • 1910: The painter BERTALAN SZÉKELY died in Budapest. He was among the best representatives of the national-historical school which combined elements of romanticism and academic style. Two of his best-known creations are “The Mohács Catastrophe” and “The Women of Eger.” 22 • 1689: Archbishop Lipot Kollonich called on Germans to settle in large numbers in the thinly populated Hungarian lands recently ‘ ‘liberated’ ’ from Turkish occupation. 1831: The leading figure of Hungary’s cultural life and the movement to reform the Hungarian language (a nyelvújítás), the writer FERENC KAZINCZY died on his estate at Szephalom. He was in touch with practically every men of letters residing in Hungary; the advice, encouragement and criticism he conveyed through this correspondence made up for the absence of a national cultural center and publication. He was committed to the cause of reforming the Hungarian language and improving its suitability for literary, scientific and cultural communication. The bitter struggle between the reformers and their opponents was more or less decided by 1819, when the victory of Kazinczy and his reformer friends became clear. 23 • 1943: At the resort town of BALATONSZARSZO, a six-day gathering, with the participation of the country's progressive, patriotic, and reformist intellectuals, political leaders and youth leaders, opened. 25 • 1778: The poet, story-teller and literary patron MIHÁLY VITKOVICS was bom in Eger. His “folk-songs” and tales based on Serbian lore and legends were among the most popular readings of his times. 26 • 1278: In the battle of Dumkrut (Morvamezo) the combined armies of the Habsburg ruler RUDOLPH I and Hungary’s (Kun) LÁSZLÓ IV (“the Cuman”) defeated the Czech king OTTOKAR II. With the death of Ottokar, the 30 year struggle for the Babenberg inheritance was decided, and the power of the Habsburg dynasty was firmly established. 27 • 1845: ODON LECHNER was bom in Pest: As an internationally recognized secessionist architect who used Oriental elements in his projects, he contributed several buildings to beautifying the Hungarian capital city. The Museum of Industrial Arts (1896) and the former offices of the Postal Savings Institute (1899) are among his best known works. 1929: The story-teller beloved by generations of Hungarians, ELEK BENEDEK died in Kisbacon. 29 • 1526: The battle of MOHÁCS took place; one of the most important clashes in the centurieslong anti-Ottoman struggle, it ended in severe defeat for the Hungarian army. The king, LAJOS II, perished in the confusion of the route along with many high lords and clergymen, and the country was left defenseless. 1541: The Ottoman Turkish armies took possession of the Hungarian capital, Buda. The city was to remain occupied for 145 years. 1583: The traveller ISTVÁN (BUDAI) PARMENIUS, member of Sir Humphrey Gilbert’s expedition, died somewhere along the coast of Nova Scotia. 1938: the writer-humorist FRIGYES KARINTHY died in Siófok. 30 • 1574: The Protestant (Calvinist) religious writer, translator, linguist and philosopher ALBERT SZENCZI MOLNÁR was bora in Szene. His activities significantly influenced the development of Hungarian language and literary life, especially in the area of versification. His Latin-language Hungarian grammar was the first (after Janos Sylvester) to present the characteristics of the language to the European reading public. 1940: The Second Vienna Award came into effect: As one provision of the agreement, Northern Transylvania was returned to Hungary.
