István Széchenyi

Count István Széchenyi de Sárvár-Felsővidék
Minister of Public Works and Transport
In office 23 March 1848 – 4 September 1848
Preceded by	office created
Succeeded by	László Csány
Personal details
Born	(1791-09-21)21 September 1791 Vienna, Archduchy of Austria
Died	8 April 1860(1860-04-08) (aged 68) Oberdöbling, Austrian Empire
Spouse	Crescence Seilern
Children	Béla Ödön Júlia
Parent(s)	Ferenc Széchényi Julianna Festetics
Profession	Politician

Count István Széchenyi de Sárvár-Felsővidék (Hungarian: sárvár-felsővidéki gróf Széchenyi István, pronounced [ˈʃɑ̈ˑrvɑ̈ˑrˌfelʃøˑvidɛːki ˌɡroːf ˈse̝ːt͡ʃe̝ːɲi ˌiʃtvɑ̈ːn]; archaically English: Stephen Széchenyi; 21 September 1791 – 8 April 1860) was a Hungarian politician, political theorist, and writer. Widely considered one of the greatest statesmen in his nation's history, within Hungary he is still known to many as "the Greatest Hungarian".^[1]

Family and early life

Széchenyi was born in Vienna to Count Ferenc Széchényi and Countess Juliána Festetics de Tolna; he was the youngest of their two daughters and three sons. The Széchenyis were an old and influential noble family of Hungary. Traditionally loyal to the House of Habsburg, they were linked with noble families, such as the Liechtenstein, the House of Esterházy and the House of Lobkowicz. István Széchenyi's father was an enlightened aristocrat who founded the Hungarian National Museum and the Hungarian National Library. The boy spent his childhood both in Vienna and on the family estate of Nagycenk, Hungary.^{[citation needed]}

Military service in the Napoleonic Wars

After his private education, the young Széchenyi joined the Austrian army and participated in the Napoleonic Wars. He was seventeen years old when he entered the army. He fought with distinction at the battle of Raab (14 June 1809) and on 19 July brought about the subsequent junction of the two Austrian armies by conveying a message across the Danube to General Chasteler at the risk of his life. He informed him of the whereabouts of General Meskó's army, which made it possible for the two separated armies to unite on July 19th. The king also acknowledged this bold action with satisfaction. Széchenyi spent his free time creating topographic maps and collecting data, which he also used for his own further education. After the release of the insurgent army (December 18th), his brothers (Pál and Lajos) returned home to their parents, but István remained with the military. Starting from January 1st, 1810, he joined the 7th Hussar Regiment, and later in 1811, he transferred to the 1st Uhlans Regiment. His division was stationed in Világos for a while and later (from 1811) in Bohemia and Moravia. In the summer of 1813, they already stepped onto enemy territory and engaged in several clashes with French troops. By then, he held the rank of captain.

In the sixth coalition war, before the Battle of Leipzig, which broke Napoleon's power, Széchenyi received an extremely important mission on the night of October 16-17, 1813, which significantly influenced the battle.

Equally memorable was his famous ride, through the enemy's lines on the night of 16–17 October 1813, to convey to Blücher and Bernadotte the wishes of the two emperors that they should participate in the battle of Leipzig on the following day, at a given time and place. The crown prince initially responded with rejection, so Széchenyi requested acknowledgement that he had delivered the invitation from the three rulers. The crown prince pondered upon this and, after a short deliberation, decided to join, entrusting Széchenyi with determining the route. On the third day of the battle, Bernadotte indeed arrived at the right moment, and with his help, the Battle of Leipzig was decided.

"Széchenyi, in recognition of his outstanding military service, was promoted to the rank of first-class captain and awarded the Knight's Cross of the Order of St. Vladimir, 4th Class, by the Russians. This was the highest rank he achieved during his 17-year military career. In 1814, he received the Pour le Mérite, a Prussian military merit cross, for his courier service, as well as the White Cross of the Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus. After the Battle of Leipzig, he crossed into French territory with the advancing troops and arrived in Paris on April 1, 1814. The following month, he traveled to Italy."

