József Nagysándor

József Nagysándor

József Nagysándor (17 October 1803, Nagyvárad - 6 October 1849, Arad) was a honvéd general in the Hungarian Army. He was executed for his part in the Hungarian Revolution of 1848, and is considered one of the 13 Martyrs of Arad.,^[1] honvéd tábornok^[2]

Family

The Oradea Roman Catholic parish in Romania kept records showing that on August 19, 1803 József Nagysándor was born to his father Joseph Alexander and his mother Tatzel Jozefa, having a total of eight sibling. The family changed its name to liken itself to Alexander the Great sometime between 1809 and 1816, the exact reason why is unknown.

Life

He was educated at the Royal Catholic Grammar University (now University of Budapest Catholic School). He began his military service in the Imperial Army in 1823, serving in the 1st 5th and 2nd hussar regiments. In 1844 he retired from military service. In 1848, at the outbreak of the rebellion, he was appointed as a major as a cavalry commander. Form October to December he successfully prevented the Austrian garrisons at Arad and Timisoara from making any contact. By January 1849 he was joined by Erno Kiss Pancsova attacking as well. Due to his excellent performance in the first battles in the south he was promoted first to lieutenant colonel and then to colonel. When John Damjanich, called for the resignation of Erno Kiss he became commander of the Banat Damjanich Corps and promoted Nagysándor as commander of cavalry.

Relief of the Arad Liberty Statue

He was awarded second class merits of valor for his involvement in the battle of Szolnok on March 5, 1849 in which he routed and chased down the rear of the Austrian forces.

With third corps between the Danube and Tisza, he fought at Szolnok, Tápióbicske, and Isaszeg Vac and at this time (April 5) was promoted to General. He took part in the great Sallói battle, and on April 26 the Komárom battle as well. Görgey Arthur fought in the siege of the camp as well. He played a major role in the rearguard defense.

After crossing the Tokay August 2, a Russian Tsarist army, outnumbering the Hungarians nearly six to one near Debrecen, defeated the rebels. Görgey Oradea joined the armies of General Schlik megütközni, although preventing Görgey from taking command. Soon after, the rebels, unable to muster support and organization, were forced to lay down their arms.

Death

Görgey lacked the support of the officers, thus repeatedly drawing attention of Louis Kossuth and unable to take command. The military council, said: " If someone wants to be a dictator, he would become Brutusává."

At Arad he was sentenced to death by hanging, and was carried out on the 9th (fifth row was executed by hanging).

References