Kaisers TV, Ungarn: Background Information on Hungarys History

(Without aiming for perfection whereas seeking objectivity. )

1848-49 Hungarian Revolution and Independence War is a decisive incident in
the nations Modern history. With its social reforms, it urged and promoted civil
class development; with its liberty war and home defence fight, it became part
of national mythology. . It was one of the several 1848 European Revolutions; yet,
virtually, the only one of them with a successful military resistance, which could
not have been made to surrender without the intervention of the Russian Tsars
army.
1
In the aftermath of the revolutionary surge that swept across the continent, inciting
revolts in Paris, Prague, Milan and Vienna, Pest-Buda (Budapest) follows suit on
15
th
March 1848. Austrian Emperor Ferdinand V, with his army commanded to
suppress the Italian Revolution, yields to Hungarys liberty demands.
In April 1848, the Independent Hungarian Government forms, which is approved
by the Kaiser (Emperor).
Inspired by the Hungarians successes, the ethnicities living in the territory of the
Kingdom of Hungary would, in turn, submit their own demands of liberty to the
new establishment. Like its French counterpart earlier, the Hungarian Government
refused to satisfy these, nonetheless. As a result, all the ethnicities living in the
Hungarian Kingdom, except for the Ruthenians and Slovenes, turned antagonistic
to the new regime.
2
This ethnic tension was in part whipped up by the Habsburg rule which, having
been triumphant in Italy, found the time was now to restore its supremacy over
Hungarian territory.
Supported by the Imperial Court, Croatian Ban Jelasic, leading a 40,000-strong
army, crossed the border to confront the Hungarian Government. 29 September
1848, in the Battle of Pkozd-Sukor, Jelasic was stopped by a hastily recruited
Hungarian army of 27,000 led by General Moga. Appealing for ceasefire, Jelasic
took advantage of the temporary suspension of the hostilities, and retreated his
forces, running away towards Vienna.
The runaway forces had been followed up by Mogas troops, but it was not until
30 October that they battled again near Schwechat, Austria. There the Imperial
Forces - reinforced by the troops of Prince Windisch- Graetz and those of General
Lichtenstein returning from the Italian front-lines, and thus amounting to 80,000 -
were triumphant over Hungarys army.
The Hungarians Independence War was yet to last for as long as a year. The
insurgent troops led by General Goergey surrendered to the intervening Russian
troops at Balatonvilagos, Hungary, 13 August 1849.
Hungarys independence would at last come in1918 thats when the country
lost two-thirds of its territory in the aftermath of World War One.
1
The Hungarian Kingdom was for 150 years part of the Habsburg Empire, with an Independent
Parliament (The Diet) yet without a national army.
2
There were many ethnicities, however, who fought in support of the Hungarians. After the
Independence War had been lost, the military leaders were executed 6 October 1849. On this day,
which is observed as the Mourning Day of all Hungarians, 13 Generals were hanged in Arad (Oradea).
More than half of the Arad Martyrs belonged to ethnicities.
Bla Pintr and Company
Lajos Kossuth (1802-1894)
An emblematic figure of the Independence War and its aftermath,
called Father of Hungarian Liberty, he was Governing President
of Hungary in 1849. A relevant politician and fluent orator, he
was included in folk songs by the passionate nation. After
him streets, squares, bridges, schools, one of the State Radio
channels, and the highest state award were named. His face
appeared on banknotes, and, whats more, there was a time
when Kossuth cigarettes were sold.
Sandor Petoefi (1823-1849)
The ardent poet of the Revolution, a leading figure of the revolt
in Pest-Buda taking place on 15 March 1848. Son of the
People the streets, squares and bridges named after him are
as many as those named after Kossuth. Theres a State Radio
channel bearing his name, too. His oeuvre is primary school
stuff. His poems are known by everyone. Petoefi fought in the
War of Independence, and died or went missing in one of the
last battles, among unclear circumstances. Nearly 110 years
after his death, engineer students of Petoefi Circle at Budapest
Technical University started a demonstration which turned into
a nation-wide uprising against the Russian occupation and the
Communist dictatorship in 1956.
One of Petoefis most known poems is entitled John the Valiant.
This folk epos-like opus is one that links him to Janos Arany,
another giant poet of the era.
Toldi by Janos Arany, which may also be defined as a quasi-folk epos, was
concurrently created with John the Valiant. Both art pieces have the theme of the
elevation of one of the ordinary people, with John the Valiant unfolding as a fairy-
tale-like story whereas Toldi as one based on a historic legend.
Extracts of poems that appear in the play
Correct version:
NEARING THE END OF SEPTEMBER
Garden flowers are still blooming in the valley,
And the poplar by the windows still green
The misquoted part in the play:
Garden flowers are still blooming in the meadows
Correct version:
MOTHERS HEN
Doggy Morsel, sharpen your ears,
What I am to say, you must hear,
Youve long been with us in position,
Doing your job with devotion
The misquoted part in the play:
Doing your job with opposition...
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