Battle of Szőreg commemoration and reenactment
The 175th anniversary of the Battle of Szőreg will be commemorated on Saturday, August 3, 2024.
The organizers offer a variety of activities on Saturday – a weapons demonstration, a living history lesson, a straw bouncy castle, and a traditional 19th-century military camp in Szőreg, while a full reconstruction of the battle will be on show in the late afternoon.
The Battle of Szőreg was a battle of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848, fought on August 5, 1849, between the Hungarian Revolutionary Army led by Lieutenant General Henryk Dembiński and the main army of the Habsburg Empire led by Field Marshal Julius Jacob von Haynau. The Austrian army was advancing on the well-fortified Szeged. Dembiński chose to leave the fortifications and retreat to Szőreg near the Tisza River, where he positioned many artillery batteries at a place called Kamaratöltés to prevent a direct attack from Haynau's troops. In response, the Austrian commander sent cavalry to cross the Tisza and flank the Hungarian forces. The cavalry succeeded in crossing the river between Törökkanizsa and Makó, engaging in a significant battle with the Hungarian cavalry in and around Szőreg. During the fighting, Dembiński himself was wounded, and the Hungarians retreated safely.
Die Schlacht bei Szeged, a painting by Albrecht von Adam, from the collection of the Belvedere Palace in Vienna. Image through Wikimedia Commons, public domain
Battle of Szőreg Commemoration Day Program – August 3, 2024
09:00 - 09:30 Military tribute at the Battle of Szőreg Memorial at Heroes' Square in Szőreg
09:00 - 12:00 Demonstrations in nearby villages – Tiszasziget and Újszentiván
14.00 A traditional 19th-century military camp opens for spectators in Vaspálya Street in Szőreg with a weapons demonstration, living history lesson, horse riding for children, and a straw bouncy castle
15:30 Demonstration of the Hungarian Defence Forces Dombay Miksa 4th Territorial Defence Regiment
16:30 Roundtable talk with historians (in Hungarian)
17.00 Reenactment of the Battle of Szőreg, followed by a battle for children
18:30 Concert and dance workshop
Please note that the language of the event is Hungarian.
Source: Sorgyalog Historical Reenactor Association on Facebook
