Fraternity-Testvériség, 1956 (34. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1956-09-01 / 9. szám
FRATERNITY 5 nople in 1453 shocked all Europe. Pope Nicholas V urged a crusade under Hungarian direction and Hunyadi came out of retirement to head the Christian armies. The Christian community’s spirit had long been dulled, however; and had made way for a new development that observed the interests of one national community alone. Hunyadi found that Hungary would have to carry most of the burden alone. In 1456 Mohammed II launched a huge offensive against the heart of Europe with more than 150,000 well-trained men, 200 large ships, 300 cannon and many siege machines. On June 29, 1456, the Pope issued a “Bulla Orationum” ordering the bells to be rung in all churches at noon every day to awaken the Christian world to the mortal danger. But this admonition came too late to help Hunyadi. He had earlier lost faith in receiving foreign support and, though gravely handicapped by the intrigues of Ciliéi, had been able through the exercise of his miraculous gift of leadership and the valiant aid of the Franciscan friar Giovanni de Capistrano — later canonized — to mobilize an army of some 40,000 volunteers, mostly peasants and craftsmen, around a hard core of mercenaries. What foreign aid arrived had also been of popular rather than feudal character. The 600 students of Vienna, the group of members of the Third Order, a lay organization of the Franciscan friars, and a prior to the Pauline Order with seven warlike friars will be remembered as characteristic instances of Hunyadi’s motley army. But these people had something unbeatable. They were exalted by patriotic and religious fervor, and led by Hunyadi, the man who worked miracles. The decisive battle began on July 4, 1456, when the Turks attacked Nándorfehérvár, the key fortress in Hungary’s defense system. Its commander was Mihály Szilágyi, Hunyadi’s gallant brother-in-law. Ten days later Hunyadi and Capistrano arrived on the scene, and after five hours of fighting broke the Turkish blockade and merged forces with Szilágyi. On July 21 the Turks under the Sultan’s personal leadership stormed the fortress in successive waves. But they were beaten back, and on the folllowing day Hunyadi surprised and captured their artillery, turning what hadn’t been destroyed on the Turkish encampment. The army which had set out to conquer, fled in the night. All Europe rejoiced. Belgrade and with it the Balkans and Central and Eastern Europe were saved. Hungary’s independence was made secure for the next seven decades. The Renaissance and a period of enlightenment were ushered in
