News

October 2, 2025

Author: Sandro Baricevic

Sandro Baricevic, an international expert in Orders of Chivalry and awarding systems; Commissioner of the International Commission for Orders of Chivalry (ICOC) has published an article with the title “105 Years of the Enduring Legacy of the Order of Vitéz: A Distinction Beyond Chivalry” The article is available at:

https://theinvestiture.substack.com/p/105-years-of-the-enduring-legacy

2025 marks the 105th anniversary of the Order of Vitéz, a Hungarian institution established in 1920 under Regent Miklós Horthy to honor acts of bravery and service to the nation.

Founded in the wake of World War I and the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, the Order became a symbol of national pride and resilience. Its first council meeting was held on September 25, 1920, in the Matthias Hall of Buda Castle, and the first investiture ceremony followed in May 1921.

Members of the Order were recognized with the hereditary title of Vitéz, meaning “valiant” or “hero,” often accompanied by land grants. The honor quickly became a cornerstone of Hungarian cultural and military life between the two world wars, with many distinguished figures counted among its ranks.

After World War II, the communist regime dissolved the Order in 1948, forcing its survival into exile. Recognition by the International Commission for Orders of Chivalry in 1962 affirmed its legitimacy under the leadership of the Habsburg-Lorraine family. Today, Archduke Josef Karl of Habsburg-Lorraine serves as Captain General, continuing the Order’s legacy.

Despite political changes and internal challenges, the Order of Vitéz remains active, focusing on preserving Hungarian heritage, national identity, and charitable efforts. Its hereditary structure ensures that the honor continues to be passed down through generations.

As Hungary commemorates this milestone, the Order of Vitéz endures as both a reminder of the nation’s turbulent past and a symbol of its enduring values of honor, service, and resilience.

October 2, 2025

Author: Vitéz Attila István Szakál, Seat Captain of Partium Region

On September 12, 2025, the Order of Vitéz’s Seat Captaincy of Partium Region organized a book launch in Nagyvárad (Oradea), in the lecture hall of the Lorántffy Zsuzsanna Reformed Center.

The latest book by Vitéz Attila Bánó, Historian Staff Captain, is titled “Northern Transylvania Returned Home, 1940.” (Észak-Erdély Hazatért, 1940)

The book presents the re-entry into Northern Transylvania following the Second Vienna Award, both through text and nearly 500 period photographs in color and black-and-white.

In the autumn of 1940, when the German-Italian arbitration decision through the Second Vienna Award, returned Northern Transylvania to Hungary, the Hungarians living there greeted Regent Miklós Horthy and the Royal Hungarian Army with boundless joy, enthusiasm, cascades of flowers, and triumphal arches.

The archival photographs in Attila Bánó’s book vividly reflect the happiness felt by our compatriots in those days and during the following years.

Participants at the book launch included: Vitéz Attila Bánó, Historian Staff Captain and author of the book; Attila Zoltán Kovács, publisher of the book and director and owner of Erdélyi Szalon Publisher; and Attila István Szakál, Seat Captain of Partium Region and organizer of the event.

As guest of honor, Bishop László Tőkés graced the event with his presence, further elevating the prestige of the launch.

September 29, 2025

Author: Vitéz Zoltán József Molnár Seat Captain

On September 20, 2025, thanks to the organization of vitéz István Fülöp, lieutenant of Szatmár region, the members of the Northeast Hungary Region Captaincy of the Order of Vitéz, the Association for the Reformed of Szatmár, the Reformed Congregation of Nagyecsed, and the Municipality of Nagyecsed planted an oak tree and inaugurated a memorial plaque in Nagyecsed in honor of Regent Vitéz Miklós Horthy de Nagybánya. The memorial plaque bears the inscription: “This oak tree was planted in honor of Regent Vitéz Miklós Horthy de Nagybánya.”

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H.S.H. Vitéz Prince Philipp Ernst zu Hohenlohe-Langenburg Staff Captain of the German Region of the Order of Vitéz, hereby cordially invites you to participate in the annual meeting of the Order of Vitéz in Germany, in the tradition of the Hungarian pilgrimages to Aachen from October 11 to October 12, 2025.

Hungarian pilgrims have a centuries-old connection to Aachen Cathedral and the Aachen pilgrimage, where important relics are venerated. Hungarian pilgrimages to Aachen have been taking place for almost 700 years. In the Middle Ages, Aachen was the third most important pilgrimage destination in Europe after Rome and Santiago de Compostela.

Many of the Roman-German kings were crowned in Aachen, including Otto the Great and his successors Otto II and Otto III, as well as later Frederick Barbarossa and finally Charles V in 1520. The coronation ceremonies took place mainly in St. Mary’s Church (today’s Aachen Cathedral), as it was considered the seat of Charlemagne and the tradition of coronations was established here. The last coronation took place in 1531 with Ferdinand I. The tradition of pilgrimages to Aachen is closely linked to the veneration of the relics that Charlemagne donated to the cathedral.

The Hungarian Chapel in the cathedral was built for the many Hungarian pilgrims, a sign of their close connection to the Aachen pilgrimage.

The four great Aachen shrines are venerated: Mary’s dress, Jesus’ swaddling clothes, Jesus’ loincloth, and John the Baptist’s execution cloth. They are kept in the Shrine of Mary, located in the Gothic choir hall of Aachen Cathedral.

Recommended hotels: INNSiDE by Meliá Aachen, Sandkaulstraße 20, 52062 Aachen; Mercure Hotel Aachen Am Dom, Peterstr.1, 52062 Aachen.

Dress code: Bocskai, tuxedo, dark suit.

Costs: There are no mandatory costs, including for the guided tours. Only the lunch and dinner (each à la carte) at the Brauhaus and Hotel INNSiDE by Meliá Aachen are to be covered individually.

(The program is subject to change at the request of the staff captain.)

Registrations must be submitted by September 21, 2025.  For registration and further information, please contact us by email: philipp-ernst.hohenlohe@vitezi-rend.com

Program

Saturday, October 11, 2025

12:00 p.m.
Lunch at the Brauhaus in Aachen
(Kapuzinergraben 4, 52062 Aachen)

01:30 p.m.
Honor and wreath laying at the monument of the national saint Stephen I, King of Hungary from the Árpád dynasty
(Meeting point: Spitzgäßchen, corner of Hans-von-Reutlingen-Gasse)

02:00 p.m.
|Guided tour of the more than 1200-year-old St. Mary’s Cathedral in Aachen, the bishop’s church of the Diocese of Aachen, and the cathedral treasury

04:00 p.m.
Hungarian Holy Mass in the Hungarian Chapel of Aachen Cathedral

07:00 p.m.
Gala dinner (roof floor of the INNSiDE by Meliá Aachen hotel)

Sunday, Oktober 12, 2025

10:30 a.m.
Guided tour of Aachen’s historic town hall, built in 1350 (1.5 hours)
(Meeting point: Karlsbrunnen, Market Square by the Town Hall, Markt, 52062 Aachen)

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Date and location: Monday, November 3, 2025, 18:15, I the Villa of Freigutstrasse 27, 8002 Zürich, Switzerland

Hosts: Vitéz Ferdinánd Bardoly-Küzmös, Chancellor Seat Staff Captain BK & Associates.

Lecturer: Vitéz Lieutenant Stephan Breu: “True Knighthood or Mere Appearance? How to Distinguish Legitimate Orders from Fantasy Orders”.

RSVP: October 30, 2025 to Vitéz Levente Hortobágyi, Seat Captain of Switzerland Region, +41 76 571 66 95, levente.hortobagyi@vitezi-rend.com

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