Görgei, ARTHUR

Görgei, ARTHUR, commander-in-chief of the Hungarian forces during the revolt of 1849, was born at Toporez, in the county of Zips, 5th February 1818. On the outbreak of the revolt in 1848, Görgei at once offered his services to the Hungarian independent government, and first distinguished himself by compelling Jellachich's Croatian reserve of 10,000 men to capitulate to him at Ozora, on 7th October. After this exploit he was given a command against Windischgrätz on the western frontier. But, driven back by the Austrian general to Raab by 26th December, and learning that Budapest had fallen and the government had fled to Debreczin, Görgei made a wide detour through the mountains to the north of the capital, and joined his troops to the army in the neighbourhood of Debreczin. Of this force Görgei was made commander-in-chief in the end of March 1849. Then, advancing westwards to the relief of Komorn, which still held out against the Austrians, he decisively routed the enemy in a succession of battles between April 2 and April 10. On April 22 he effected the relief of the beleaguered city, and four days later routed the Austrians so thoroughly at Uj-Szöny that they were compelled to evacuate the country. Meanwhile a new Austrian army was being equipped, and the Russians were invading the country from the north and north-east. At this critical period Görgei wasted valuable time in the siege of Ofen (Buda). After offering an obstinate but unavailing resistance to the Austrians in several battles near Komorn, Görgei was again compelled to retreat eastwards; but at Waitzen he encountered the Russians. Still retreating, by way of Tokay, he reached in the beginning of August Grosswardein, where he again suffered defeat from Paskevitch, the Russian general. On 11th August he was nominated dictator in Kossuth's stead at Arad, and two days later surrendered his army of 24,000 men, the last of the Hungarian forces in the field, unconditionally, to the Russian commander Rüdiger, at Világos, near Arad. Görgei himself was imprisoned for some time at Klagenfurt, in Carinthia, but eventually set at liberty. His countrymen (including Kossuth) accused him of treachery, a charge to which he replied in Mein Leben und Wirken in Ungarn in 1848 und 1849 (Leip. 1852). With Kossuth and the civil government he failed all along to act in cordial sympathy and harmony, and he is also said to have shown personal jealousy of the other Hungarian generals. He returned to Hungary in 1868, and in 1884 was presented with an address by 260 of his old companions in arms.