Le relazioni di carattere militare tra la Casa d’Austria-Este e l’Ungheria nel secolo XIX. Prime note di ricerca

Abstract

The centuries-old relations between the Este family and Hungary were carried on also with the new Austria-Este dynasty, originating from the marriage between the archduke Ferdinand of Habsburg-Lorraine and princess Maria Beatrice d’Este, heir to the Duchy of Modena. From a military point of view, Francis Ferdinand held for over forty years (1834–1875) the position of owner colonel (Inhaber) of a Hungarian regiment, the I. and R. 32nd infantry regiment. Archduke Francis always remained very attached to his own regiment, which fought in Italy in 1848–1849 and 1859, and in Bohemia in 1866, and provided instructors for the ducal troops on some occasions. Inhaber of a Hungarian-recruiting regiment, i.e. the I. and R. 3rd Hussar cavalry regiment, was also the archduke Ferdinand of Austria-Este (1781–1850), uncle of Francis V, who joined the Austrian army at a very young age, obtaining in 1836 the rank of field marshal. Among the numerous tasks carried out by Ferdinand, there were also those of General Commander of Hungary and Imperial Commissioner in Transylvania. It is precisely in the tight-fitting Hungarian uniform that he is depicted in a beautiful statue, inaugurated in 1855, which can still be admired in the vestibule of the Este mortuary chapel in Modena. Another uncle of Francis V, the archduke Maximilian of Austria-Este, also had to deal with Hungary, having been, among other things, in charge of organizing the Insurrectio in Transylvania during 1809 war. The Austria-Este Dukes also took to their service some Hungarian soldiers coming from Austrian army, such as Nicola Romay and John Pisztory. Some ducal soldiers entered Austrian regiments with Hungarian recruitment or in any case of garrison in Hungary, also following the dissolution of the Modenese ducal army (Brigata Estense) in September 1863.