May 1849: the "war" government

Cabinet reshuffled. (May 1)

Szemere, an astute politician, tried to maneuver between Kossuth (his followers) and those politicians suspicious of the "governing president". He announced his government to be "republican", "revolutionary" and "democratic" (to some, this seemed to mean "communist".) In fact, he proved to be good at reconciling various views.
Csányi and Vukovics were members of the pre-revolutionary liberal opposition, the latter of Serbian origin.
Kázmér, a relative of Lajos Batthyány, a wealthy landowner, Csányi a government plenipotentiary in Transylvania. Duschek, of Bohemian origin, a financial expert rather than a revolutionary.
[Avram Iancu] †
Avram Iancu
Emperor Franz Joseph sends letter to Russian Czar Nicholas pleading for military help in "the holy struggle against anarchy". In late 1848 Czar Nicholas had empowered his corps commanders in Wallachia (Rumania) to assist nearby Austrian units if so requested. Thus Puchner had obtained Russian help at the local level, but not enough to turn the tide against Gen. Bem, who drives out Gen. Ignácz Malkovsky's Austrians from the Temesköz . The Romanians' resistance became precarious, as their "national council" fled from Transylvania to Wallachia (across the Carpathian). Their two leaders, Nicolai Balcescu and Avram Iancu, initiated discussions with Kossuth to secure a Romanian identity within Transylvania. These developments however were overtaken by other events.

Concurrently GáspárNoszlopy's people's militia occupies Szigetvár. (about 220 km SSW of Buda-Pest). (May 15).

The Hungarian authorities initiate arraignment for treason against János Hám, Archbishop of Esztergom, while on the "imperial" side Franz Joseph I appoints Alexander Bach acting minister of the interior.

[Uj Vásártér] †
Uj Vásártér bombardment

[Buda Vár] †
Storming Fort Buda
Görgey storms and takes Buda's Castle Hill.(May 21) About 1,000 Austrian casualties : Gen.Hentzi killed in battle. Among the defenders, the Italian soldiers of the 23rd Ceccopieri Regiment turned against Hentzi and helped the Honvéd attackers. The Austrians had caused extensive damage in Pest with artillery shelling, including the destruction of the Uj Vásártér ("New Marketsquare", Today's Erzsébet tér) They mined, but failed to blow up the only fixed Danube bridge, the Lánchíd (Chain bridge). Kossuth, turning to praise Görgey, ordered his receiving the Grand Cross. Görgey did not accept.

[Nicholas I] †
Nicholas I
[Gen. Paskevich]
†
Paskievich
Franz Joseph I meets Czar Nicholas in Warsaw to finalize details of Russian-Austrian military cooperation. Accounts had Franz Joseph kneel before the Czar and kiss his hand in his appeal for assistance. Field Marshal Prince (of Warsaw) Ivan Paskievich appointed commander of Russian forces in Hungary. Earlier Nicholas had offered to help, but only if formally requested and allowed to bring in "substantial forces". The Hungarian government acknowledges Russian intervention and declares a crusade against the Czarists Count László Teleki, Hungarian ambassador in Paris, signs agreement with representatives of Southeast European emigree governments to transform Hungary into a federal republic.

[Haynau] †
Haynau
Franz Joseph I appoints Gen. Julius von Haynau to replace Ludwig von Welden, as supreme commander of imperial forces in Hungary.(May 31) Haynau had been a professional and decorated soldier. Served under Radetzky in Italy. Wearing an imposing mustache, he was nicknamed the Hyena of Brescia for murdering Italian women suspected of spying for the Italian insurgents. Parliament tables sessions until July 2 and decides to return to Pest from Debrecen.

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