Körmöczi Katalin szerk.: Historical Exhibition of the Hungarian National Museum 3 - From the End of the Turkish Wars to the Millennium - The history of Hungary in the 18th and 19th centuries (Budapest, 2001)

ROOM 12. Revolution and War of Independence in 1848-49 "I Fall on My Knees Before the Greatness of the Nation" (Lajos Kossuth) (Katalin Körmöczi - Tibor Kovács S.)

36. The Battle of

Tápióbicske, April 4, 1849 Watercolour by Mór Than, 1850s ban (governor) of Croatia, sought and found the counterweight to the Hungarian revolution in his troops, which were also asserting national aims, and in Hungary's nationalities. Nationality policy in the period 1848-49 was characterized by late recognitions and by late steps. Count László Teleki proposed the transformation of the country into a federation: "Liberty, equality and fraternity are not enough. The people also want to live the lives of nationalities..." The efforts of the nation forced into a war of self-defence could not prove sufficient. After the defeat of the revolutions, the Hungarian war of independence found itself alone and isolated. It was defeated by Vienna assisted by intervention by the tsar. In the military and political clashes of 1848-^49, the endeavours of the Hungarians to find a place in Europe clashed with similar endeavours by the nonHungarian peoples, as well as with the Central European notions of the Habsburg dynasty and with the ideas of the Great Powers for Europe as a whole. THE HUNGARIAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE IN 1848-49 After March 15, 1848, the organization of a National Guard began across the country. In this, the Military Council for the National Guard became the central directing body which organized infantry battalions and cavalry squadrons. The National Guard standard that can be seen in the room was made for the mounted