In May 1815 he was transferred to Italy, and at the battle of Tolentino scattered Murat's bodyguards by a dashing cavalry charge.^[2] He received the Order of St. Ferdinand's Cross on this occasion. He also obtained the Austrian Army Cross. Afterward, he transferred himself to the Hessen-Homburg Hussar Regiment, and he served there until February 15, 1826, when he retired from military service.

He left the service as a captain in 1826 (after his promotion to major was turned down)^[3] and turned his interest towards politics.

Travels

Alongside his military service, he primarily devoted his free time to self-education and travel. In September 1815, he went to France, and from there he sailed to England, closely observing the achievements of culture and technology in both places, as well as the institutions that he planned to establish later in Hungary. Later, he embarked on another trip to Italy in May 1817, during which he studied Italian poetry, visited Greece, the Bosporus, and the shores of Asia Minor. In the Aegean Islands, he showed interest in ancient Greek literature, art, and archaeology. After returning home, he visited the notable cities of Hungary and Transylvania, forming several lifelong acquaintances and friendships during his travels. It was during this time that he also visited Felsőbüki Nagy Pál and Baron Miklós Wesselényi (August 1, 1821), with whom he formed a close friendship, although this relationship later deteriorated due to their differing political views.

From 1819, for thirteen years[23], his cherished dream was to travel to the land of the idolized free, modern America. As a military officer, the Viennese court did not support his journey, and Széchenyi made great efforts to obtain permission, but his official requests were always rejected by Metternich[22]. After an unsuccessful attempt, in 1822, he traveled to England for a study trip with Wesselényi.

The main objective was the study of foreign horse breeding, the purchase of racehorses and breeding horses, but they also closely observed the economic and other conditions abroad in order to reform Hungary according to their plans. The notable stops on their journey were Munich, Stuttgart, Paris, the Trappist monastery in Soligny-la-Trappe, and London (May 15). As a result of their experiences, the idea of immediately leaving military service emerged during their journey. [22]

On May 10, 1825, X. Charles traveled to Paris for his coronation ceremony, accompanied by Prince Esterházy Pál as the official envoy. He was also impressed with the Canal du Midi in France, and began to envision ways to improve navigation on the lower Danube and Tisza.^[2]

"In me, imagination is greater than other mental qualities," wrote Széchenyi to Wesselényi in 1826.

During this occasion, they visited Nice, Turin, Milan, Venice, and finally Trieste in southern France and Italy, collecting data on silkworm breeding and planting mulberry trees (referred to at that time as blackberry tree cultivation).^[4]

Political career

From September 1815 to 1821, Széchenyi traveled extensively in Europe, visiting France, England, Italy, Greece and the Levant, and studying their institutions.^[2] He also established important personal connections. The rapid modernization of Britain fascinated him the most, and strongly influenced his thinking.

The Count quickly became aware of the growing gap between the modern world and his native Hungary. For the rest of his life, he was a determined reformer and promoted development. Széchenyi found early political support from his friend, Baron M. Wesselenyi ^[5] Miklós Wesselényi, a noble from Transylvania; however, their relation later weakened.

From 1825, Count Széchenyi spearheaded a reform campaign that promoted the modernization of society, economy, and politics. He challenged the longstanding privileges of the aristocracy and contended that the subjugation of the peasantry through serfdom and forced labor was not only demeaning but also detrimental to the nation's strength. He aimed to rectify the exemption of the nobility from tax obligations, asserting that it not only harmed the nobles themselves but also had negative repercussions for the entire country.^[6]

Metternich

While the Parliament was in session (November 10th), Széchenyi took the time to visit Chancellor Metternich, with whom he had family connections. During this visit (December 15th), their conversation revolved around Hungarian politics, particularly the issues discussed in the Parliament. At the request of the Prince, Széchenyi submitted a written memorandum (Meine Berichte) expressing his views on these matters. Metternich did not hide his disapproval of Széchenyi's political stance and warned him that he was going too far, corrupting the youth, and that he would regret it when it was too late, advising him to think about the future as well. However, none of this deterred Széchenyi from speaking up multiple times in the Parliament whenever the Hungarian language, freedom, or religious tolerance were discussed. He was not even discouraged by several reprimands from the presiding Palatine.

