Commemorations of 1849 Arad martyrs start

The national flag of Hungary was hoisted and lowered to half mast on Friday morning in a military salute to commemorate the leaders of Hungary’s revolution and freedom fight who were executed by Austria in 1849.

The state commemoration in front of Parliament was attended by President János Áder, Chief of Staff Tibor Benkő as well as members of the diplomatic corps and representatives of the political parties.

The names of the 13 Arad martyrs were read out loud in tribute. The dignitaries then moved on to pay their respects by the memorial to Lajos Batthyány, prime minister of Hungary’s first independent, answerable government, executed in Pest on the same day.

October 6 was declared a national day of mourning in 2001.

Photo: kormany.hu

Photo: MTI

Photo: MTI

The 6th of October is a sorrowful day for Hungarians.

In 1849, the thirteen generals of the revolution were executed in Arad and Count Lajos Batthyány, the first Hungarian prime minister was executed in Pest. The 6th of October is the day of the 13 Martyrs of Arad, a national day of bereavement.

Photo: MTI

Source: MTI