12 points of the Hungarian Revolutionaries of 1848

Last updated
The original 12 points of 1848 12 pont.jpg
The original 12 points of 1848

The 12 points (Hungarian : 12 pont) were a list of demands written by the leaders of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848. [1]

Contents

History

On the morning of March 15, 1848, revolutionaries marched around the city of Pest, reading Sándor Petőfi's Nemzeti dal (National Song) and the 12 points to the crowd (which swelled to thousands). Declaring an end to all forms of censorship, they visited the printing presses of Landerer and Heckenast and printed Petőfi's poem together with the demands. A mass demonstration was held in front of the newly built National Museum, after which the group left for the Buda Chancellery (the Office of the Governor-General) on the other bank of the Danube. When the crowd rallied in front of the Imperial Governing Council, the representatives of Emperor Ferdinand agreed to sign the 12 points.

Text

What the Hungarian nation wants.

Let there be peace, liberty, and concord.

  1. We demand the freedom of the press, the abolition of censorship.
  2. Independent Hungarian government in Buda-Pest.
  3. Annual national assembly in Pest.
  4. Civil and religious equality before the law.
  5. National army.
  6. Universal and equal taxation.
  7. The abolition of socage.
  8. Juries and courts based on an equal legal representation.
  9. A national bank.
  10. The army must take an oath on the Constitution, send our soldiers home and take foreign soldiers away.
  11. Setting free the political prisoners.
  12. Union [with Transylvania].

Equality, liberty, brotherhood!

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1849</span> Calendar year

1849 (MDCCCXLIX) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar, the 1849th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 849th year of the 2nd millennium, the 49th year of the 19th century, and the 10th and last year of the 1840s decade. As of the start of 1849, the Gregorian calendar was 12 days ahead of the Julian calendar, which remained in localized use until 1923.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Pákozd</span> Battle during Hungarian Revolution of 1848

The Battle of Pákozd was a battle in the Hungarian war of Independence of 1848-1849, fought on the 29 September 1848 in the Pákozd – Sukoró – Pátka triangle. It was the first and one of the most important major battles of the war of independence, in which the Hungarian revolutionary army led by Lieutenant-General János Móga stopped the troops of the Croatian Ban Josip Jelačić, who, in accordance with the Habsburg plans, was marching towards Pest to occupy it and chase out the Hungarian national government. After the battle Lieutenant General Josip Jelačić concluded an armistice with the Hungarians, but then retreated towards Vienna. Thanks to this victory Hungary repulsed the first attempt of the Habsburg empire to put down the autonomous Hungarian government, and to restore its full control over the country. The Battle of Pákozd is one of the most remembered battles in Hungarian history, which was undoubtedly due to the fact that between 1951 and 1991 the anniversary of this battle was the day of the Hungarian Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Revolutions of 1848 in the Austrian Empire</span> Set of revolutions in 1848 and 1849

The Revolutions of 1848 in the Austrian Empire were a set of revolutions that took place in the Austrian Empire from March 1848 to November 1849. Much of the revolutionary activity had a nationalist character: the Empire, ruled from Vienna, included ethnic Germans, Hungarians, Poles, Bohemians (Czechs), Ruthenians (Ukrainians), Slovenes, Slovaks, Romanians, Croats, Italians, and Serbs; all of whom attempted in the course of the revolution to either achieve autonomy, independence, or even hegemony over other nationalities. The nationalist picture was further complicated by the simultaneous events in the German states, which moved toward greater German national unity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Artúr Görgei</span> Hungarian military leader

Artúr Görgei de Görgő et Toporc was a Hungarian military leader renowned for being one of the greatest generals of the Hungarian Revolutionary Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sándor Petőfi</span> Hungarian poet and liberal revolutionary

Sándor Petőfi was a Hungarian poet and liberal revolutionary. He is considered Hungary's national poet, and was one of the key figures of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848. He is the author of the Nemzeti dal, which is said to have inspired the revolution in the Kingdom of Hungary that grew into a war for independence from the Austrian Empire. It is most likely that he died in the Battle of Segesvár, one of the last battles of the war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josip Jelačić</span> Ban of Croatia between 1848 and 1859

Count Josip Jelačić von Bužim was a Croatian lieutenant field marshal in the Imperial Austrian Army and politician. He was the Ban of Croatia between 23 March 1848 and 19 April 1859. He was a member of the House of Jelačić and a noted army general, remembered for his military campaigns during the Revolutions of 1848 and for his abolition of serfdom in Croatia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">György Klapka</span> Hungarian soldier (1820–1892)

György (Móric) Klapka was a Hungarian general. He was one of the most important Hungarian generals of the Hungarian War of Independence of 1848–1849, politician, member of the Hungarian Parliament, and deputy War Minister.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Margaret Bridge</span> Three-way bridge in Budapest, Hungary

Margaret Bridge or Margit híd is a three-way bridge in Budapest, Hungary, connecting Buda and Pest across the Danube and linking Margaret Island to the banks. It is the second-northernmost and second-oldest public bridge in Budapest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rákóczi Bridge</span> Bridge in Budapest