Moreover, to ensure that his views could be expressed freely without hindrance from his military rank, on February 15, 1826, after 17 years of service, he "retired" or requested to be discharged from the military.

The great reformer

Széchenyi gained a wider reputation in 1825, by supporting the proposal of the representative of Sopron county, Pál Nagy, to establish the Hungarian Academy of Sciences; Széchenyi donated the full annual income of his estates that year, 60,000 forints, towards it. His example brought donations of 58,000 forint from three other wealthy nobles,^[2] and they gained Royal approval for the academy. He wanted to promote the use of the Hungarian language in this effort. S. became the Academy's 1st Vice-president (the President being the Palatine). While the progress of Hungary & its language was S.'s main point he aimed at greater things: In his 1st Vice-presidential address to the Academy he reminded his countrymen "now that they have established their own Academy" of their duty to support the other countries theoretically under the "crown of St. Stephen" [Croats, Czechs, Slovaks, etc.] in their own pursuits of "sound nationalism". This was an important milestone in his life and for the reform movement.

To reach a wider public, Széchenyi decided to publish his ideas. His series of political writings, the Hitel (Credit, 1830), the Világ, (Light, 1831), and the Stádium (1833), addressed the Hungarian nobility. He condemned their conservatism and encouraged them to give up feudal privileges (e.g. free of taxation status), and act as the driving elite for modernization.^{[citation needed]}

Széchenyi envisioned his program for Hungary within the framework of the Habsburg monarchy.^[7] He was convinced that Hungary initially needed a gradual economic, social and cultural development; he opposed both undue radicalism and nationalism. The latter he found particularly dangerous within the multi-ethnic Kingdom of Hungary, where people were divided by ethnicity, language and religion.

Foundation of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences

The scientific committee of the Hungarian Diet of 1791 already included in its program the establishment of a Hungarian Academy of Sciences, in addition to the military and fine arts academies. Count István Széchenyi delivered his very first speech to the upper chamber on October 12, 1825, causing a huge sensation by speaking in Hungarian, as it had been customary to deliver speeches in Latin until then. István Pap Szoboszlai, the later superintendent of the Trans-Tisza region, who performed the duties of a Reformed pastor at that Diet, wrote in one of his letters that "Count Széchenyi is making an epoch on this board because he spoke in Hungarian instead of Latin.

At the parliamentary session of 1825 (during the district meetings of the delegates on November 2-3), this idea was brought up again. The necessity of the institution was first mentioned at the initial assembly by István Máriássy, the delegate of Gömör County, but it was particularly influenced by the speech of Pál Felsőbüki Nagy, which vehemently criticized those corrupt aristocrats who neglected the interests of the Hungarian nation and the Hungarian language.^[8]

"After this, Széchenyi, who belonged to the upper table but took a seat at the district assembly (in the former county house) surprised the delegates by unexpectedly asking for the floor. In his speech, he offered to donate 6% of the annual income from all his possessions, which amounted to 60,000 forints, providing 3,600 forints annually for the establishment of a Hungarian scientific society." The announcement was met with great enthusiasm, and after the speech, several individuals offered financial contributions for the establishment of the institution. Ábrahám Vay donated 8,000, Count György Andrássy 10,000, Count György Károlyi 40,000 forints, and many others also supported the plan with financial contributions. According to Jókai, during that meeting alone, a quarter of a million silver forints were collected for the founding of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. On November 8, the four founding members submitted their offers in writing to the Palatine and the Upper and Lower Houses, and on November 21, they also presented the blueprint of the proposed scientific society. Palatine József, who donated 10,000 forints to the academy, appointed a committee to discuss the blueprint, in which Széchenyi also actively participated. The committee's recommendations received royal approval on August 18, 1827, and the establishment was officially recognized by law in 1827.^[9]

Chain Bridge and the idea of Budapest

He wanted to develop Buda and Pest as a major political, economic and cultural center of Hungary. He supported the construction of the first permanent bridge between the two cities, the Chain Bridge. Besides its improving transportation connections, the Chain Bridge was a symbolic structure, foreshadowing the later unification of the two cities as Budapest, connected across rather than divided by the river.

