Vitézi Rend

Vitézi Rend

Vitez

Organizational Structure

MEMBERS OF THE SEAT OF VITÉZ

Főkapitány (Captain General)

HIRH Vitéz Josef Karl von Habsburg-Lothringen, Archduke of Austria, Royal Prince of Hungary

Dezignált Főkapitány (Designated Captain General)

HIRH Vitéz Josef Albrecht von Habsburg-Lothringen, Archduke of Austria, Royal Prince of Hungary

Főkapitány-helyettes, ügyvezető törzskapitány, Magyarország országos törzskapitánya (Deputy Captain General, Governor General, Staff Captain of Hungary)

Dr. Vitéz Nob. Chev. Ádám Berniczei-Roÿkó de Bernicze et Csetnek
otkp@vitezi-rend.com

Főkapitány-helyettes, széki bíró törzskapitány, a Felvételi Bizottság elnöke (Deputy Captain General, Staff Captain Judge of the Seat, Chairman of the Admissions Committee)

Prof. Dr. Vitéz Nob. Chev. László T. Kóczy de Borgó et Nagysikárló
szekibiro@vitezi-rend.com

Főszéktartó törzskapitány (Chancellor Staff Captain)

Vitéz Ferdinánd Botond Bardoly-Küzmös
ferdinand.bardoly-kuzmos@vitezi-rend.com
foszektarto@vitezi-rend.com

Főkincstárnok törzskapitány (Head of Treasury Staff Captain)

Dr. jur. Vitéz Robert Winton
fokincstarnok@vitezi-rend.com

SUPERVISORY COUNCIL

Elnök főtanácsos törzskapitány (Chairman, Chief Councillor, Staff Captain)

Vitéz Nob. Ferenc Hegedüs de Szajol
ferenc.hegedus@vitezi-rend.com

Cenzor főtanácsos törzskapitány (Chief Censor Councillor, Staff Captain)

Vitéz Nob. Gábor Hegyi de Agyagfalva
gabor.hegyi@vitezi-rend.com

Etikai főtanácsos törzskapitány (Chief Ethics Councillor, Staff Captain)

Betöltetlen

MAIN OFFICERS

Spirituális törzskapitány (Spiritual Staff Captain)

Dr. Vitéz Nob. Chev. Imre Vejkey de Vejke
imre.vejkey@vitezi-rend.com

A Vitézi Dámák Legátája törzskapitány (Legate of Vitéz Dames Staff Captain)

Vitéz Countess Margit Batthyány-Schmidt de Németújvár
margit.batthyany-schmidt@vitezi-rend.com

Historicus törzskapitány (Historian Staff Captain)

Vitéz Nob. Attila Bánó de Tapolylucska et Kükemező
attila.bano@vitezi-rend.com

Herold, Főszéktartó-helyettes Székkapitány (Herald, Deputy Chancellor Seat Captain)

Vitéz Nob. Zsolt Zsigray de Zsigra
zsolt.zsigray@vitezi-rend.com

Fegyvermester, Főszéktartó-helyettes Székkapitány (Armourer, Deputy Chancellor Seat Captain)

Vitéz Dénes Komiszár
denes.komiszar@vitezi-rend.com

Adminisztrátor Főszéktartó-helyettes Székkapitány (Administrator Deputy Chancellor Seat Captain)

Vitéz Countess Éva Teleki-Kiss de Szék
eva.teleki-kiss@vitezi-rend.com

Kommunikációs hadnagy (Communications Lieutenant)

Vitéz Nob. György Füleky de Péterfalva
gyorgy.fuleky@vitezi-rend.com

Heroldhadnagy (Lieutenant Herald)

Vitéz Fredrik Falkenback
fredrik.falkenback@vitezi-rend.com

Hírszerkesztő hadnagy (News Editor Lieutenant)

Vitéz Erik Gyurácz-Fazekas
erik.gyuracz-fazekas@vitezi-rend.com

VITÉZ IN THE RANK OF OFFICER

Törzskapitány (Staff Captain)

HIRH Vitéz Paul Leopold von Habsburg-Lothringen, Archduke of Austria, Royal Prince of Hungary

Törzskapitány (Staff Captain)

