Magyar News, 2006. január-május (17. évfolyam, 1-5. szám)

2006-04-01 / 4. szám

Is MARCH 15 Forever?

This might be a strange question to many people, but for a Hungarian reader it sounds like there is something to it. Actually the proper time is March 15, 1848. It was the great revolution for survival, independence, freedom for the nation. This situation wasn’t new for the Hungarians. They had the hard times, and the times when victory crowned their struggle, their fight.

We might reach back to the migration, not the first one, when the Hungarian tribes walked across the Carpathian mountains to establish a strong and organized state. They joined what was Europe at the time. Though first the Hungarians seemed to be a strange force with a bad reputation from the land of nomads. The European countries didn’t roll out the red carpet welcoming troops of small numbers. This made it possible for the Hungarians to freely ride their horses all over Europe. Strange enough, never' crossing paths with the Vikings and in the south the Arabs. They explored territories what is now Germany, France, Holland, and part of Spain, also Italy down to the heel of the boot. They saw the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea. They made enemies and also friends. Based on consideration that the Hungarians were part of the Huns, their presence caused people to be frightened. The already Christian countries saw them as pagans. For example in Switzerland the Abbey of St. Gallen burned down to the ground. The blame was put on the Hungarians, but centuries later it became clear that that the Swiss burned it down because they didn’t want it to be sacrilege. Well the first Hungarian King, István, with great wisdom built Hungary into a Christian State. Then a few centuries later the Mongolians had an idea that they could overtake Europe. By the year of 1240 King Bela IV saw that it was obvious that the Tartars were ready to conquer not only Hungary but the whole Europe. It was clear that the faith of the continent would be decided in Hungary. The King in an urgent way solicited the help of the Pope, the German Emperor and all the neighbors to aid in the defense. Well it fell on deaf ears.The main thrust of the forces entered the Carpathian Basin from the north-east, massacred and destroyed everything in its way. This was the first time in history that Hungary had to defend Christianity. What

actually stopped the invasion to continue on was that the Emperor of the Mongols suddenly died the troops were ordered back to Mongolia. King Bela invited people from the surrounding countries to settle in Hungary. These were mostly Poles, Slovaks and, unfortunately, Wlachs (Romanians) who with amazing population growth claimed Transyvania as there original country.

Two hundred years later Hungary had to stand up again to defend Europe and Christianity. This time the Turks rolled their military might towards the west. Probably counting on the devastation left by the Mongols they foreseen in their mind a quick and easy occupation of Hungary, opening the gates to Europe. There was just a stumbling block that stopped them in their track. This block was Janos Hunyadi. With him in the battle was John Capistrano from Rome. Also Pope Calixtus III sent his Envoy John Carvalho. Like Titusz Dugovics in Nandorfehervar who stopped the Turks in their track. Then something happened on the way towards Vienna. The Turks were approaching a small village. On the top of a hill there was a church. As the Turks got closer, the church door opened and with the pastor leading, the congregation filed out with the church banners, singing loud and marching toward the Turks. This was something new and frightening for the invading army. They turned

around dropping everything out of their hands and ran as fast as they could. Unfortunately the Turks many times outnumbered the Hungarians, as a result they ruled the country for one and a half century. Just want to mention Count Ciliéi, uncle of King Ladislaus V, instead of helping was on a hunting excursion, and after with his buddies went to Vienna In 1456 (!) the Pope issued the Bulla Oratorium, decreeing that every noon the the bell of every church in the world should be rung. This was the first time that the Hungarians were appreciated for saving Christianity in Europe and praised for their spirit and heroism.

The 150 years of horrible occupation made the survival of the Hungarian people a miracle. When the Turks left they took 70,000 youth from the eastern part, and practically every youth from the south-wester to Egypt and left them at the second falls of the Nile river.

History doesn’t stop here. The Austro- Hungary looked like a good thing, but none the less it was an oppression of the Hungarian people who started to take steps to gain back their own identity. The military uniforms took on a different look, the folk style embroidery was spread all over. Then came Kossuth with Wesselényi, Táncsics, Jókai, and the well known Sándor Petőfi, and many others. The people realized that they have to stand up and show their spirit, fight for independence and to establish a Hungarian Nation.. Unfortunately Russia helped Austria to squash the 1848 Revolution. But there was the Kokárda, the red-white-and -green. And there were the words of the National Song written by Petőfi:

Magyars rise, your country calls you! Meet this Hour, whate ’er befalls you! Shall we freemen be, or slaves?

Choose the lot your spirit craves!

By Hungary s holy God Do we swear,

Do we swear, that servile chains we ’ll no more bear!

This spirit fills the souls after Trianon, during the Communist oppression, then come to a breaking point in 1956. It never stops, not with the people in Hungary, not with the Hungarians all over the World. This spirit lives on in the future, and with God’s blessing it will be there forever.

Joseph F. Balogh Page 1