The contract regarding the construction of the Chain Bridge (Lánchíd) was concluded in 1839 by the national committee, of which Széchenyi was the most active member. Its construction could only begin after its approval on May 14th, and it lasted for 10 years. During the Hungarian Revolution of 1848-1849, one of its pillars was hit by a cannonball in the spring of 1849. However, it was still possible to open the bridge to traffic on November 20th. Széchenyi himself never crossed the completed bridge, as he was already residing in the Döbling mental institution at the time of its inauguration.

On August 24th, 1842, the cornerstone of the Chain Bridge was finally laid in the presence of the Palatine and representatives of the Hungarian Parliament. The idea of the bridge had been occupying Széchenyi's mind since 1828, and he corresponded and traveled extensively regarding this matter. Within a year, the blueprint was ready, and in 1832, it was approved by the city of Pest.

The consolidation of the twin cities of Buda and Pest into the capital of Hungary was already a topic of discussion in the 1830s, and Széchenyi advocated for this goal through the construction of the Chain Bridge. He famously said, "The heart of Hungary is Pest and Buda. The poor heart may be dusty and dirty, and we cannot change that, but we can help it in many ways. I cannot relocate the heart, but I can beautify it." ^[10]

Regulation of Danube and Tisza

Besides his comprehensive political ideas, he concentrated on the development of transportation infrastructure, as he understood its importance for development and communication. Part of this program was the regulation of the flow of waters of the lower Danube to improve navigation, in order to open it to commercial shipping and trade from Buda to the Black Sea.^[2] Recognizing the potential for the project for the region, Széchenyi successfully lobbied in Vienna to gain Austrian financial and political support. He was appointed as high commissioner and supervised the works for years. During this period, he traveled to Constantinople and built up relations in the Balkan area. He became the leading figure of the Danube Navigation Committee by the early 1830s, which completed its work in ten years. Previously the river had been dangerous for ships and was not efficient as an international trading route. Széchenyi was the first to promote steamboats on the Danube, the Tisza (Theiss), and Lake Balaton, also measures to open up Hungary to trade and development.^[2] On June 24, 1830, he set out with his entourage on his own ship to embark on an inspection trip, in order to study the flow of the Danube and personally experience the difficulties of its regulation. The journey, which lasted from Pest to Constantinople, had notable points such as Orsova, Galati, Constantinople, and during the return journey, Pozarevac (where he stayed with Prince Miloš Obrenović), Szendrő, and Belgrade. On his way, From Istambul, he informed archduke Joseph, (Palatine of Hungary) about the purpose of his journey and offered his services to present a proposal for making the Danube navigable throughout. On June 20, 1833, he received the Palatine's commission for this task and for the next ten years, he led the works as a royal commissioner. He set off again on July 8 and began the rock blasting near Orsova on the 29th, although progress was slow due to insufficient tools and the Turkish government's obstruction. By 1834, they were able to cross with a ship named Argo. Meanwhile, on September 3, 1833, a steamship, the first on the Tisza River, also sailed to Szeged, where it was warmly welcomed with great enthusiasm.^[11]

Steamships

He was often think about the establishment of Steamship building factory. Széchenyi (with the help of Austrian ship's company Erste Donaudampfschiffahrtsgesellschaft (DDSG) ), established the Óbuda Shipyard on the Hungarian Hajógyári Island in 1835, which was the first industrial scale steamship building company in the Habsburg Empire.^[12] He embraced the cause of the Danube Steamship Association, supported it with the Viennese government, the Palatine, and the Parliament, and later presented the company and its commercial importance in a whole series of articles. Around 1840, Széchenyi brought with him from his trip to England a sailboat called 'Himfy,' a three-ton English-style cutter, whose harbor was located near Bóz on Lake Fertő, and which he later transported to Lake Balaton. The first steamship between Pest-Buda and Zimony operated on March 16, 1831. It was his enthusiasm that also brought about steamship navigation on Lake Balaton. He initiated the movement and gathered shareholders. The first steamship, the Kisfaludy, set sail on Lake Balaton on September 21, 1846.

National Casino

In 1827, he organized the Nemzeti Kaszinó, or National Casino, a forum for the patriotic Hungarian nobility. The Casino had an important role in the reform movement by providing an institute for political dialogues.