HIRH Vitéz Margarete von Habsburg-Lothringen, Archduchess of Austria, Royal Princess of Hungary

Törzskapitány (Staff Captain)

HIRH Vitéz Mónika Ilona von Habsburg-Lothringen, Archduchess of Austria, Royal Princess of Hungary

Törzskapitány (Staff Captain)

HIRH Vitéz Elisabeth von Habsburg-Lothringen, Archduchess of Austria, Royal Princess of Hungary

Törzskapitány (Staff Captain)

HIH Vitéz Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie Haile-Selassie

Törzskapitány (Staff Captain)

HRH Vitéz Crownprince Leka II of Albania

Tiszteletbeli törzskapitány (Honorary Staff Captain)

† Marquess Antal Pallavicini, Colonel

Emeritus törzskapitány (Emeritus Staff Captain)

Vitéz Mária Elekes Haraldson de Szentkatolna

Emeritus főkincstárnok törzskapitány (Emeritus Head of Treasury Staff Captain)

Vitéz Éva Berkovits
eva.berkovits@vitezi-rend.com

Székkapitány (Seat Captain)

Vitéz Count Peter Sant Manduca
peter.sant.manduca@vitezi-rend.com

Székkapitány (Seat Captain)

Vitéz Nob. Béla Aba de Barantal
bela.aba@vitezi-rend.com

Székkapitány (Seat Captain)

Vitéz Ágnes Balassa
agnes.balassa@vitezi-rend.com

Székkapitány (Seat Captain)

Vitéz Nob. Károly Hegyi de Agyagfalva, Colonel
karoly.hegyi@vitezi-rend.com

Székkapitány (Seat Captain)

Vitéz Nob. Géza István Nagy
geza.nagy@vitezi-rend.com

Székkapitány (Seat Captain)

The Reverend Vitéz Lenke Nagy, Reformed Pastor

Székkapitány (Seat Captain)

Vitéz Zoltán Wodianer-Nemessuri de Kapriora

Hadnagy (Lieutenant)

Vitéz Stefan Urs Breu
stefan.urs.breu@vitezi-rend.com

Hadnagy (Lieutenant)

Vitéz Max Thimmig
max.thimmig@vitezi-rend.com

STAFF CAPTAINCY OF HUNGARY

1.
Törzskapitány (Staff Captain) of Western Hungary Region

Vitéz Count Sándor Teleki de Szék
sandor.teleki@vitezi-rend.com

1/a.
Székkapitány (Seat Captain) of Northern Transdanube Region

Vitéz Mariann Tóth
mariann.toth@vitezi-rend.com

1/b.
Székkapitány (Seat Captain) of Őrség Region

Vitéz Nob. Gábor Újfalussy-Boldizsár
gabor.ujfalussy-boldizsar@vitezi-rend.com

1/c.
Hadnagy (Lieutenant) of Vas and Zala County Region

Vitéz Béla Tutkovics
bela.tutkovics@vitezi-rend.com

1/d.
Hadnagy (Lieutenant) of Central Transdanube and Veszprém County Region

Vitéz Barbara Rauch
barbara.rauch@vitezi-rend.com

1/e.
Hadnagy (Lieutenant) of Pécs Region

Vitéz Barbara Balatonyi
barbara.balatonyi@vitezi-rend.com

2.
Törzskapitány (Staff Captain) of Central Hungary Region

Vitéz Baron Loránd Riedel de Leuenstern
lorand.riedel@vitezi-rend.com

2/a.
Székkapitány (Seat Captain) of Buda Region

Vitéz Nob. Hubertus Szalachy de Nagytany et Zalacs
hubertus.szalachy@vitezi-rend.com

Hadnagy (Lieutenant) of Buda Region

Vitéz László Németh
laszlo.nemeth@vitezi-rend.com

2/b.
Székkapitány (Seat Captain) of Pest Region

Vitéz Nob. Márton Medveczky de Medvecze et Kisbisztercze
marton.medveczky@vitezi-rend.com

