Hungarian Heritage Review, 1989 (18. évfolyam, 1-9. szám)
1989-02-01 / 2. szám
HUNGARIAN VERSUS HUNGARIAN: THE PRAGUE CAMPAIGN OF 1741-42-By-DR. R. VLADIMIR BAUMGARTEN On November, 1, 1740, the following letter was sent from Luneville, France, from General László Bercsényi to Count Janos Palffy, chancellor of Hungary: "Your Excellency, you know it is long that I have been a refugee from my homeland ... Compared to others, I could complain the least. I amageneral in France, commandinga regiment of my own nationality. / have a good salary f rom the court, and I am a staff officer. But in my heart I am a Hungarian. For this I am struggling f or my homeland, and I ask God that He shall direct me back. The misfortune of my father fell on my head. God shall have pity for my two little sons. Therefore I turn to Your Excellency (that) you shall remember me through these changes... Don ’t let me ask in vain". Count Palffy remained silent; instead of answering the letter, he forwarded it to Vienna. Palffy had always been loyal to the ruling house of Habsburg. Indeed, he had been responsible for terminating the "kuruc" revolt of Ferenc Rákóczi II earlier in the century. László Bercsényi, by contrast, was the son of Rakoczi’s principal advisor, Miklós Bercsényi. While Miklós followed Rákóczi into exile in Turkey, László was among the Hungarian emigration to France. He had since been training and leading Hungarian hussars in the service of the French cavalry. Palffy could afford to ignore a "kuruc" plea. International circumstances likewise weighed against Bercsenyi’s appeal. It was unprecedented in Habsburg history for a female, Maria Theresa, to ascend the Imperial throne, and a number of German rulers were inclined to contest the election tofurther their own ambitions. The most serious contender was Frederick of Prussia, who was intent on using the formidable war machine built by his father by laying claim to Silesia. Charles Albert of Bavaria enjoyed French backing; he entertained notions of gaining the Imperial throne, and he certainly wanted the crown of Bohemia. These claims formed the basis for the War of Austrian Succession (1740- 1748). Maria Theresa was forced to turn to the Hungarians for assistance. She appealedfor aidfrom Count Palffy, and also from Count Antal Grassalkovitch, Speaker of the Hungarian Diet. Maria Theresa was willing to act the part of a king when she arrived in Pozsony (today Bratislava) for her coronation in June 1741. She rode a horse to a hilltop overlooking the city with the Holy Crown of Saint Stephen on her head, and pointed a sword in four directions, symbolizing her resolve to defend all corners of Hungary from aggression. Yet when she spoke before the Diet in September, she not only appealed to the members as a woman, but as a mother. This famous scene from Hungarian history was stage-managed masterfully. The queen’s advisor, J ohann Christoph von Bartenstein, wrote to Grassalkovitch and informed the latter of Maria Theresa’s decision to proceed to Pozsony and address the Diet. Imre Ester - hazy, archbishop of Pozsony, and Count Palffy held a preliminary meeting in Grassalkovitch’s office. Grassalkovitch appraised them of the situation: the recent Prussian victory at Mollwitz presented a grave danger, and France refused to recognize Maria Theresa’s election. Charles Albert had occupied Linz and was openly seeking the Czech crown. England would provide subsidies f or the Austrian war eff ort but not troops, and had even suggested that Silesia be ceded to Prussia. Maria Theresa’s entrance to the Diet was preceded by loyalist Hungarian nobles dressed in black, symbolizing their resolve to die in distant Silesia. Prominent among them was Count Janos Almassy, originally of "kuruc" background. When a member of parliament asked "Who died?”, Almassy replied: "Ask me something different. I never go to the theatre". Grassalkovitch introduced the queen and explained the danger facing the realm. Archbishop Esterhazy read a letter written by Charles Albert, and was greeted with shout of "Tear it to pieces"! Then Maria Theresa spoke, her long hair unbraided and hanging down, and holding her infant son Joseph in her arms. If this was a bid for Hungarian chivalry, it succeeded brilliantly, every noble in the Diet unsheathed his saber in a grand salute. The Hungarian nation thereafter contributed its finest hussar regiments to the Austrian war effort. Future generations of Hungarian writers would comment bitterly that, beholden to a woman, members of parliament immediately forgot (continued next page) FEBRUARY 1989 HUNGARIAN HERITAGE REVIEW 13
