Artúr Görgei | |
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Artúr Görgei painted by Miklós Barabás
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Born |
Toporec, Austrian Empire |
30 January 1818
Died | 21 May 1916 Budapest, Austro-Hungarian Empire |
(aged 98)
Allegiance | Hungarian Revolutionary Army |
Rank | Major General |
Battles |
Vác Kápolna Gödöllő Isaszeg Nagysalló Buda |
Arthur Görgey de Görgő et Toporcz (Hungarian: görgői és toporci Görgei Artúr, German: Arthur Görgey von Görgő und Toporcz; 30 January 1818 – 21 May 1916) was a Hungarian military leader.
He was born at Toporc (today Toporec) in Upper Hungary of a Hungarian noble family of originally Zipser German descent who immigrated to Upper Hungary during the reign of king Géza II (1131–1161). During the reformation they were converted to Protestantism. The family name refers to their origin from Görgő village (< Hungarian: Görgő-i "of Görgő").
In 1837 he entered the Bodyguard of Hungarian Nobles at Vienna, where he combined military service with a course of study at the university. In 1845, on his father's death, he left the army to study chemistry at the University of Prague, after which he retired to the family estates in Hungary.
When the Hungarian Revolution of 1848 broke out against the Austrian Empire, Görgey joined the rebels and changed his noble surname to Görgei. He entered the Honvéd Army with the rank of captain, was employed in the purchase of arms, and soon became major and commandant of the national guards north of the Tisza. While resisting the Croatian army 's crossing of the Danube at Csepel-sziget, Görgei captured and arrested the wealthy Hungarian Count Ödön (Edmund) Zichy. Count Zichy was charged with treason for his pro-Austrian activities, court-martialed, and hanged.