Hadnagy (Lieutenant) of Pest Region

Vitéz Nob. Miklós Bánó de Tapolylucska et Kükemező
miklos.bano@vitezi-rend.com

2/c.
Székkapitány (Seat Captain) of Duna-Csepel Region

Vitéz Margit Kótai
margit.kotai@vitezi-rend.com

Hadnagy (Lieutenant) of Duna-Csepel Region

Vitéz József Pintér
jozsef.pinter@vitezi-rend.com

2/d.
Székkapitány (Seat Captain) of Szeged Region

Vitéz Nob. János András Sándor de Gyergyóalfalu
janos.sandor@vitezi-rend.com

2/e.
Hadnagy (Lieutenant) of Palócföld Region

Vitéz Károly Barna

3.
Törzskapitány (Staff Captain) of East Hungary Region

Vitéz Baron Tamás Tunkel de Aschbrunn et Hohenstadt
tamas.tunkel@vitezi-rend.com

3/a.
Székkapitány (Seat Captain) of Northeast Hungary Region

Vitéz Zoltán Molnár
zoltan.molnar@vitezi-rend.com

Hadnagy (Lieutenant) of Northeast Hungary Region

Vitéz Bertalan Papp
bertalan.papp@vitezi-rend.com

Hadnagy (Lieutenant) of Szatmár Region

Vitéz István Fülöp
istvan.fulop@vitezi-rend.com

Hadnagy (Lieutenant) of Bereg Region

Dr. Vitéz Gyula Szűcs
gyula.szucs@vitezi-rend.com

3/b.
Székkapitány (Seat Captain) of South-Eastern Hungary and Debrecen Region

Vitéz Nob. István Görgey de Görgő
istvan.gorgey@vitezi-rend.com

Hadnagy (Lieutenant) of Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok and Békés Region

Vitéz Lehel Székely
lehel.szekely@vitezi-rend.com

Hadnagy (Lieutenant) of South-Eastern Hungary Region

Vitéz Nob. Géza Szentgyörgyi
geza.szentgyorgyi@vitezi-rend.com

4.
Törzskapitányság (Staff Captaincy) of Transylvania Region

Hadnagy (Lieutenant) of Bihar County and Nagyvárad Region

Vitéz Attila Szakál
attila.szakal@vitezi-rend.com

5.
Törzskapitány (Staff Captain) of Burgenland and Austria Region

Vitéz Count Henrik Mihály Zichy de Zich et Vásonkeő

Székkapitány (Seat Captain) of Burgenland Region

Vitéz Othmar von Michl
othmar.michl@vitezi-rend.com

6.
Székkapitány (Seat Captain) of Kárpátalja Region

Vitéz László Báthory Cubik
laszlo.bathory-cubik@vitezi-rend.com

Hadnagy (Lieutenant) of Kárpátalja Region

Vitéz Antal Engli
antal.engli@vitezi-rend.com

7.
Törzskapitány (Staff Captain) of Tengermellék and Croatia Region

Dipl. jur. Vitéz Count Márió Festetics de Tolna
mario.festetics@vitezi-rend.com

8.
Törzskapitány (Staff Captain) of Felvidék and Czech and Moravian Republics Region

Vitéz Marquise Zita Borbála Pallavicini
zita.pallavicini@vitezi-rend.com

STAFF CAPTAINCY OF FOREIGN

Törzskapitány (Staff Captain) of Germany Region

HSH Vitéz Prinz Philipp Ernst zu Hohenlohe-Langenburg, Graf von Gleichen
philipp-ernst.hohenlohe@vitezi-rend.com

Hadnagy (Lieutenant) of Munich Region

Vitéz József Lang
jozsef.lang@vitezi-rend.com

Törzskapitány (Staff Captain) of Portugal Region

HRH Vitéz L’Infante Dom Duarte de Bragança, Duke of Bragança

Székkapitány (Seat Captain) of Portugal Region

Dr. Vitéz Nob. Don Carlos Evaristo
carlos.evaristo@vitezi-rend.com

Székkapitány (Seat Captain)

Prof. Dr. Vitéz Humberto Nuno de Oliveira

Hadnagy (Lieutenant)

João Pedro Antunes de Ascencao Teixeira
joao.pedro.teixeira@vitezi-rend.com

Hadnagy (Lieutenant) of Porto and Northern Portugal Region

Dr. Vitéz Filomena Maria de Castro Alves
filomena-maria.castro-alves@vitezi-rend.com

