Miklós Wesselényi
Encyclopedia
Baron Miklós Wesselényi de Hadad , was a Hungarian
statesman, leader of the upper house of the Diet, member of the Board of Academy of Sciences, hero of the 1838 Pest flood.
A prominent and wealthy Hungarian aristocrat, son of Baron Miklós Wesselényi and Ilona Cserei, he was born at Jibou
, and was educated at his father's castle by Mózes Pataky in the most liberal
and patriotic direction.
He inherited his father's exceptional physical strength, and he further trained himself in different sports, such as horse-riding and swimming. He was a celebrity in his age for his sportsman's accomplishments.
in 1821-22. Realizing their native Hungary's need to catch up with the development of other European states, they become leading figures of the progressive opposition in the Upper House, promoting a program of reform and economic and national development.
Hungary was under the foreign rule of the Habsburg
emperors, who treated any native reform movement with deep suspicion. The Habsburg government, fearing unrest and independence efforts, took increasingly oppressive measures to curb the nationalist movement.
to promote his ideas.
In the Diet of 1834, he became one of the political leaders of the opposition. He held several speeches on current topics attacking feudal institutions, and printed and distributed the minutes of the Diet in order to give publicity to the debates.
For these activities, the government took him to trial for inciting unrest, operating a printing press without royal permission, and also for one of his speeches, where he called for general land-redemption. His long-lasting trials (two at the same time) became a focal point of the country's political life and reform movement. His legal representative was Ferenc Kölcsey
.
In 1833 he published a political book titled Prejudices (Balítéletek), which was immediately banned by the Habsburg government.
During the 1838 Pest Flood, he saved many lives by rowing about the inundiated city and rescuing people from rooftops, gaining nationwide admiration.
castle, he started to suffer from a serious eye ailment, and he was permitted to travel to Gräfenberg
(Lázně Jeseník
), in Moravia
with his family in order to cure his illness.
He returned in 1843, almost completely blind and a wreck of his former self. He moved back to Jibou
, and served in minor positions within the local county government.
, and had a key role in persuading the Transylvania
n Diet to proclaim union with Hungary, one of the important goals of the Revolution. Seeing the development and radicalization of the events, similar to his friend, Count Széchenyi, and also many from the reform-minded aristocracy, he also become disillusioned. In September 1848 he left the country under the pretext of continuing his medical treatment in Gräfenberg. He stayed there, accompanied by his wife, Anna Lux, who faithfully supported and tended him through his illness.
Wesselényi died in 1850, on the way returning to Hungary from Gräfenberg.
Among his other accomplishments, he is remembered for his support of the development of Hungarian agriculture, the introduction and extension of the silk
industry, and his support for children's homes and child care. He was elected to the Board of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in 1830, and in 1831 he received honorary membership of the institution.
From 1902, a statue of Wesselényi by artist János Fadrusz has stood in the center of Zalău.
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
statesman, leader of the upper house of the Diet, member of the Board of Academy of Sciences, hero of the 1838 Pest flood.
A prominent and wealthy Hungarian aristocrat, son of Baron Miklós Wesselényi and Ilona Cserei, he was born at Jibou
Jibou
Jibou is a town in Sălaj County, Transylvania, Romania. In 2004 it had a population of 11,658.Jibou is 20 km by road northwest of Zalău, close to the Someş River. Its major attractions are the old Wesselényi house, Botanical Gardens and spa baths...
, and was educated at his father's castle by Mózes Pataky in the most liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
and patriotic direction.
He inherited his father's exceptional physical strength, and he further trained himself in different sports, such as horse-riding and swimming. He was a celebrity in his age for his sportsman's accomplishments.
Early career
Wesselényi entered politics in 1818, taking minor positions at numerous County Diets, as was customary with the upper nobility his family belonged to. He went on a grand tour of Western Europe with his friend, Count Stephen SzéchenyiIstván Széchenyi
Széchenyi committed suicide by a shot to his head on April 8, 1860. All Hungary mourned his death. The Academy was in official mourning, along with the most prominent persons of the leading political and cultural associations...
in 1821-22. Realizing their native Hungary's need to catch up with the development of other European states, they become leading figures of the progressive opposition in the Upper House, promoting a program of reform and economic and national development.
