The 13 Martyrs of Arad

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The 13 Martyrs of Arad were the thirteen Hungarian rebel honvéd generals who were executed on October 6, 1849 in the city of Arad, in Transylvania (presently in Romania), after the Hungarian Revolution (1848-1849) was ended by troops of the Austrian Empire and Imperial Russia, who reestablished Habsburg rule over the area. The execution was ordered by the Austrian general, Julius Freiherr von Haynau.

1 Brief background
2 The generals
3 Legend
4 References

[edit] Brief background

In a speech of surpassing power on March 3, 1848, shortly after news of the revolution in Paris had arrived, Lajos Kossuth demanded parliamentary government for Hungary and constitutional government for the rest of Austria. The Revolution started on March 15, 1848, and Kossuth declared independence on April 19. By May, the Hungarians controlled all of the country except Buda, which they won after a three-week bloody siege. The hopes of ultimate success, however, were frustrated by the intervention of Russia. After all appeals to other European states failed, Kossuth abdicated on August 11, 1849 in favor of Artúr Görgey, whom he thought was the only general who was capable of saving the nation. On August 13, Görgey capitulated at Şiria (then called Világos) to the Russians, who handed the army over to the Austrians.^[1]At the insistence of the Russians, Görgey was spared but reprisals were taken on the rest of the Hungarian army.

The thirteen Hungarian generals were executed on October 6, 1849. On the same day, Count Lajos Batthyány (1806–1849), the first Hungarian prime minister, was also executed. Kossuth steadfastly maintained until his death that Görgey alone was responsible for the humiliation, calling him "Hungary's Judas". ^[2] Others, looking at the impossible situation Görgey was presented with, have been much more favorable toward him, stating that given the circumstances, he was not left with any other options than surrender.

One of the public squares contains a martyrs' monument, erected in their memory. It consists of a colossal figure of Hungary, with four allegorical groups, and medallions of the executed generals.

[edit] The generals

Arisztid Dessewffy (1802 – 1849)
Ernő Kiss (1799 – 1849)
Ernő Poeltenberg (1814- 1849)
György Lahner (1795 – 1849)
Ignác Török (1795 – 1849)
János Damjanich (1804 – 1849)
József Nagy-Sándor (1804 - 1849)
József Schweidel (1796- 1849)
Károly Knezich (1808- 1849)
Károly Leiningen-Westerburg (1819- 1849)
Károly Vécsey (1807- 1849)
Lajos Aulich (1793 – 1849)
Vilmos Lázár (1815- 1849)

[edit] Legend

Legend has it that during the execution, the Austrian soldiers were drinking beer and clinking the glass celebrating the victory over the Hungarians. After that Hungarians promised not to clink glasses when they drank beer for 150 Years (it was considered dishonoring to the 13 generals).