{"id":35,"date":"2019-08-11T20:56:45","date_gmt":"2019-08-11T20:56:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/vitezi-rend.com\/?page_id=35"},"modified":"2022-10-18T17:38:47","modified_gmt":"2022-10-18T16:38:47","slug":"history","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vitezi-rend.com\/en\/history\/","title":{"rendered":"A brief history of the Order of Vit\u00e9z"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Author: Historian Seat Captain Vitez Attila B\u00e1n\u00f3 de Tapolylucska et K\u00fckemez\u0151<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1928, in the preface to the large volume titled A magyar nemzet hadt\u00f6rt\u00e9nelme<\/em> (A military history of the Hungarian nation<\/em>), Royal Prince and Field Marshal Vitez Joseph August of Habsburg-Lorraine wrote, \u201cIn 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When talking about \u201cthe strong Hungarian spirit\u201d, the Field Marshal (a descendant of the Hungarian or Palatine branch of the House of Habsburg, who, after the death of Vitez Mikl\u00f3s Horthy of Nagyb\u00e1nya in 1957 became the second Captain General of the Order of Vitez) referred to the heroic spirit that determined Hungary\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The National Seat of Vitez, chaired by Governor Mikl\u00f3s 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 P\u00e1l Teleki. The governor\u2019s \u201chighest-level document\u201d designated the officers of the Seat of Vitez and made references to their duties and obligations. Szil\u00e1rd T\u00e1trai, in his study A Vit\u00e9zi Rend els\u0151 \u00e9vtized\u00e9nek t\u00f6rt\u00e9nete (A history of the first decade of the Order of Vitez) published in Hadt\u00f6rt\u00e9nelmi k\u00f6zlem\u00e9nyek (Journal of Military History) (Vol. 110, No. 1, 1997) quoted the document as follows, \u201cIn response to the submission of the Hungarian Prime Minister, I hereby appoint Lieutenant General and Royal Minister of Defence Istv\u00e1n Sr\u00e9ter of Szanda, Lieutenant General Baron P\u00e1l Nagy, retired General of Army Staff Tiham\u00e9r Sim\u00e9nfalvy of Semj\u00e9nfalva, Lieutenant Colonel K\u00e1lm\u00e1n B\u00e1n\u00f3 of Tapolylucska and K\u00fckemez\u0151, Major M\u00e1rton Lipcsey of Bilke, off-duty Major of Army Staff Gyula To\u00f3kos of Sepsibaczon, Major of Guards G\u00e9za Igm\u00e1ndy Hegyessy and Captain First Aide-de-camp L\u00e1szl\u00f3 Magash\u00e1zy members of the Budapest-based Seat of Vitez.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As L\u00e1szl\u00f3 N\u00e9gyessy wrote in his study A Vit\u00e9zi Rendr\u0151l (On the Order of Vitez) (Attila J\u00f3zsef University, Faculty of Humanities, Szeged, 1974), \u201cOn 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. [\u2026] On the meeting of 11 December 1920, Lieutenant Colonel Gyula To\u00f3kos 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. [\u2026] \u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 Vit\u00e9z avat\u00e1sok a k\u00e9t vil\u00e1gh\u00e1bor\u00fa k\u00f6z\u00f6tt 1921\u20131938 (Investitures of the Vitez between the two World Aars, 1921\u20131938) in Els\u0151 Sz\u00e1zad (First century) (Vol. XIII, No. 1, Spring 2014), \u201cPrior 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. [\u2026] To the right of the governor, a bodyguard stood with the flag of the national army. To his left, military chaplain J\u00e1nos 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. [\u2026] 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 Mikl\u00f3s Horthy of Nagyb\u00e1nya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Afterwards, the Staff Captains presented themselves, and the governor awarded them with the badge. [\u2026]\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Captain Generals of the Order of Vitez:<\/em>
Vitez Mikl\u00f3s Horthy de Nagyb\u00e1nya, Governor (1920\u22121957)
Royal Prince Vitez Joseph August of Habsburg-Lorraine (1957\u22121962)
General Vitez Ferenc Farkas de Kisbarnak (1962\u22121977)
Royal Prince Vitez Joseph \u00c1rp\u00e1d of Habsburg-Lorraine (1977\u22122017)
Royal Prince Vitez Joseph Karl of Habsburg-Lorraine (2017\u2212)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deputy Staff Captains<\/em>:
General Vitez Antal Hellebronth (1927\u22121944)
