Exhibition Commemorates the Heroes of the Hungarian War of Independence

The sabre of Colonel Vilmos Lázár, one of the martyrs of Arad, can also be seen at the temporary exhibition entitled “175 years – 175 objects. 1849 – Hussars, the soldiers of freedom,” which opened on Wednesday at the Déri Museum in Debrecen (eastern Hungary).

Balázs Korompai, the curator of the exhibition, presented the saber and recalled that the first of the Arad martyrs to be executed on October 6, 1849, was the Hungarian colonel Vilmos Lázár de Szkáros. He pointed out that the special artifact comes from the collection of Norbert Mádai, who donated some 60 items to the museum for the exhibition, including helmets, hussar bags, breastplates, and paintings depicting the life of the Hussars from the 16th century onwards.

In his welcome speech, János Angi, Director of the Déri Museum, remarked that 175 years ago in January 1849, the National Assembly moved temporarily to Debrecen, and that 175 years ago, on April 14, 1849, the Declaration of Independence (declaring Hungary’s independence from the Habsburg monarchy) was adopted there in the Great Church.

In his opening speech, historian Róbert Hermann stressed that the people of the city had “worked hard” in the five months when the Hungarian capital was Debrecen, and that the city had played a major role in ensuring that the fight for freedom continued. In connection with the exhibition, he said that the Hussars were indeed the most Hungarian of the troops, and it is right to remember them on this anniversary.

Mayor László Papp stressed that the late descendants of the freedom fighters have a moral duty to cherish the memory of this very noble and uplifting period. “This anniversary is of great significance for the city’s identity,” because, as he said, “the Declaration of Independence would not have been adopted without the people of Debrecen. And the exhibition in honor of the Hussars will contribute to an even more worthy and beautiful celebration of the anniversary,” said Papp in his speech.

The new temporary exhibition will be on display at the Déri Museum until mid-summer.

Via MTI, Featured image: MTI/Czeglédi Zsolt