Chapter Four - Liberty, Equality, Fraternity!..Or ?!
Ameddig élünk,
Magyarajkú népek
Megtörni lelkünk nem lehet soha.
Szülessünk bárhol,
Földünk bármely pontján
Legyen a sorsunk
Jó vagy mostoha.
Székely himnusz
The news about the Austrian offensive fortunately turned out to be more serious than they really was. Only about half of the Habsburg forces crossed the Croatian border. They still vastly outnumbered the Hungarian troops. The newest divisions of the elite Nation Guard has been immediately sent to help our sparce forces on the seashore, under the command of General Görgei, the victor at Zalaegerszeg.
They successfully arrived in time to help. The other Austrian army changed their mind, and turned North in hope they find an undefended passage. By the seashore though, soon after an extremely long and bloody battle ensued between Hungarian and Austrian forces. Both sides fought desperately, with all their strenght:
In the meantime, the Austrians made the final push to complete their reforms: the governing secret Camarilla made the mentally handicapped Ferdinand resign as Emperor. Franz Josef, a skilled ruler emerged to the Austrian throne:
This latest political change did not happen without consequences. Franz Josef, the autocrat that he was and with the Russians behind his back, was so sure about their victory that in Bohemia, in the city of Olmütz, issued a so-called constitution, which revealed the Austrians true plans quite straightforwardly.
This was the final touch for the nevertheless very stretched Hungarian political athmosphere too. Kossuth decided that it is time to finally burn all the remaining bridges behind the House of Habsburg-Lothringen and Hungary, to cut off every possibility of the Emperor persuading the undecided to return to the Imperial flag. The status of Hungary was changed, there's no way back. It's them or us.
The Declaration of Independence did not change the state form, though. Kossuth could not fulfill his plan to dissolve the Parliament and set up a liberal constitutional assembly leaning to the left. Thus Hungary became a Kingdom without a king and Kossuth received the title of Regent as head of state, instead of President. While he was still excessively popular among the people,
as politician became more and more isolated, since his office raised him above the parties.
Long live Lajos Kossuth, Regent of Hungary!
This also brought some changes in the course of the revolution. Until now, the events were dominated by the radical-liberal leftist, plebian masses. From now on, the conservative wing begun to strenghten slightly, but noticably. As a first sign of this change of balance, Count Andrássy, a conservative aristocrat was appointed as Chief Ambassador of the Foreign Affairs.
Gyula Andrássy
And he indeed did his job well. He was able to find a common tone with the Prussian King and escalated well the very recently growing Austro-Prussian tensions over the leadership of Germany. It did not took much to convince the king that an independent Hungary can help well his cause, especially now, that due to the personality of Andrássy they did not view the new nation as "rabble". Peace concluded with Prussia.
Just some months after these exciting news, Hungary could credit another success. General Görgei, after grave sacrifices on the Adriatic front, finally was able to carve victory. He was triumphed all over the country and his popularity risen to unexpected heights. Kossuth appointed Görgei Commander-in-Chief of all the Hungarian armed forces.
As in the meantime the Austro-Prussian rivalry reached another cornerstone with the creating of the North- and South German Federations, our Venetian allies breathed their last. With besieged from all sides, and Hungary unable to link with them, they soon gave in. Death did our alliance part, no other. Austrian general Haynau, the hyene of Brescia started with his executions. Commemorations were held in the country, and the dark possibility of defeat touched the peoples souls. We are not invincible neither.
In the East, the armies held ground firmly. Lead by the excellent Polish general Bem, Hungary repelled every incursion in the mountain passes of Transylvania. Russians faced transportation difficulties, so their armies could reach our borders only in small numbers anyway. The smoke of the Russian threat seemed larger so far than it's flames.
Josef Bem
As addition, finished with the Prussian mission, Andrássy was dispatched to St. Petersburg too. After heavy talks, the Russians, facing they are unable to break through our fortifications, grimly accepted our existence. The nation takes a big breath. Future seems bright again.
The following armistice with the small German nation which stood out of the North German fed, was just a formality, really:
Austria, deprived of her allies, however, refused all our negotiation attempts. Franz Josef, even alone commanding over very strong armies, could not digest that a bunch of bloody revolutionaries tear his empire apart. A year passed with mostly trench warfare and scarce incursions. In the middle of the war however, our culture catched on to the lead of Europe, with our heroic fight inspiring many
romanticist artists.
Then, finally, it was no further. The Austrian finances were on the edge, at the doorstep of future's threatening armed conflicts in the rivalry of the German states. On a bright, sunny day an envoy arrived to our capital:
Oh, greatest day of all! Let you be remembered forever till we exist! After so much struggle,
we finally won our independence! The peoples roamed the street all the day. After all the sorrows of the past, this day was truly worth living!
Of course, we made sure in the treaty that we get all the territories rightfully belonging to us. Croatia is fully liberated from Austrian forces. As we march on, the free people of Austria rise up once again and sweep away Franz Josef and his absolutism:
REJOICE!
The Constitutional Crisis.
Things were far to be finished with this, though. As Hungary defeats her grave enemy, the question of state form and the constitution suddenly re-emerges. Kossuth, thinking it's the ideal time to finish the great work, launches a campaign to settle down for a republic. In the Parliament, the government unanimously passes the liberal constitution. A broad autonomy plan for the minorities, especially for Croatia is also underway, since with the abolition of the Monarchy, the centuries-old personal union between Croatia and Hungary became obsolate too. The government is in a hard work laying down the foundation of modern Hungary.
....
But there were others who thought differently. Very differently, to say at the least. The conservative nobility, which strenghtened in the second half of the revolution, was alarmed by the thought of losing all, even their social-life privileges in a democratic republic, and also were worried about the status-change, maybe even the secession of Croatia. And they indeed did find the way to express this different opinion of theirs. The tool they found was General Görgei, Commander-in-Chief of the Army, who was heading towards the capital along with his forces.
Upon arriving, he simply had the Parliament surrounded by his loyal elite forces. He demanded the resigning of the government, putting an end to Parlamentiarism and all power to be transferred to him. As he put it, the country needs a strong hand instead of a bunch of philosophers. Kossuth and the goverment turned to the people for help from the windows of the besieged Country Hall. Pest-Buda, the city where the revolution started, indeed heed the call. Armed peoples gathered everywhere.
But fortune did not let the situation evolve to civil war in the young country and eventually falling prey to their enourmous neighbours. Görgei and Kossuth, both being real politicians, after considered the situation, finally ended up at the negotiating table. With the army at his disposal, it was clearly Görgei who dictated the terms, but it was also clear Kossuth and the government would call upon every people they could to prevent the destruction of the achievements of the revolution, especially Parlamentarism.
After harsh negotiations, at the end it came to a Compromise and a Conservative Constitution. Parlamentarism upheld, but it was a serious setback from the '48 liberties, especially in the press and voting reforms. Kossuth resigned, and Görgei took up burden as Regent of Hungary.
.
At the end, we became a Constitutional Monarchy.
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Thus ends a very important part of Hungarian history. The country is free, but is not a republic but a kingdom, without a king! Equality is fine, but only between peoples of the same social standing, that is! The head of state is a power-hungry ambitious military general, with very strong powers over legislation, press rights and of course, the army. And what's more, Hungary's outstanding debt is more than 50,000 pounds.. What else will fate bring on us ? Well, that already belongs to another part of Hungary's history...