Staff Captaincy of the Kingdom of Spain Region

Székkapitány (Seat Captain) of Madrid and Castilia-La Mancha Region

Dr. Ing. Vitéz Don Manuel Ladrón de Guevara e Isasa
manuel.ladron@vitezi-rend.com

Törzskapitány (Staff Captain) of Italy Region

Dr. Vitéz Count Chev. Pier Felice degli Uberti

Székkapitány (Seat Captain) of Italy Region

Prof. Dr. Vitéz Cav. Gr. Uff. Guido Broich
guido.broich@vitezi-rend.com

Székkapitány (Seat Captain) of Malta and Gozo Region

Vitéz Nob. Chev. Marco Spiteri Binett
marco.spiteri-binett@vitezi-rend.com

Székkapitány (Seat Captain) of Switzerland Region

Vitéz Levente Hortobágyi
levente.hortobagyi@vitezi-rend.com

Hadnagy (Lieutenant) of Sweden Region

Dr. Vitéz Veronika Eriksson
veronika.eriksson@vitezi-rend.com

Vitéz Sten-Ake Thundal
sten-ake.thundal@vitezi-rend.com

Székkapitány (Seat Captain) of the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg Region

Dr. Vitéz Nob. Ferenc Szentgallay van Nie
ferenc.van.nie@vitezi-rend.com

Székkapitány (Seat Captain) of Russia Region

Vitéz Nob. Chev. György Palásthy de Palásth et Keszihócz
gyorgy.palasthy@vitezi-rend.com

Hadnagy (Lieutenant) of Finland Region

Vitéz Antti-Jussi Räihä
antti-jussi.raiha@vitezi-rend.com

Törzskapitány (Staff Captain) of the former territory of Rwanda

HM Vitéz Mwami Yuhi VI, Titular King of Rwanda

Székkapitány (Seat Captain) of South Africa Region

Vitéz Kristóf Szabó
kristof.szabo@vitezi-rend.com

Székkapitány (Seat Captain) of the United States of America

Vitéz Ildikó Varga
ildiko.varga@vitezi-rend.com

Hadnagy (Lieutenant) of Washington Region

Vitéz Jacob Madway Bressmann
jacob.madway.bressmann@vitezi-rend.com

Törzskapitány (Staff Captain) of South America Region

Dr. Vitéz György Szánthó
gyorgy.szantho@vitezi-rend.com

Székkapitány (Seat Captain) of Chile Region

Vitéz Eduardo Contreras Darvas
eduardo.contreras-darvas@vitezi-rend.com

Törzskapitányság (Staff Captaincy) of Australia and New Zealand Region

Törzskapitány (Staff Captain) of Australia Region

Vitéz Lilla Kövesdy-Ámon
lilla.kovesdy-amon@vitezi-rend.com

Emeritus Székkapitány (Seat Captain)

Vitéz Sándor Vas
sandor.vas@vitezi-rend.com

Acting Székkapitány (Seat Captain) of South Australia Region

Vitéz Ákos Nagy

Acting Székkapitány (Seat Captain) of New South Wales Region

Vitéz Brigitta Bene
brigitta.bene@vitezi-rend.com

Hadnagy (Lieutenant) of New South Wales Region

Vitéz Magdolna Rozgonyi

Székkapitány (Seat Captain) of Victoria Region and Head of Treasury of Australia

Vitéz Nob. Mária Fekete de Galántha
maria.fekete@vitezi-rend.com

Contact

Contact details of officers

How to join?

Bank account:
Nordea Bank Sverige, Stockholm
Address of Bank: Hamngatan 10, 105 71 Stockholm, Sweden
Account number (when transferring from a Swedish bank account): 1955-4
IBAN: SE8795000099603400019554
SWIFT: NDEASESS
Recipient of the transfer: Vitézi Rend
Official address of Vitézi Rend: C/O Robert Winton, Jät Ållaryd 4, 362 52 Jät, Sweden

Payment can be made in EUR, HUF and SEK

Send message:


News

A brief history of the Order of Vitéz

Author: Historian Seat Captain Vitez Attila Bánó de Tapolylucska et Kükemező

In 1928, in the preface to the large volume titled A magyar nemzet hadtörténelme (A military history of the Hungarian nation), Royal Prince and Field Marshal Vitez Joseph August of Habsburg-Lorraine wrote, “In most cases, the past is but a mirror of the future which gives a clear picture of how to avoid big troubles and how serve a better future. Let us learn from this work, and let us not be disheartened, because the strong Hungarian spirit is is still alive.”

