“Expecting company tonight. Conversed at length with Batthyány.The Common-Public Life of Széchenyi and Batthyány on Social and Private Scenes Cover Image

„Este társaság hozzánk. Batthyányval sokat beszéltünk.” Széchenyi és Batthyány közös-közélete társas- és magánszíntereken
“Expecting company tonight. Conversed at length with Batthyány.The Common-Public Life of Széchenyi and Batthyány on Social and Private Scenes

Author(s): Ferenc Velkey
Subject(s): History
Published by: AETAS Könyv- és Lapkiadó Egyesület

Summary/Abstract: In the paper the author makes an attempt to grab the relationship on its manifold scenes of two well-known public figures in the era of reforms in Hungary. The lives and the political careers of Count István Széchenyi and Lajos Batthyány have been discussed extensively in the literature, their careers, reform ideas and their relationship are well researched. The current analysis focuses on how their relationship was influenced by the the close social bond between them. Our primary source, Széchenyi’s diary and Lajos Batthyány’s very in-tensive, register-like appearance in it (“me in Batthyány’s home”, “Louis B. with us”, to-gether with Batthyány “at C[aroline] Károlyi”) suggest that the main scene for their rela-tionship was the triangle of the Batthyány-Széchenyi-Károlyi residences. That is, these three magnate salons, influential both in Pozsony and in Pest, provided the framework for their meetings. This circle of magnates was open and politically committed, while retaining as a characteristic feature its social identity, typical of contemporary aristocracy. The members spoke mostly in German and French, spent the time at balls, soirés, dinners and other social events, and paid visits to each other. This social space made the relationship of Széchenyi and Batthyány complex. On the hand, they both felt attracted to Karolina Zichy, a lady in the company, who was Lajos Batthyány’s sister-in-law. In their most private life, this made them rivals and confidants at the same time. On the other hand, Lajos Bat-thyány’s role as the leader of the reform opposition in the country weighed on their rela-tionship, especially as the Zichy ladies in his company (his wife and his sister-in-law) took up a role in the opposition, which was reflected in their social life. Their salon became the main channel of communication for the reform opposition. István Széchenyi, on the other hand, were dragged into a pro-government role after 1842, and accepted an office in 1845. And even though he did not really feel confident in this role this led to dissonance between them. The banters and sarcastic ripostes led to growing tension, quarrels and occasionally serious conflicts almost ending in duels. But the fact that, despite their disagreements, they belonged to the same society became a bridge between them: they could more deeply un-derstand each other’s political dilemmas. The analysis of the interactions shows that while it was politics that most fundamentally influenced their relationship, the world of societies as well as their social and private circles also had an effect on it.

  • Issue Year: 2009
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 51-94
  • Page Count: 44
  • Language: Hungarian