A 17th century portrait of Ilona Zrínyi (detail, by unknown painter)

Valour and Beauty — The Extraordinary Life of Countess Ilona Zrínyi

Ilona Zrínyi, a noblewoman hailing from a Croatian–Hungarian aristocratic family, is one of the most defining female figures in Hungarian history. An uncompromising patriot and fearless leader, the Countess defended the castle of Munkács (Mukachevo) for three years against the Habsburg forces. Although she died in exile in Turkey in 1703, she was reburied alongside her freedom fighter son, Ferenc II Rákóczi in Kassa (Košice, Slovakia) in 1906.

Portrait of Thomas Cranmer by Gerlach Flicke (detail, 1545)

The Anglosphere and Central Europe: A Personal View

‘The failed revolutionary upheavals in 1848 would see thousands of Central Europeans go into exile in Britain. One of the most famous of these was Hungarian national hero Lajos Kossuth, who travelled extensively in the United States before moving to London, to live there for most of the 1850s. In America, Kossuth was received at the White House twice by President Millard Fillmore, and was generally feted and celebrated everywhere he went.’

The children’s choir at the Magyar Reformed Church in New Brunswick, New Jersey

‘The Magyar Calvinist community of New Brunswick is lucky to be bilingual’ — An Interview with Reverend Zsolt Ötvös

‘The immigrants, such as me, are called Hungarian American, and those who were born here are American Hungarians. Our mentality can differ for many understandable reasons, but we are all bound together by the same mission: our love for God and for each other,’ says Reverend Zsolt Ötvös, who leads the diverse and vibrant Magyar Reformed Church congregation in New Brunswick.

szamos

Marzipan — A Christmas Confection and Its History in Hungary

Much like in many European countries, marzipan enjoys a great popularity in Hungary, too. Marzipan first attained admiration in the Hungarian Kingdom under the rule of the Renaissance king, Matthias Corvinus. According to historic records, a chessboard from brown and white marzipan was the eighth course on King Matthias’ wedding with Beatrice of Naples in 1477.

Hungary, Architect of a New Europe

‘It remains evident that the main actors of the architectures, systems, and organizations of the old world order are stubbornly clinging to their positions, unwilling to acknowledge the need for change. However, Hungary stands ready to take the lead in building a new Europe that prioritizes a more decentralized cooperation among nation-states.’