When talking about “the strong Hungarian spirit”, the Field Marshal (a descendant of the Hungarian or Palatine branch of the House of Habsburg, who, after the death of Vitez Miklós Horthy of Nagybánya in 1957 became the second Captain General of the Order of Vitez) referred to the heroic spirit that determined Hungary’s entire military history. Unfortunately, World War I, which brought unprecedented destruction, offered many opportunities for the Hungarians to prove their bravery. Hungarian soldiers proved themselves in inhumane conditions, often lacking adequate equipment. It is no coincidence that after the war Governor Horthy, himself a war hero, felt obliged to recognise their deeds.

The idea of establishing the Order of Vitez was related to the fact that Hungarian kings had traditionally recognised heroic deeds with the award of nobility and land, but after 1918, given that Hungary had no king, the opportunity of awarding nobility no longer existed. Above all, the Order of Vitez was established (1920) to fill in this gap and, obviously, to preserve the spirituality which had enabled Hungarians to defend their homeland since ancient times.

The National Seat of Vitez, chaired by Governor Miklós Horthy, held its first meeting on 25 September 1920, in the Matthias Hall of the Royal Castle of Buda. On the same day, the governor signed the appointment of the members the Seat of Vitez. The document was countersigned by Prime Minister Count Pál Teleki. The governor’s “highest-level document” designated the officers of the Seat of Vitez and made references to their duties and obligations. Szilárd Tátrai, in his study A Vitézi Rend első évtizedének története (A history of the first decade of the Order of Vitez) published in Hadtörténelmi közlemények (Journal of Military History) (Vol. 110, No. 1, 1997) quoted the document as follows, “In response to the submission of the Hungarian Prime Minister, I hereby appoint Lieutenant General and Royal Minister of Defence István Sréter of Szanda, Lieutenant General Baron Pál Nagy, retired General of Army Staff Tihamér Siménfalvy of Semjénfalva, Lieutenant Colonel Kálmán Bánó of Tapolylucska and Kükemező, Major Márton Lipcsey of Bilke, off-duty Major of Army Staff Gyula Toókos of Sepsibaczon, Major of Guards Géza Igmándy Hegyessy and Captain First Aide-de-camp László Magasházy members of the Budapest-based Seat of Vitez.”

Afterwards, the Seat of Vitez as a body elaborated the guidelines and regulations needed for launching its operation. On October 7, the office organisation of the Headquarters of the Order was established.

As László Négyessy wrote in his study A Vitézi Rendről (On the Order of Vitez) (Attila József University, Faculty of Humanities, Szeged, 1974), “On 25 November 1920, [the Order] adopted a decision on the introduction of a badge of the Order of Vitez. On the same meeting, the governor solemnly proclaimed the Rules of the Order of Vitez. […] On the meeting of 11 December 1920, Lieutenant Colonel Gyula Toókos was commissioned with the elaboration of the investiture ceremony. On the same meeting, the participants decided that the National Seat of Vitez would publish a call for tenders for the design of the Vitez badge. On 16 December 1920, the general public was informed on the application for Vitez plots of land in the call published by the Seat of Vitez. […] ”

The first private investiture ceremony took place on 22 May 1921, in the Royal Castle Chapel of Buda. As Helga Angelovics says in her study Vitéz avatások a két világháború között 1921–1938 (Investitures of the Vitez between the two World Aars, 1921–1938) in Első Század (First century) (Vol. XIII, No. 1, Spring 2014), “Prior to the investiture ceremony, the governor gave an audience to the first twenty-four Vitez, holders of the gold badge who had been award a plot of land and participated in the private ceremony, but had not yet been instituted. […] To the right of the governor, a bodyguard stood with the flag of the national army. To his left, military chaplain János Gyarmathy read the oath. The Staff Captains [the eight members of the Seat of Vitez as listed above] lined up in front of the altar and, raising their hands in oath, repeated the oath. […] After that, the Deputy Staff Captain of the Vitez delivered a short speech, and pinned the badge of the Vitez to the chest of Vitez Miklós Horthy of Nagybánya.