The establishment of the National Casino also falls within the timeframe of this parliamentary session, which Széchenyi founded for the purpose of discussing political, economic, and social issues, strengthening unity, and promoting his own liberal ideas.

He personally invited the first members and took part in the development of the statutes. His enthusiasm during the recruitment of members did not diminish later on, and in 1830, he even managed to win Metternich as a member. The inaugural assembly of the association was held on June 10, 1827, with 150 members, approximately 45 of whom were present. The following year, they were able to present the statutes to the general assembly.

"Long debate" of reformers in the press (1841–1848)

In his 1841 pamphlet People of the East (Kelet Népe), Count Széchenyi responded to Kossuth's reform proposals. Széchenyi believed that economic, political and social reforms should proceed slowly and with care, in order to avoid the potentially disastrous prospect of violent interference from the Habsburg dynasty. Széchenyi was aware of the spread of Kossuth's ideas in Hungarian society, which he took to overlook the need for a good relationship with the Habsburg dynasty.^{[citation needed]}

Kossuth, for his part, rejected the role of the aristocracy, and questioned established norms of social status. In contrast to Széchenyi, Kossuth believed that in the process of social reform it would be impossible to restrain civil society in a passive role. He warned against attempting to exclude wider social movements from political life, and supported democracy, rejecting the primacy of elites and the government.

Behind Kossuth's conception of society was a notion of freedom that emphasized the unitary origin of rights, which he saw manifested in universal suffrage. In exercising political rights, Széchenyi took into account wealth and education of the citizens, thus he supported only limited suffrage similar to the Western European (British, French and Belgian) limited suffrage of the era. In 1885, Kossuth called Széchenyi a liberal elitist aristocrat while Széchenyi considered himself to be a democrat.^[13]

Széchenyi was an isolationist politician, while Kossuth saw strong relations and collaboration with international liberal and progressive movements as essential for the success of liberty.^[14]

Széchenyi based his economic policy on the laissez-faire principles practiced by the British Empire, while Kossuth supported protective tariffs due to the comparatively weak Hungarian industrial sector. While Kossuth envisioned the construction of a rapidly industrialized country, Széchenyi wanted to preserve the traditionally strong agricultural sector as the main characteristic of the economy.^[15]

Political rivalry with Kossuth

His relations with Lajos Kossuth were not good: he always thought Kossuth was a political agitator who overplayed his popularity. Széchenyi, although in a minority, continued to counsel for caution in the Diet and other meetings. In March 1848, he accepted the portfolio of Public Work and Transport "in the first responsible Magyar administration" under Lajos Batthyány, but he feared the disruption of revolution.^[2]

Minister of Public Work and Transport

The unexpected events of March, 1848, the establishment of the Hungarian Responsible Ministry of Independent Affairs, raised hopes for the preservation of our national independence, and on the invitation of Prime Minister Lajos Batthyány, on March 23, 1848, Széchenyi assumed the position of Minister of Transportation and Public Works. In today's terms, Széchenyi's appointment to head the Ministry of Transportation may seem self-evident, as he had devoted decades of work to the development of transportation in Hungary by 1848. However, his appointment as minister was unacceptable to his radical political opponents, especially the March youth. Széchenyi himself had doubts about whether he had acted correctly by accepting a position in a government that was more radical than his own views. In his diary, with true black humor, he spoke of signing his own death sentence, that he would be hanged, and what's more, he would ask to be hanged with his back turned to Kossuth. The conflicts between Kossuth and Széchenyi did not subside after joining the cabinet, and now, upon closer examination, Széchenyi saw an even greater danger emanating from Kossuth's politics, which increasingly led to a rupture with the dynasty. He spoke out against this in vain in the Council of Ministers and in the House of Representatives (August 19). He remained at the helm of the ministry for nearly five months, from April to September 4, 1848.^[16]

Marriage and family

In 1836 at the age of 45, Széchenyi married Countess Crescencia von Seilern und Aspang in Buda. They had three children:^[17]

• Júlia Széchenyi, who died at the age of three months
• Béla Széchenyi [hu], who traveled to Eastern countries several times
• Ödön Széchenyi, who died as a Turkish pasha

