Arthur Görgey
| Artúr Görgei | |
|---|---|
Artúr Görgei painted by Miklós Barabás
|
|
| Born |
30 January 1818 Toporec, Austrian Empire |
| Died | 21 May 1916 (aged 98) Budapest, Austro-Hungarian Empire |
| Allegiance |
 Hungarian Revolutionary Army
|
| Rank | Major General |
| Battles |
Vác Kápolna Gödöllő Isaszeg Nagysalló Buda |
Arthur Görgey de Görgő et Toporc (Hungarian: görgői és toporci Görgei Artúr, German: Arthur Görgey von Görgő und Toporc; 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, Görgei 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.
After various successes over the Croatian forces, of which the most remarkable was at Ozora, where 10,000 prisoners were taken, Görgei was appointed commander of the army of the Upper Danube. But when Austrian troops under Windisch-Grätz advanced across the Lajta, he resolved to fall back. In spite of the remonstrances of his political superior, Lajos Kossuth, he held to his resolution and retreated upon Vác. Here, irritated by what he considered undue interference with his plans, he issued (5 January 1849) a proclamation throwing the blame for the recent want of success upon the government, thus virtually revolting against their authority. Görgei retired to the Slovak Ore Mountains and conducted operations on his own initiative.
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