Afterwards, the Staff Captains presented themselves, and the governor awarded them with the badge. […]”

Captain Generals of the Order of Vitez:
Vitez Miklós Horthy de Nagybánya, Governor (1920−1957)
Royal Prince Vitez Joseph August of Habsburg-Lorraine (1957−1962)
General Vitez Ferenc Farkas de Kisbarnak (1962−1977)
Royal Prince Vitez Joseph Árpád of Habsburg-Lorraine (1977−2017)
Royal Prince Vitez Joseph Karl of Habsburg-Lorraine (2017−)

Deputy Staff Captains:
General Vitez Antal Hellebronth (1927−1944)
Lieutenant General Vitez Géza Igmándy-Hegyessy (1944−1945)
General Vitez Hugó Sónyi (1956−1958)
Royal Prince Vitez Joseph Árpád of Habsburg-Lorraine (? −1977)
Vitez Dr. Ádám Berniczei-Roykó (2020−)

Executive Staff Captains:
In the Horthy era, three followed each other in this position:
Vitéz Kálmán Bánó de Tapolylucska et Kükemező (1920−1921)
Vitéz Géza Igmándy-Hegyessy (1921−1944)
Vitéz Pál Pongrácz de Szentmiklós et Óvár (1944−1945)
After the change of regime in 1990:
Vitez Antal Radnóczy (1993−2003)
Vitez József Ajtós (2004−2007)
Vitez József Tassányi (2007−2018)
Vitez Csaba Horváth (2019−2020)
Vitez Dr. Ádám Berniczei-Roykó (2020−)

National Staff Captains:
Vitez István Tabódy (1993−1997)
Vitez Antal Radnóczy (1993−2003)
Vitez Ervin Sándor (2004−2007)
Vitez László Vad (2007−2008)
Vitez József Csizmadia (2008−2012)
Vitez Csaba Horváth (2012−2019)
Vitez Dr. Ádám Berniczei-Roykó (2019−)

By the 1940s, the number of officers and troops of the Order of Vitez (whose ratio was about one-third to two-thirds) had exceeded 15,000, and that of candidates 8,000. After World War II, in 1948, the communist regime terminated the operation of the Order of Vitez, but those who emigrated to the West made attempts to keep the Order alive. It was Hugó Sónyi, former General residing in West Germany, who initiated the reorganisation of the Order abroad.

In 1962, Royal Prince Vitez Joseph August, the second Captain General of the Order, obtained the recognition of the International Commission for Orders of Chivalry (I.C.O.C.) for the Order of Vitez. There has been an unfortunate episode in the recent history of the Order. In 2003, some leaders confronted Chief Captain Joseph Árpád and established two breakaway organizations, the associations of János Molnár-Gazsó and Vitez László Hunyadi. Both use the name “The Order of Vitez”.

As far as this event is concerned, it is to be mentioned that in the era of Captain General Miklós Horthy, it would have been inconceivable for the Order of Vitez to replace its chief leader. The replacement of the Captain General in 2003 caused a shock which could have been avoided, and, if it indeed had been avoided, the well-established organisation of the Order of Vitez would now form a single unit.

The ICOC recognises only the Order which is connected to Joseph Árpád (grandson of Joseph August) and which operates under General Captain Royal Prince Vitez Joseph Karl of Habsburg-Lorraine as the “Order of Vitez”. Due to the fact that different entities use the same name, many find orientation difficult. Yet the Order of Vitez is very much alive, evolving and, hopefully, has a great future.

The Order of Vitéz is a Military Order based on christian confession and encouraging a life with the highest ethical values.

Our founder, admiral vitéz Miklós Horthy de Nagybánya
1st Captain General

Royal Prince Vitez Joseph August of Habsburg-Lorraine
2nd Captain General

Vitéz Ferenc Farkas de Kisbarnak
3rd Captain General

Royal Prince Vitez Joseph Árpád of Habsburg-Lorraine
4th Captain General

Royal Prince Vitez Joseph Karl of Habsburg-Lorraine
5th Captain General