Timeline of the Russian 1848 Intervention in Hungary
(1848-1849)

   

 

 
A historical overview of the
 Great Game in Asia from 181 to 1825
 

This section will give a history of the Russian 1848 Hungarian intervention.  For ease of reference the table below allows you to study each conflict year by year.  At the end of this section the costs of the war in both men and equipment will be discussed. With few exceptions noted in parenthesis, all dates given below are according to the Julian Calendar that was used by Russia during this period.  It was 12 days behind the Gregorian calendar used by the rest of the world.


Timeline of the Conflict
  

Russian Leaders
(1826-1856)
1826-1855 Nicholas Romanov I
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the Wars of Nicholas I

 

 

Prelude to War

 

The revolutions of 1848 spread throughout Europe with astonishing speed as social democrats, reformers, and nationalists demanded an end to the traditional monarchies of Europe.  The wave of uprisings began in France, but soon spread to Italy, and then to Central Europe.  In the divided Austrian kingdom these revolutionary ideas found favor with Hungarian nationalists and freedom minded Poles (who had survived their own failed attempt at independence earlier in the decade).

When revolutionary elements began protesting and demanding civil liberties, the initial reaction of the Austrian government was to give in to their demands - at least legislatively.  Other factions took a harder line, and soon small loyalist groups began fighting against the Hungarian separatists.  This would soon erupt into a full scale revolt that threatened the weak Austrian monarchy.

   

Timeline 1848-1849 (1)

 

1848
  3 March Lajos Kossuth delivers a speech against the Hapsburg government of Ferdinand I in the Hungarian Diet located in Debreczen.
13 March Emperor Ferdinand of Austria promises constitutional reforms and reduction in suppressive measures in the face of liberal agitators.

A peaceful demonstration in Vienna turns violent.  Prince Metternich resigns at 9pm that evening.
15 March Bloodless Revolution by Hungarian nationalists in Pest.
18 March Italian nationalist revolt in Milan.
22 March Sardina-Peidmont declares war on Austria.
11 April

Emperor Ferdinand signs the "April Laws" proposed by liberal reformers.  These abolished serfdom, ended censorship, and ended the tax free status of the nobility.

As a result, Hungary becomes a constitutional monarchy, its army is reorganized, and the noble dominated Diet is replaced by a representative assembly.
June Serbs in southern Hungary revolt against Hungarian rebels.
11 September Croatian governor, General Josip Jellačić marches a 36,000 man across the Drave river against Hungary. 
29 September Battle of Pákozd  Hungarian forces repulse Jellačić's army.
October Romanians in Transylvania revolt against Hungarian government.

Austrian forces besiege Hungarian rebels in fort at Cormorn.
3 October Hungarian army crosses into Austria.
6 October Second revolution takes place in Vienna.

Government arsenal in Vienna seized by rebels.  Minister of War, Count Theodor Latour is killed by a mob in the revolt.
31 October Battle of Schwechot  Austrian army under Field Marshal Windisch-Grätz defeats Hungarian forces.
31 October The second Vienna revolt is crushed.
Fall Imperial Austrian units in Hungary revolt against Hungarian nationalists.
29 November Burghers of Vienna formally thank Field Marshal Windisch-Grätz for liberating them from rebels.
December Ferdinand V abdicates.
2 December Franz Josef I assumes the throne and orders an attack on Hungary.
1849
  5 January Troops under Field Marchal Windisch-Grätz occupy Buda and Pest.  Numerous Hungarian leaders who did not flee are punished.  Nine generals are hanged and four are shot.
5 February Major General Richard Guyon leads Honved (National Defense) battalion to take Branisko Pass.
26-27 February Battle of Kapolna.  Polish General Dembinski's force is surprised by Austrian force under Field Marchal Windisch-Grätz and has to retreat behind the Tisza river.
March Polish General Bém defeats Serbian forces.
2 April Hungarian Spring Campaign begins.

Battle of Hatvan.  Hungarian force under Lt. General Aurtur Görgei surprises Austrian force under Field Marchal Windisch-Grätz.