Lieutenant General Vitez G\u00e9za Igm\u00e1ndy-Hegyessy (1944\u22121945)
General Vitez Hug\u00f3 S\u00f3nyi (1956\u22121958)
Royal Prince Vitez Joseph \u00c1rp\u00e1d of Habsburg-Lorraine (? \u22121977)
Vitez Dr. \u00c1d\u00e1m Berniczei-Royk\u00f3 (2020\u2212)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Executive Staff Captains<\/em>:
In the Horthy era, three followed each other in this position:
Vit\u00e9z K\u00e1lm\u00e1n B\u00e1n\u00f3 de Tapolylucska et K\u00fckemez\u0151 (1920\u22121921)
Vit\u00e9z G\u00e9za Igm\u00e1ndy-Hegyessy (1921\u22121944)
Vit\u00e9z P\u00e1l Pongr\u00e1cz de Szentmikl\u00f3s et \u00d3v\u00e1r (1944\u22121945)
After the change of regime in 1990:
Vitez Antal Radn\u00f3czy (1993\u22122003)
Vitez J\u00f3zsef Ajt\u00f3s (2004\u22122007)
Vitez J\u00f3zsef Tass\u00e1nyi (2007\u22122018)
Vitez Csaba Horv\u00e1th (2019\u22122020)
Vitez Dr. \u00c1d\u00e1m Berniczei-Royk\u00f3 (2020\u2212)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

National Staff Captains<\/em>:
Vitez Istv\u00e1n Tab\u00f3dy (1993\u22121997)
Vitez Antal Radn\u00f3czy (1993\u22122003)
Vitez Ervin S\u00e1ndor (2004\u22122007)
Vitez L\u00e1szl\u00f3 Vad (2007\u22122008)
Vitez J\u00f3zsef Csizmadia (2008\u22122012)
Vitez Csaba Horv\u00e1th (2012\u22122019)
Vitez Dr. \u00c1d\u00e1m Berniczei-Royk\u00f3 (2019\u2212)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 Hug\u00f3 S\u00f3nyi, former General residing in West Germany, who initiated the reorganisation of the Order abroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 \u00c1rp\u00e1d and established two breakaway organizations, the associations of J\u00e1nos Moln\u00e1r-Gazs\u00f3 and Vitez L\u00e1szl\u00f3 Hunyadi. Both use the name \u201cThe Order of Vitez\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As far as this event is concerned, it is to be mentioned that in the era of Captain General Mikl\u00f3s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ICOC recognises only the Order which is connected to Joseph \u00c1rp\u00e1d (grandson of Joseph August) and which operates under General Captain Royal Prince Vitez Joseph Karl of Habsburg-Lorraine as the \u201cOrder of Vitez\u201d. 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n

\"The<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Our founder, admiral vit\u00e9z Mikl\u00f3s Horthy de Nagyb\u00e1nya
1st Captain General<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Royal Prince Vitez Joseph August of Habsburg-Lorraine
2nd Captain General<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Vit\u00e9z Ferenc Farkas de Kisbarnak
3rd Captain General<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Royal Prince Vitez Joseph \u00c1rp\u00e1d of Habsburg-Lorraine
4th Captain General<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Royal Prince Vitez Joseph Karl of Habsburg-Lorraine
5th Captain General<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Author: Historian Seat Captain Vitez Attila B\u00e1n\u00f3 de Tapolylucska et K\u00fckemez\u0151 In 1928, in the preface to the large volume titled A magyar nemzet hadt\u00f6rt\u00e9nelme (A military history of the Hungarian nation), Royal Prince and Field Marshal Vitez Joseph August of Habsburg-Lorraine wrote, \u201cIn most cases, the past is but a mirror of the future […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[8,30,32,29,27,26,28,31,34,33],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vitezi-rend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/35"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vitezi-rend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vitezi-rend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vitezi-rend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vitezi-rend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35"}],"version-history":[{"count":43,"href":"https:\/\/www.vitezi-rend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/35\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2566,"href":"https:\/\/www.vitezi-rend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/35\/revisions\/2566"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vitezi-rend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vitezi-rend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vitezi-rend.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}