Conference on early modern diplomacy

The Premodern Diplomats Network, founded two years ago, will hold its fourth conference on the 25th and 26th of September in our institute. At the event Splendid Encounters: Diplomats and Diplomacy in the Early Modern World researchers from a variety of European countries come together to discuss their experiences in the study of the history of diplomacy between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries. The conference programme is available here.

Call for Applications for translation into English of Hungarian language books and manuscripts

The Tetmajer Committee of Indiana University invites applications for translation into English of Hungarian language books and manuscripts on the topic of 20th century Hungarian history.  Works starting chronologically at the late 19th century are acceptable. The translators are designated by the Tetmajer Committee. The deadline for submission for books to be translated during 2016 is October 30 2015. The manuscript shall not exceed 120 000 words. Up to two books or manuscripts will be selected for 2016.

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New Issue of World History (Világtörténet) on „The Great War”

The second issue of World History (Világtörténet) for 2015 is a thematic issue dedicated to the topic of „The Great War” edited by László Szarka has been published. The centenary of the Great War gave birth to many comprehensive monographs, profound debates on explanations and both thematically and methodologically innovative approaches first of all with emphasis upon transnational aspects. As a result, in the international historiography of the Great War the complex evaluation of this over important event became an absolute imperative.
As the long-lasting consequence of the First World War, we may consider the complete restructuring of the European state system achieved by the peace settlements in Brest-Litovsk, in Versailles and in Sevres. The most controversial issue of the nation- and state-building efforts within the borders of the multi-national dynastic Empires leading up to these catastrophic events is represented almost only in the national historiographies. This edition is dedicated to the evaluation of the extraordinarily complex process of nationalism in Central-Eastern and South-Eastern Europe which on the one hand had been radicalised within the Empires, on the other hand had undoubtedly been promoted to the most important problem in terms of geopolitics and from the point of view of the Great Powers. In addition to the strong dynastic loyalties at the beginning of the war the war events, the brutal treatment by the civil and military authorities, the millions of refugees and the intense harassment of the nationalities gave way to national feelings and interests.

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New Issue of Historical Review (Történelmi Szemle)

The second issue of Historical Review for 2015 has been published. Károly Goda’s study examines medieval Corpus Christi festivities and processions in a Central European context, arguing that with regard to the feast of the Eucharist the ecclesiastical sphere was in no way separated from the political one. Péter Tusor’s essay analyses in detail, in the framework of a research on the political role of the ecclesiastical estat, especially in the early modern era, and on the basis of newly discovered sources, the measures taken by its leader, György Lippay, primate of Hungary (1642-1666) in the interest if Miklós Zrínyi, ban of Croatia (1647-1664) in the court of Vienna during 1663–1664. Orsolya Völgyesi’s study hows the influence of Ferenc Kölcsey on the younger “reform” generation in the political environment of the 1830s. Viktória Kovács’s essay tries to shed light on the background to the landowning of the Premonstratensians examining and comparing different sources. János Buza’s paper deals with the characteristics of minting in Hungary before 1526. György Kurucz’s paper argues that the process of turning an uprising into a legitimate freedom fight for the elimination of the excesses of the Habsburg administration in the Kingdom of Hungary, including the recognition of the Hungarians as a negotiating party by the English and Dutch diplomacy at the beginning of the 18th century, was largely dependent on the military progresses made by the insurgent troops of Prince Ferenc Rákóczi II. Bálint Varga’s study attempts to answer the question, how 19th century historians tried to interpret „inconvenient” events (that after settling in the Carpathian Basin in the early 10th century, pagan and nomadic Magyar tribes led a series of military campaigns against the organized states of Christian Europe) in a way that they could still insert into the master narrative of the glorious national past, utilizing the required methodology of historiography. Miroslav Michaela’s  study is dealing with an analysis of political and symbolic levels of the cult of St. Stephen in (Czecho)slovakia during the inter-war period.

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