László Lovassy (May 8, 1815 in
Nagyszalonta, Hungary – January 6, 1892 in Nagyszalonta) was one of the leaders of the
Hungarian Revolution of 1848
The Hungarian Revolution of 1848, also known in Hungary as Hungarian Revolution and War of Independence of 1848–1849 () was one of many Revolutions of 1848, European Revolutions of 1848 and was closely linked to other revolutions of 1848 in ...
.
His father was István Lovassy and his mother was Örzse Illéssy. After finishing his studies in
Nagyvárad
Oradea (, , ; ; ) is a city in Romania, located in the Crișana region. It serves as the administrative county seat, seat of Bihor County and an economic, social, and cultural hub in northwestern Romania. The city lies between rolling hills on ...
(mainly because of his father's influence) he decided to take up law. He therefore went to
Pozsony to be the member of the dietal youth. He took part in the
Diet of 1832-36 (with the help of his uncle, János Illéssy) as a law student.
At the meetings of the Lower House, more and more debates occurred among the youth and the conservative representatives, so
Miklós Wesselényi advised the law students to establish a union, where they could discuss matters.
In 1834, on the model of the French ''
Société des droits de l'homme'' the so-called ”''Társalkodási Egyesület''" was established in Pozsony, under the leadership of Lovassy. Their aim was the extension of human rights, but at the beginning they abstained from direct anti-governmental claims. They also dealt with several causes: e.g.: the case of the Hungarian language, the situation of the Polish, the case of peasantry, freedom of religion and speech.
Lovassy soon became the paragon of the youth demanding democratic reforms and constitutional independence. As
Metternich
Klemens Wenzel Nepomuk Lothar, Prince of Metternich-Winneburg zu Beilstein ( ; 15 May 1773 – 11 June 1859), known as Klemens von Metternich () or Prince Metternich, was a Germans, German statesman and diplomat in the service of the Austrian ...
was against these demonstrations, he replaced the then chancellor with
Fidél Pálffy, who bore down on the dietal youth.
Lovassy was arrested May 30, 1836, together with
József Madarász
József Madarász de Kisfalud (; 27 August 1814 – 31 January 1915) was a Hungarian lawyer and politician who served as Speaker of the House of Representatives between 1898 and 1899. He functioned as an emissary in the Hungarian Diet of 1832 ...
and
Ferenc Pulszky
Ferenc Aurél Emánuel Pulszky de Cselfalva et Lubócz (; 17 September 1814 – 9 September 1897) was a Hungarian politician, writer and nobleman. After fleeing Hungary in 1849 and being condemned to death in his absence, he was able to return a ...
. They were accused of high treason. Lovassy chose as his lawyer, but he thought that his trial was only a formality.
Probably he was right, as he and his supporters were sentenced to ten years in 1837.
István Lovassy persuaded his son to apply to the king for mercy, but
Ferdinad V rejected the proposal, as he agreed with the sentence. Lovassy was taken to Spielberg, where he soon went insane because of the captivity.
Due to this, he was given a pardon in 1840. After his release he was treated in Pozsony for more than 18 years, after which he settled at , where he lived for more than 20 years.
A little before his death he moved to Nagyszalonta, where he died January 6, 1892, at the age of 76.
On his tomb:
''Lovassy László''
''született: 1815. május 8''
''meghalt: 1892. január 6''
''Életéről a történelem beszél''
''Áldás és béke dicső emlékezetén''
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lovassy, Laszlo
1815 births
1892 deaths
Hungarian revolutionaries
People of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848
Revolutionaries from the Austrian Empire