János Damjanich

János Damjanich (December 8,1804–October 6, 1849) was a Hungarian general of Serb origin. He is considered a national hero in Hungary.

Early life

Damjanich was born in Straža (Banat) or in Staza (Banija). [Milan Tutorov, Banatska Rapsodija, Novi Sad, 2001.] He entered the army as an officer in the 61st regiment of foot, and on the outbreak of the Hungarian Revolt of 1848 was promoted to be a major in the third Honvéd regiment at Szeged. Although an Orthodox Serb, he was from the first a devoted adherent of the Hungarian liberals.

His ability and valour at the battles of Alibunar and Lagerdorf in 1848 led to his promotion to colonel. At the beginning of 1849, he was appointed commander of the 3rd Army Corps in the middle Tisza, and quickly gained the reputation of being the bravest man in the Hungarian army.

In March 1849 he annihilated a brigade at Szolnok, perhaps his greatest exploit. He was elected deputy for Szolnok to the Hungarian diet, but declined the honor. Damjanich played a leading part in the general advance upon the Hungarian capital under Artúr Görgei.

The engagements of Hort and Hatvan, along with the bloody battle of Isaszeg turned Damjanich into a national hero. At the ensuing review at Gödöllő, Lajos Kossuth expressed the sentiments of the whole nation when he doffed his hat as Damjanich's battalions passed by.

Damjanich uncompromisingly supported the views of Kossuth, and was appointed commander of one of the three divisions which, under Görgei, entered Vác in April 1849. His fame reached its height when, on April 19, he won the battle of Nagysalló, which led to the relief of the fortress of Komárom.

At this juncture Damjanich broke his leg, an accident which prevented him from taking part in field operations at the most critical period of the war, when the Magyars had to abandon the capital for the second time. He recovered sufficiently, however, to accept the post of commandant of the fortress of Arad.

After the Világos catastrophe, Damjanich, on being summoned to surrender, declared he would give up the fortress to a single company of Cossacks, but would defend it to the last drop of his blood against the whole Austrian army. He accordingly surrendered to the Russian general Dmitry Buturlin, by whom he was handed over to the Austrians, and he became one of the13 Martyrs of Arad on October 6, 1849. He was last but one in line to be executed, where he said his famous last words:"I believed I will be it last, because I was the first always in the battle. My poor Emily! Long live Hungary".

Controversy

Damjanich is a controversial historical figure among Serbs. Hungarians consider Damjanich a national hero who led the Hungarian revolutionary army against the Habsburg Monarchy and for independent Kingdom of Hungary, while Serbs consider him a national traitor, who despite the fact that he was ethnic Serb by origin, fought on the Hungarian side against his own people, i.e. against Vojvodinian Serb army that was on the side of the Habsburgs during the revolution. Therefore, the Serbs gave him a nickname "ljuta guja, srpski izdajica" ("a fury snake, the traitor of the Serbs"). [Milan Tutorov, Banatska Rapsodija, Novi Sad, 2001.]

Notes

References

*1911