János Damjanich | |
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Native name | Јован Дамјанић |
Born |
Staza, Croatian Military Frontier, Habsburg Monarchy |
December 8, 1804
Died | October 6, 1849 Arad, Kingdom of Hungary |
(aged 44)
Allegiance |
|
Service/branch | Army |
Years of service | ????-1849 |
Rank | general |
Commands held |
|
Hungarian Revolt of 1848 |
|
János Damjanich (Serbian: Jovan Damjanić / Јован Дамјанић, December 8, 1804 – October 6, 1849) was an Austrian military officer of Serb origin who became general of the Hungarian Revolutionary Army in 1848. He is considered a national hero in Hungary.
Damjanich was born in Staza in Croatian Military Frontier (now part of Sunja, Croatia). His mother was a daughter of general Taborović. His wife Emilija Čarnić was related to the Čarnojević family.
Damjanich entered the army as an officer in the 61st regiment, and on the outbreak of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848 was promoted to be a major in the third Honvéd battalion at Szeged. Although an Orthodox Serb, he was from the beginning a devoted adherent of the Hungarian liberals.
His ability and valour at the battles of Alisbrunn (Serbian: Alibunar, Hungarian: Alibunár) and Lagerdorf/Temesőr in 1848 led to his promotion to colonel. In early 1849, he was appointed commander of the 3rd Army Corps in the middle Tisza, and quickly gained the reputation of being the bravest man in the Hungarian army. In March 1849 he annihilated an Austrian brigade at Szolnok, which was perhaps his greatest exploit.
He was elected deputy for Szolnok to the Diet of Hungary, but declined the honour. Damjanich played a leading role in the general advance upon the Hungarian capital of Buda under Artúr Görgey.