The heroic generals of the Revolution and War of Independence of 1848-1849 are often referred to as the Arad Thirteen - significantly fewer people know about the victims who were also executed in Arad but not on 6 October. Such a forgotten hero is Lajos Kazinczy, also referred to as the fifteenth martyr of Arad, the son of the famous language reformer Ferenc Kazinczy.

The memorial site inaugurated in his honour on 5 October in the Fiumei Road Cemetery was opened by the National Heritage Institute and the Madách Theatre, read the statement of the National Heritage Institute sent to Pestbuda. 

Unveiling of the memorial site dedicated to Lajos Kazinczy, the fifteenth martyr of Arad, on 5 October 2022 (Photo: National Heritage Institute)

The National Heritage Institute highlights that a total of sixteen army officers were executed in Arad. Colonel Norbert Ormai was already sent to death on 22 August 1849, the Arad Thirteen on 6 October, and Kazinczy only on 25 October. Haynau's last victim was the Austrian lieutenant colonel Ludwig Hauk in 1850. General János Lenkey, who went mad in the castle prison and then died, is also considered one of the martyrs of Arad.

Yesterday's unveiling ceremony of the memorial site for Lajos Kazinczy took place in the framework of a special thematic walk, in which the artists of the Madách Theatre also participated. The life of the executed martyr has been in the spotlight again since the musical The Fifteenth directed by Tamás Szirtes, and written by György Derzsi-Zsolt Meskó was presented at the Madách Theatre. The play is not only special because it presents the life and tragedy of a little-known historical figure, but the musical about the life of Lajos Kazinczy is the first play in the history of Hungarian theatre and music that focuses on the era of the Revolution and War of Independence of 1848-1849.

Gábor Móczár, director general of the National Heritage Institute, and Tamás Szirtes, director of the Madách Theatre at the inauguration of the memorial (Photo: National Heritage Institute)

At the inauguration of the memorial site of the fifteenth martyr of Arad, the participants were greeted by Gábor Móczár, the director general of the National Heritage Institute. The heroism of Lajos Kazinczy was praised in the memorial speech of Tamás Szirtes, director of the Madách Theatre.

"It was absolutely clear to us that the fifteenth Arad martyr has a place in the Fiumei Road Cemetery among the many important personalities of the Revolution and War of Independence of 1848-1849. Our nation's prominent cemetery is a special imprint of modern Hungarian history, as we can remember all its significant moments in the beautiful surroundings. I believe that starting today at the memorial stone of Lajos Kazinczy, we can pay our respects in front of all known and lesser-known martyrs of Arad, so this national memorial site has been enriched with another important location," said Gábor Móczár, director general of the National Heritage Institute.

"It is our task to preserve the memory of Lajos Kazinczy's life and heroic death for posterity - that is why we are very happy to be able to host the performance The Fifteenth at the Madách Theatre which examines the life of Lajos Kazinczy from a completely new perspective and also pushes the limits of the musical genre. Thanks to the memorial site that has just been unveiled, it is hoped that the title of "forgotten martyr of Arad" will soon become invalid for Lajos Kazinczy as well", emphasised Tamás Szirtes, director of the Madách Theatre.

A special thematic walk was also held at the opening ceremony (Photo: National Heritage Institute)

The walk following the inauguration of the memorial also touched on the graves of several heroes related to the events of 1848-1849. The first stop was the plot of the national defenders who died in the war of independence, where the memorial plaque of Norbert Ormai was also placed. Continuing on the memorial walk, the participants could see the tomb of Károlyné Maderspach, who was caned by Haynau, the Column of the Nine erected in memory of the nine martyrs executed by the Austrians, the graves of the Polish prince Mieczysław Korybut Woroniecki and the Three Arad widows: Józsefné Schweidel, Jánosné Damjanich and Vilmosné Lázár.

After the commemorative walk, the artists of the Madách Theatre performed the best-known songs of the musical, The Fifteenth, which puts the life of Lajos Kazinczy on stage. Richárd Borbély sang one of the most emblematic pieces of the work, Lajos Kazinczy's aria - the popular song performed in the play was recently published by Madách Theatre in the form of a video clip. At the event, Boglárka Simon performed the song Fáj még [It Still Hurts] from the musical, the ballad A Tizenhárom [The Thirteen] was also performed by actors Enikő Détár, Nikolett Gallusz and Judit Ladinek.

The walk ended at the memorial site of Lajos Kazinczy, where the participants of the event paid their respects to the fifteenth martyr of Arad, who was executed 173 years ago, by placing white roses on the grave. 

Source: National Heritage Institute

Cover photo: The memorial site of the fifteenth martyr of Arad, Lajos Kazinczy, in the Fiumei Road Cemetery (Photo: National Heritage Institute)