Austria-Hungary Hungarian Volunteer Legion - 1866

[Djedj]

Bonsoir,

Here's something a little different : a group of documents pertaining to the same man - David G?G?S, born May 13th, 1842 in Dabrony (Veszprem), Hungary.

The group consists of three documents :

1. A "Congedo Assoluto" to "Davide G?G?S" from the Regno d'Italia, granted on November 1st, 1866 ;

2. A 1871 document that is most certainly a Baptism Certificate (not so exciting, but I was not gonna have the group dispersed) ;

3. A 1875 Honv?d certificate for "G?G?S David" stating his Austro-Hungarian then Honv?d services.

Here they are :

Let's get deeper into the details...

(.../...)

[Djedj]

The Congedo Assoluto is given to G?g?s as a member of the Legione Ausiliaria Ungherese (4? Compagnia).

A Legion of Hungarian Volunteers had been present in Italy since 1849 ; among its famous chiefs Ivan T?rr, it notably fought alongside Garibaldi in 1861.

In 1866, those Hungarians wished to fight again against Austria, on both front, a Legion in Italy, while another one was organized in Prussia. The short campaigns, North and South, prevented their playing a major role on either front.

The Legion had by that time suffered from a lack of men, few volunteers joining from Hungary at the time.

Hence the appeal to volunteers among the War prisonners of the early campaign.

In his book, "La Legione ungherese in Italia (1859-1867)", Attilio Vigevano quotes :

- Lieutenant Waznosy and 79 volunteers extracted from the prisonner camp of Fort Fenestrelle ;

- 104 volunteers from the prisonners taken at Custoza.

But back to signore Davide :

The document suffered from some waxy material applied at some time ; luckily the damage is peripheral, and does not affect the main - and most interesting details :

"Gia soldato nell?Esercito Austriaco Prigionero di Guerra il 24 Juigno 1866.

Soldato nel Battaglione fanteria di questa Legione in seguito a dispaccio Ministeriale delli 27 Luglia 1866 No.7512 Divisione 1e fanteria, servicio attivo de 2e.

(...) la durata della guerra come da atto delli 29 Luglia 1866

Soldato 1e Classe in della il 1e Agosto 1866

Congedato perche amnistiato con il trattato di pace (??? ???) con il governo austriaco il"

David G?g?s was thus taken prisoner on JUne 24th 1866 (fateful day !)

He enlisted as a volunteer on July 29th - for the duration of the war.

He was promoted to Private 1st Class on August 1st.

He was released further to the Peace Treaty between Italy and Austria - a treaty that comprised Amnesty for the Hungarians serving with the Italian forces (things having gone badly on the North front, Kaiser Franz Josef was kind of compelled to make do with the Hungarians... the dual monarchy time was about to come !).

(.../...)

Edited December 30, 2008 by Djedj

[Djedj]

This fascinating document is wonderfully complemented by its Hungarian Honv?d counterpart ;

Following the establishment of the Dual-Monarchy in 1867, the Honv?d was created by a 1868 law - a Honv?d where former "L?gionnaires" could serve, as this group attest.

This certifcate, what's more, details his services with both Imperial Army (9 years, 7 months, 17 days) and Honv?d (to sum it up to 11 years, 2 months, 17 days).

With the Imperials, he served as a Private and an őrvezető (~lance-corporal) within Infanterie-Regmenter 19 and 35.

IR35 belonged to the North Army in 1866, whereas IR19 served in Italy : that's then where he belonged in 1866.

(in 1866, the regiment was recruiting from the Raab district - today "Gyor", 79km north of Veszprem)

What's more, it is stated that he "served the Italian campaign, namely the fights at Custozza" (Ar 1866chi olaszh ?dj?ratban nevezetesen a custozzai csat?ban r?szt vett).

Infanterie-Regiment 19 fought some dogged hill-fighting there, suffered 89 killed, 259 wounded and 55 missing.

Well, here's one accounted for : one of the 55 m.i.a. of the regiment at Custozza - and one of the 104 (among roughly 1000 prisoners) who volunteered for the legion !

He later served with the newly raised 71. Veszpremi Zaszloalj, the 71st Veszprem Batallion of the Honv?d Infantry.

One wonders how "tense" the relationships were with his mates who had chosen to stand for Austria ?

Edited December 30, 2008 by Djedj

[Djedj]

Back to the Legione document ;

The signatures are interesting to decypher :

They are, from left to right, :

1. Capitano Asztalfi (Kristof) ;

I was delighted to be able to "meet" this gentleman, whose portrait and notice appear in that superb book, "In Emigration der Freiheit Willen" (Kalavszky Gy?rgyi, Hadimuzeum Alapitvany, 2003)

2. Capitano Pincz?s (L?rinc) ;

3. Maggiore G(iovanni) Dentis, an Italian administration officer who checked the accounts of the legion in its final days.

4. Colonnello F?ldvary (Karoly), last commanding officer of the Legion :

Those Hungarian officers remained till the Legione was disbanded in early 1867.

Ciao,

Jerome

PS : here's the cover of the book : a must read if the period interests you :

Edited December 30, 2008 by Djedj

[iharos]

Wonderful collection and story from a volatile period. Thank you for showing us.