Zrínyi Commemorative Year
„Miklós Zrínyi – Szigetvár 1566”
450 years ago, on 7 September 1566, Miklós Zrínyi, together with a bunch of valiant soldiers, amidst the ruins of the Castle of Szigetvár, became an eternal martyr for the Croats and other Central European peoples. He was a fearless warrior who, if Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent had not waged a major military campaign in the year 1566, could have fought off the Ottoman domination in South West Hungary. He lived life to the fullest. He loved wealth, power and beautiful women. He did not want to die in Szigetvár, nor did his soldiers with whom they had been companions-in-arms for more than a decade. He was, however, destined to a different fate. Zrínyi and his soldiers stopped the dreadful army of Suleiman and put the Ottomans to such a difficult test of strength that they could only achieve a Pyrrhic victory (inflicting a devastating toll on the triumphant Ottoman army). Before Miklós Zrínyi and the rest of the heroic defenders broke out of the castle on 7 September, at dawn, the aged Sultan Suleiman had breathed his last in a tent erected in the Turbék Vineyard. This put the events that took place in Szigetvár to a world-historical perspective. On 7 September 2016, the National Memorial Committee and the town of Szigetvár will commemorate the heroism of Miklós Zrínyi and his companions in a dignified way, according to local traditions dating back to 1833. All of this will take place within the framework of the Zrínyi Days of Szigetvár, which will begin on 6 September and last until 11 September. Everyone is welcome to the event from both Hungary and beyond the country borders: we await all of our friends from every corner of the world.
Dr. János Hóvári, Chairman of the ‘Miklós Zrínyi – Szigetvár 1566’ Memorial Committee
Additional information:
http://nol.hu/kultura/jon-a-zrinyi-emlekev-1576937
http://www.atv.hu/belfold/20151202-megalakult-a-zrinyi-miklos-emlekev-emlekbizottsag
http://www.kultura.hu/megkezdodott-zrinyi
http://mno.hu/grund/zrinyi-es-szechenyi-eve-lesz-2016-1322787
http://www.kultura.hu/kesz-zrinyi-emlekev
http://magyaridok.hu/kulfold/zrinyi-emlekev-tudomanyos-konferenciat-rendeznek-zagrabban-634861/
http://itthonotthonvan.hu/cikkek/2560148/szigetvar_megujitott_emlekei
http://magyarhirlap.hu/cikk/55735/Elkeszult_a_Zrinyi_MiklosSzigetvar_1566_emlekev_programja
Events of the Zrínyi Commemorative Year
Tourism and Gastronomy Exhibition and Fair, Buda Castle, 7-8 May 2016.
On 7 May, in his opening speech, Mr. János Hóvári, Director General of the Hungarian Creative Arts Non-Profit Ltd. and Chairman of the ‘Szigetvár 1566 – Miklós Zrínyi’ Memorial Committee, said that this year would be a tribute to the 450th anniversary of the tragic siege of Szigetvár and the death of Miklós Zrínyi and his companions-in-arms. A major battle took place in 1566 at the Castle of Szigetvár, which is still a part of the Hungarian national memory, he added.
Peter Vass, Mayor of Szigetvár, explained that 450 years earlier Miklós Zrínyi, heroic defender of Szigetvár, remaining true to his oath as captain of the castle, performed an act that only a very few people would do today: He chose certain death instead of giving up the castle when he and his companions burst out of the castle and raided the world-conquering Ottoman army, which totally overpowered the tiny group of defenders, thus they sacrificed their lives, reports the Hungarian News Agency (MTI). He also stressed that the Government had declared the year 2016 as ‘Zrínyi Commemorative Year’ and earmarked funds for related events and refurbishment of the castle of Szigetvár.
This year we commemorate the 450th anniversary of the tragic siege of Szigetvár and the heroic fight and death of Miklós Zrínyi and his companions in 1566. The defenders’ brave struggle has left its mark on the historical memory of Hungary and Central Europe. Szigetvár has become a symbolic place in Hungarian, Croatian and Austrian-Styrian historical heritage.
During the two-day ceremony, visitors coming to the Savoy Terrace of the Buda Castle could experience a sort of ‘time travel’. They could feel as if they had travelled back in time and gain an interesting insight into how life was in the border fortresses of Hungary in the 16-17th centuries, this way also getting a taste of the past and present of Szigetvár. In an authentic Hungarian tent, the Miklós Zrínyi Tradition Preservation Association exhibited arms and clothing typical of that era. Special programs also awaited visitors on the Savoy Terrace. A majority of the exhibited objects, clothes and weapons were reconstructions, some of which belong to the equipment of a group engaged in preservation of traditions associated with the life of soldiers serving in border fortresses (végvárak) in that period, under the aegis of the Miklós Zrínyi Tradition Preservation Association, and some of them are owned by private individuals. Visitors could touch and feel these objects, thus bringing the period presented closer to them. The soldiers’ table was exhibited in the tent, where everyone could take a short break. During the event, a historical performance entitled ‘Walk of Sultan Suleiman’ was performed on several occasions.
The organisers perambulated over the area dressed up in period costumes, welcoming visitors and helping them try on the costumes that were exhibited. Visitors could ask for period costume photographs and take them home.
The event featured the début of Zoltán Móser’s book about Szigetvár entitled ‘Graciously watching the past’ (A voltat nézni kegyelmesen). In the afternoon, singer Katalin Szvorák entertained visitors with beautiful historical songs, and reciting artist András Szabó introduced the audience to the poetry of the 16th and 17th centuries.
Source: itthonotthonvan.hu
Additional press materials:
Photos of the event in the Gallery »
Flavours and aromas from the past of Szigetvár – Gastronomy Festival, Szigetvár, Castle of Szigetvár, Saturday 14 May 2016
Photos of the event in the Gallery »
1st Zrínyi Festival, Szigetvár, Castle of Szigetvár, Saturday 4 June 2016
The aim of this event was to widely promote the message and spirit of the Zrínyi Commemorative Year among the inhabitants of Baranya County and the region. In addition to the tradition preservation programs, more popular productions enriched the festival in two locations.
Additional press materials:
http://www.turizmusonline.hu/belfold/cikk/kozeppontban_a_csaladok_az_i__zrinyi_fesztivalon
1st Zrínyi Festival, Pécs, Széchenyi Square, 3-5 June 2016
The aim of this event was to widely promote the message and spirit of the Zrínyi Commemorative Year among the inhabitants of Baranya County and the region. In addition to the tradition preservation programs, more popular productions enriched the festival in two locations.
Additional press materials:
http://www.turizmusonline.hu/belfold/cikk/kozeppontban_a_csaladok_az_i__zrinyi_fesztivalon