The Eighth Tribe, 1978 (5. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1978-04-01 / 4. szám
April, 1978 THE EIGHTH TRIBE Page 9 Commemorative Observance of Hungarian Independence At Hungarian-American Athletic Club, New Brunswick, N. J. March 11-12, 1978 Under the sponsorship of Hungarian American churches and associations among other organizations in the community, a two-day presentation in remembrance of the 130th anniversary for the Hungarian freedom cause fought for in 1848. In follow-up to the two-hour Saturday program, this particular portion of the salute contained a number of highlights, only some of which are mentioned herewith: Performance by the Hungarian Folk Dance Ensemble (whose able contributions physically were enhanced by their eye-catching outfits beautifully coordinated with the Hungarian emblematic colors of red, white and green). Musical selections apropos to the occasion were sung by the Bartók chorus, directed by Reverend Imre Bertalan (Pastor of the Magyar Reformed Church, New Brunswick) ; this group of youth and adult members provided in exemplary portrayal of a harmonious Idend of varied participants who in their jointly, cooperating endeavors produced a most pleasurable. vocal result. The St. Ladislaus Sehool students recited poetry by János Arany on “The St. Ladislaus Legend“ which was quite effective in the manner of presentation, for most was given in unison as a THE MAGYARS IN HISTORY by S. B. Vardy, Ph.D. Professor of History — continued — CHAPTER XVI THE AGE OF INTERNAL RECONSOLIDATION AND INVESTITURE CONTROVERSY (Hungary Under Kings St. Ladislas and Coloman) King St. Ladislas: Myth and Reality King Ladislas had ascended the Hungarian throne after four decades of internal turmoil. The first great age of Christian state building in Hungary had come to an end with the death of King St. Stephen in 1038, and for a while its place had been taken by a period of anarchy and internal dissention. King Ladislas’s accession, however, initiated a new period of reconsolidation that lasted well into the twelfth century. Although our knowledge about St. Ladislas is considerably less than about St. Stephen, Hungarian national tradition holds the former in almost equally high regard. As described in the Hungarian Illustrated Chronicle, “Everyone knew that he is in possession of all virtues. He is faithfully Catholic, very benign, generously open-handed, amiably outstanding. .. . He played with lions and bears as if they were sheep in the pen .... He killed the giant .... put the enemy to flight everywhere, and exterminated the rebellious. He was tall of stature, and so is the meaning of his name.” (Képes Krónika-1971, 93.) The British historian C. A. Macartney characterized King Ladislas as having been “a true paladin and gentle knight, a protector of faith and his people, and of the poor and defenseless." (Macartney: History, 7.) And this characterization is undoubtedly correct, for both historians and laymen regard King Ladislas as the embodiment of great statesmanship, able military leadership, and true Christian knighthood. But it is equally true — as claimed by the medievalist Gy. Győrffy — that “not even a well-read man could effectively explain why he is a saint.” (Győrffy: László király, 7.) Legends that grew up around the person of King Ladislas — many of which were collected in the Vita S. Ladislai regis (The Life of King St. LadislasI, authored soon after 1200 — generally portray him as a saintly and a valiant knight, who was even willing to endanger his own life to save an innocent girl from the hands of some maurading Cumans. These same legends also attribute an unusual continent-wide prestige to 95