Béla Széchenyi became known for his wide travels and explorations in the East Indies, Japan, China, Java, Borneo, western Mongolia, and the frontiers of Tibet. In 1893, he published an account of his experiences, written in German.^[18]

Retreat from politics

The Hungarian Revolution of 1848 developed in the direction of Hungary attempting to break away from Habsburg rule, an attempt eventually crushed with severe repression by the Austrian authorities – both of which very much contrary to Széchenyi's way of thinking and his vision for Hungary's future. In early September 1848, Széchenyi's nervous state brought depression and a breakdown; his doctor ordered him to the private Asylum of Dr. Gustav Görgen in Oberdöbling. With his wife's care, he gradually recovered enough to resume writing but did not return to politics. He wrote the book Önismeret (Self awareness) about children, education and pedagogy. He also wrote Ein Blick (One Look),^[2] a study of the deep political problems of Hungary at the beginning of the 1850s.^{[citation needed]}

Death

Still suffering from depression, Széchenyi committed suicide by a gunshot to his head on 8 April 1860, at the age of 68.^[2] (April 8 was the anniversary of the death of the Hungarian national hero Francis II Rákóczi, a century earlier). All Hungary mourned Széchenyi's death. The academy was in official mourning, along with the most prominent persons of the leading political and cultural associations (including counts József Eötvös, János Arany, and Károly Szász). His rival Kossuth said he was "the greatest of the Magyars".^[2]

Writings

• Hitel (Credit, 1830)
• Világ, (World/Light, 1831)
• Stádium (1833)
• Önismeret (Self awareness)
• Ein Blick (One Look)
• Most of his numerous writings on political and economic subjects were translated into German for wider appreciation in Europe.
• From 1884 to 1896, the Hungarian Academy published a nine-volume edition of his writings in Pest.^[2]

Legacy and honors

• A statue of him was unveiled on 23 May 1880 in Budapest.
• Also in 1880, a statue commemorating him was unveiled in Sopron.
• In 1898, the chain bridge over the Danube was named Széchenyi Lánchíd "Széchenyi Chain Bridge" in his honour.
• In a survey by Median and Elemér Hankiss at the end of 2007, the Hungarian public ranked 1st "greatest statesman of all time " among Hungarian historical figures.^[19]
• In 2008, the István Széchenyi Chair in International Economics was privately endowed at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut, United States. In collaboration with Mathias Corvinus Collegium^[20] and Sapientia Hungarian University of Transilvania,^[21] the Chair oversees and develops three major academic programs to strengthen relations with Central Eastern Europe, especially Hungary: the Hungarian American Business Leaders (HABL), the QU executive MBA Trip in Hungary, and the Foreign Lecture Series.
• Since 1990, Széchenyi's portrait has been featured on the 5000 Hungarian forint banknote, with a new design in 1999.
• 2002, a Hungarian made-for-TV movie portrayed his life from 1820 to 1860; it is entitled A Hídember [hu] (The Bridgeman) (in Hungarian).
• István Széchenyi Postage stamp was issued by Hungary on 1 July 1932 by honoring him in Famous Hungarians series of stamps.^[22]
• Another stamp in his honor was issued by Hungary on 3 May 1966; it shows the Chain Bridge in the backdrop of his portrait.^[23] A stamp of the face of István Széchenyi superimposed on the island of the Danube was issued by Hungary on 8 April 2016.^[24]
• Asteroid 91024 Széchenyi, discovered by astronomers Krisztián Sárneczky and László Kiss at the Piszkéstető Station in 1998, was named in his memory.^[1] The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 22 January 2008 (M.P.C. 61766).^[25]

References

Attribution:

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Bain, Robert Nisbet (1911). "Széchenyi, Istvan, Count". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 26 (11th ed.). p. 318.

External links

• Media related to István Széchenyi at Wikimedia Commons
• His picture on the Hungarian 5000 forint banknote Archived 30 March 2006 at the Wayback Machine
• A Hídember ("The Bridgeman", 2002) at IMDb , a Hungarian made-for-TV movie (in Magyar). A Hídember [hu].