Kemény Zsigmond 1848-ban
Zsigmond Kemény in 1848

Summary/Abstract: The appreciation of Zsigmond Kemény’s oeuvre has been informed by the interpretation and evaluation of his writings concerning the author’s role in 1848-49’s Hungarian revolution and independence war. He was the leading columnist of Pesti Hírlap at the outset of the Peoples’ Springtime. In his opinion pieces he promoted the centralist agenda. He shared the positions of Antal Csengery and József Eötvös, aiming at a constitutional social life based on liberties achieved and lacking revolutionary disorder. As an elected deputy in parliament he supported the government of Count Batthyány. The main concern of his journalism before the open confrontation between Vienna and Hungary’s government was the future and preservation of the Habsburg Empire. Later the main argument of his writings became the defence of lawful foundations and constitutional order. He repeatedly discussed Pan-Slavism as the primary threat, while he soon accepted that the Croatian unrest is based on real societal demand. Kemény as a columnist and as an official protected the ideals of 1848 and rejected those of 1849, as someone who would not renounce the chances of peace. Kemény, joined by Csengery, resigned from his leading position at Pesti Hírlap by the end of 1848.

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