Hungary was under the foreign rule of the Habsburg
Habsburg
The House of Habsburg , also found as Hapsburg, and also known as House of Austria is one of the most important royal houses of Europe and is best known for being an origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740, as well as rulers of the Austrian Empire and...
emperors, who treated any native reform movement with deep suspicion. The Habsburg government, fearing unrest and independence efforts, took increasingly oppressive measures to curb the nationalist movement.
Accomplishments
Wesselényi abolished several feudal laws and customs on his own estates, freed his serfs, built and ran schools on his own money, and organized lectures on modern agriculture for his former subjects. He established a printing press in Cluj-NapocaCluj-Napoca
Cluj-Napoca , commonly known as Cluj, is the fourth most populous city in Romania and the seat of Cluj County in the northwestern part of the country. Geographically, it is roughly equidistant from Bucharest , Budapest and Belgrade...
to promote his ideas.
In the Diet of 1834, he became one of the political leaders of the opposition. He held several speeches on current topics attacking feudal institutions, and printed and distributed the minutes of the Diet in order to give publicity to the debates.
For these activities, the government took him to trial for inciting unrest, operating a printing press without royal permission, and also for one of his speeches, where he called for general land-redemption. His long-lasting trials (two at the same time) became a focal point of the country's political life and reform movement. His legal representative was Ferenc Kölcsey
Ferenc Kölcsey
Ferenc Kölcsey was a Hungarian poet, literary critic, orator, and politician, noted for his support of the liberal current inside the Habsburg Empire. He wrote the national anthem of Hungary in 1823....
.
In 1833 he published a political book titled Prejudices (Balítéletek), which was immediately banned by the Habsburg government.
During the 1838 Pest Flood, he saved many lives by rowing about the inundiated city and rescuing people from rooftops, gaining nationwide admiration.
Prison
Finally his trials ended and he was sentenced to 3 years in prison. After serving 2 months in the casemates of the BudaBuda
For detailed information see: History of Buda CastleBuda is the western part of the Hungarian capital Budapest on the west bank of the Danube. The name Buda takes its name from the name of Bleda the Hun ruler, whose name is also Buda in Hungarian.Buda comprises about one-third of Budapest's...
castle, he started to suffer from a serious eye ailment, and he was permitted to travel to Gräfenberg
Gräfenberg
Gräfenberg may mean:* Gräfenberg, a city in Franconia, Germany* Lázně Jeseník , administrative part of city Jeseník, Czech Republic** Gräfenberg Spa, a spa founded by Vincent Priessnitz in Lázně Jeseník- Family names :...
(Lázně Jeseník
Lázne Jeseník
Lázně Jeseník is a small village in the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic. It is administratively part of the city of Jeseník ....
), in Moravia
Moravia
Moravia is a historical region in Central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, and one of the former Czech lands, together with Bohemia and Silesia. It takes its name from the Morava River which rises in the northwest of the region...
with his family in order to cure his illness.
He returned in 1843, almost completely blind and a wreck of his former self. He moved back to Jibou
Jibou
Jibou is a town in Sălaj County, Transylvania, Romania. In 2004 it had a population of 11,658.Jibou is 20 km by road northwest of Zalău, close to the Someş River. Its major attractions are the old Wesselényi house, Botanical Gardens and spa baths...
, and served in minor positions within the local county government.
Last years
Seriously ill, he still took part in the initial stages of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848Hungarian Revolution of 1848
The Hungarian Revolution of 1848 was one of many of the European Revolutions of 1848 and closely linked to other revolutions of 1848 in the Habsburg areas...
, and had a key role in persuading the Transylvania
Transylvania
Transylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical...
n Diet to proclaim union with Hungary, one of the important goals of the Revolution. Seeing the development and radicalization of the events, similar to his friend, Count Széchenyi, and also many from the reform-minded aristocracy, he also become disillusioned. In September 1848 he left the country under the pretext of continuing his medical treatment in Gräfenberg. He stayed there, accompanied by his wife, Anna Lux, who faithfully supported and tended him through his illness.
Wesselényi died in 1850, on the way returning to Hungary from Gräfenberg.
Among his other accomplishments, he is remembered for his support of the development of Hungarian agriculture, the introduction and extension of the silk
Silk
Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity...
industry, and his support for children's homes and child care. He was elected to the Board of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in 1830, and in 1831 he received honorary membership of the institution.
From 1902, a statue of Wesselényi by artist János Fadrusz has stood in the center of Zalău.