4 April Hungarians are victorious in cavalry skirmish at Tapiobicske.
6 April Austrian force defeated at Isaszeg and retire to Pest.
  Austrian government asks Tsar Nicholas I for military assistance.
  Russia deploys 200,000 men into Hungary, and mobilizes 80,000 men in reserve.  Use of railroad dramatically speeds Russian movement into Hungary.
8 April Russia sends 8000 man force into Transylvania.  It its quickly met and defeated by General Bém.
14 April Hungarian government under Lajos Kossuth declares independence.  Lt. General Aurtur Görgei becomes commander in chief of Hungarian army and Minister of Defense.
19 April Hungarian force defeats Austrian troops at Vác and Nagysello.
26 April Austrian force defeated at Acs, prompting them to abandon a defensive line on the Danube.
  Field Marchal Windisch-Grätz resigns as Austrian commander in chief and is replaced by Field Marshal Julius J. von Haynou.
Late April General Bém drives Austrian forces from Transylvania.
21 May Honved forces retake Buda castle.
17 June Two Russian armies under Field Marshal Ivan Paskievich and Field Marshal Pavel Grabbe march south from the Carpathians toward Vác.
2 July Battle of Komarom.  General Aurtur Görgei defeats Austrian force twice his own size.
10 July General Bém stops Russian force under Lt. General Magus Johann von Grotenheilm at Bezsterce.  He then moves against rear elements of a second Russian force under General Alexsandr Lüders.
  Austrian forces under Lt. General Eduard von Clam-Galles cannot pacify region, General Lüders turns his force to assist him.
21 July General Aurtur Görgei is sent a message offering an opportunity to surrender.
31 July General Lüders force defeats Hungarian force under General Bém at Segesvar.
  Hungarian division under Major General Gyorgy Kmety withdraws from Csorna to link up with Lt. Gerneral Antal Vetter who is fighting on the southern border.  This force will drive back an Austrian-Serbian force under Colonel Jellačić.
6 August General Lüders destroys General Bém's army near Nagyczür.
9 August General Görgei's force arrives at Arad.
13 August General Görgei surrenders to Russian General Friedrich von Rüdigir at Világos.  Unit banners are taken and moved to Moscow until 1940.
September Hungarian rebels surrender a fort at Comorn.

 

Aftermath of the War

The end of hostilities marked a period of harsh repression in Hungary.  Russian General Haynau was appointed military governor of the region.  His attitude was best captured by his quote, "I shall uproot the weed." (1)  On his orders a dozen rebel generals were executed by firing squad on October 6th, 1849.  The first prime minister of Hungary - Batthyany was also shot.  Total executions numbered 114, with some 2000 people imprisoned.  General Görgei's life was spared on orders of the Tsar.

Other Hungarian rebels fled to the Ottoman Empire.  General Bem remained there, and after converting to Islam became the governor of Aleppo under the name Murad Pasha.  Kossuth left to the United States where he remained very popular.  Many other Hungarian troops also fled to the United States where they would aid the Union during that nation's Civil War.

The failed revolt did not quell the desire for Hungarian independence, however.  Later reforms would declare the Empire a dual state: the Austro-Hungarian Empire.  Its lands would have a degree of autonomy and its own parliament in 1867.  The conflict simply postponed the changes.

In Russia, the war did little other than to reaffirm Tsar Nicholas' fear of revolution.

 

Cost of the Russian 1848 Hungarian Intervention (1)

At this point I only have the very incomplete statistics for Russian losses during the Russian 1848 intervention in Hungary.  This will improve with time, but for now I have listed only the statistics that I have.  Those that I do not know at this time are marked as uncertain at present.  Suffice it to say that the Russians massed a force of 200,000 men with 80,000 more in reserve.  

Number of Russian military personnel who served in the Conflict: 200,000 men
 

Force Breakdown

Russian Army: 200,000
Austrian Army: 170,000

Total Killed and Wounded

Killed in Action: Uncertain at Present
Died of Illness: Uncertain at Present
Missing in Action: Uncertain at Present
Wounded: Uncertain at Present

 

Sources Cited

(1) Szabo, Janos B, "Hungary's Ill Fated War of Independence, Military History Magazine, August 1999, Leeburg, VA: Military History, Print.
(2) Farwell, Byron. The Encyclopedia of Nineteenth Century Land Warfare, New York, NY: W.W. Norton and Co., 2001. Print.