Rákóczi Bridge is a bridge in Budapest, Hungary, connecting the settlements of Buda and Pest across the Danube. The construction of the steel girder bridge was started in 1992 to the plans of Tibor Sigrai.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eftimie Murgu</span>

Eftimie Murgu was a Romanian philosopher and politician who took part in the 1848 Revolutions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hungarian Revolution of 1848</span>

The Hungarian Revolution of 1848, also known in Hungary as Hungarian Revolution and War of Independence of 1848–1849 was one of many European Revolutions of 1848 and was closely linked to other revolutions of 1848 in the Habsburg areas. Although the revolution failed, it is one of the most significant events in Hungary's modern history, forming the cornerstone of modern Hungarian national identity - the anniversary of the Revolution's outbreak, 15 March, is one of Hungary's three national holidays.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Revolutions of 1848</span> Series of political upheavals throughout Europe in 1848–1849

The revolutions of 1848, known in some countries as the Springtime of the Peoples or the Springtime of Nations, were a series of revolutions throughout Europe over the course of more than one year, from 1848 to 1849. It remains the most widespread revolutionary wave in European history to date.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">April Laws</span> Collection of laws modernizing the Kingdom of Hungary

The April Laws, also called March Laws, were a collection of laws legislated by Lajos Kossuth with the aim of modernizing the Kingdom of Hungary into a parliamentary democracy, nation state. The laws were passed by the Hungarian Diet in March 1848 in Pozsony and signed by king Ferdinand V at the Primate's Palace in the same city on 11 April 1848.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Budapest</span> UNESCO World Heritage Site in Central Hungary, Hungary

The city of Budapest was officially created on 17 November 1873 from a merger of the three neighboring cities of Pest, Buda and Óbuda. Smaller towns on the outskirts of the original city were amalgamated into Greater Budapest in 1950. The origins of Budapest can be traced to Celts who occupied the plains of Hungary in the 4th century BC. The area was later conquered by the Roman Empire, which established the fortress and town of Aquincum on the site of today's Budapest around AD 100. The Romans were expelled in the 5th century by the Huns, who were challenged by various tribes during the next several centuries. The Hungarian conquest of the Carpathian Basin started at the end of the 9th century, and the Kingdom of Hungary was established at the end of the 11th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aster Revolution</span> Post-WWI revolution in Hungary

The Aster Revolution or Chrysanthemum Revolution was a revolution in Hungary led by Count Mihály Károlyi in the aftermath of World War I which resulted in the foundation of the short-lived First Hungarian People's Republic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slovak Uprising of 1848–49</span> 19th-century uprising of Slovaks against Hungarian rule

The Slovak Uprising , Slovak Volunteer Campaigns or Slovak Revolt was an uprising of Slovaks in Western parts of Upper Hungary with the aim of equalizing Slovaks, democratizing political life and achieving social justice within the 1848–49 revolutions in the Habsburg Monarchy. It lasted from September 1848 to November 1849. In October 1848, Slovak leaders replaced their original Hungaro-federal program by Austro-federal, called for the separation of a Slovak district from the Kingdom of Hungary and for the formation of a new autonomous district within the framework of the Habsburg Monarchy.

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Budapest, Hungary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gergely Czuczor</span> Hungarian poet, linguist, and librarian

Gergely Czuczor was a Hungarian Benedictine monk, a poet and linguist, member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. Baptized István he took Gergely (Gregory) as his religious name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Battle of Komárom (1849)</span> Battle of the Hungarian War of Independence

The First battle of Komárom was one of the most important battles of the Hungarian War of Independence, fought on 26 April 1849, between the Hungarian and the Austrian Imperial main armies, which some consider ended as a Hungarian victory, while others say that actually it was undecided. This battle was part of the Hungarian Spring Campaign. After the revolutionary army attacked and broke the Austrian siege of the fortress, the Imperials, having received reinforcements which made them numerically very superior to their enemies, successfully counterattacked, but after stabilising their situation, they retreated towards Győr, leaving the trenches and much of their siege artillery in Hungarian hands. By this battle the Hungarian revolutionary army relieved the fortress of Komárom from a very long imperial siege, and forced the enemy to retreat to the westernmost margin of the Kingdom of Hungary. After this battle, following a long debate among the Hungarian military and political leaders about whether to continue their advance towards Vienna, the Habsburg capital, or towards the Hungarian capital, Buda, whose fortress was still held by the Austrians, the second option was chosen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siege of Buda (1849)</span> Siege during Hungarian Revolution of 1848

The siege of Buda took place at Buda castle, part of the twin capital cities of the Kingdom of Hungary. The Hungarian revolutionary army was led by General Artúr Görgei during the Hungarian War of Independence. Part of the Spring Campaign, the siege began on 4 May 1849, ending with the Hungarian capture of the castle by assault on 21 May.

References

  1. "A 12 pont, avagy "Mit kíván a magyar nemzet."". marcius15.kormany.hu (in Hungarian). Archived from the original on 17 October 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2019.