Birth of the Honvéd (July 21)

There had not been a Hungarian national army. Hungarians had been serving in the imperial forces, along with other nationalities and primarily under Austrian generals. serving in the imperial army such as under Radetzky. ["Radetzky"]

Field Marshall Radetzky


The initial step was the formation of a Honvéd (national defense) army nucleus of ten battalions, formed by order of Batthyány, who also initiated the return of regular Hungarian troops serving abroad. He also called for volunteers to staff the new divisions.

[Honvéd flag] †
"Honvéd" flag. Believed to have been devised in early 1949, after the Habsburg dethronement, utilizing one version of the "Kossuth" coat of arms
[Guardsman]
†
"National Guardsman" Painting by József Borsos. (National Gallery, Budapest)
To serve independent Hungary, Lajos Kossuth proposed (and was granted) authority to impose a tax in absence of the new Defense Minister, Lázár Mészáros. Colonel Mészáros was still in Italy under Radetzky's command. There had been no independent Hungarian national military force at that time. Hungarians, (incl. the new Defense minister Mészáros) had been serving in the Imperial forces, with allegiance to the "Emperor of Austria". Many were serving in Italy at the time, trying to control rebellions against Austrian rule. Local, uncoordinated "National Guard" units could be found associated with major jurisdictions, used largely for police duties.

To finance the defense costs, Kossuth turns to the diet for support

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