István Széchenyi

The monograph on István Széchenyi presents the Slovenian territory with a story about an extremely important Hungarian politician, economist, and national awakener. As in other nations, it was also in Hungary that the long nineteenth century brought to the fore prominent individuals who contributed towards the development of modern national consciousness. Although the Slovenes are probably more familiar with the name of the Hungarian politician Lajos Kossuth, István Széchenyi figured as an equally prominent driver of Hungarian national development. Just how significant his influence was on Hungarian history was demonstrated by none other than Kossuth, his political opponent, who described him as the “Greatest Hungarian”. The volume at hand was compiled by four historians, three Slovenian and one Hungarian. Its central part comprises chapters on Széchenyi’s life, political career, and economic activities, whereas the introductory chapter on the Széchenyi noble family and its estates in the Slovenian territory and the last chapter on relations between the Hungarians and Emperor Franz Joseph embed the monograph within a broader time-span, thus enabling a better understanding of István Széchenyi’s endeavours and his lasting impact on Hungarian history.

Monografija v slovenski prostor prinaša zgodbo o izjemno pomembnem madžarskem politiku, gospodarstveniku in narodnem buditelju. Podobno kot pri drugih narodih je dolgo 19. stoletje tudi pri Madžarih na dan naplavilo pomembne posameznike, ki so pripomogli k razvoju moderne nacionalne zavesti. Medtem ko je verjetno med Slovenci bolj poznano ime madžarskega politika Lajosa Kossutha, je bil prav tako pomembna gonilna sila madžarskega nacionalnega razvoja prav István Széchenyi. Kako pomemben je bil njegov vpliv na madžarsko zgodovino dokazujejo prav besede Kossutha, ki je svojega političnega nasprotnika Széchenyija opisal kot »največjega Madžara«. Pri pričujoči monografiji so sodelovali štirje zgodovinarji, trije slovenski in eden madžarski. Osrednji del knjige tvorita poglavji o Széchenyijevi življenjski poti, politični karieri in gospodarskemu delovanju. Tako uvodno poglavje o plemiški rodbini Széchenyi in njihovih posestih na Slovenskem, kot tudi zadnje poglavje o odnosu med Madžari in cesarjem Francem Jožefom pa monografijo postavljata v daljši časovni lok ter tako omogočata boljše razumevanje delovanja in daljnosežnega vpliva Istvána Széchenyija na madžarsko zgodovino.