Iâve just published a comprehensive episode on the Hungarian History Podcast that traces this epic story across continents and centuries.
This is the 25th episode, and we follow the footprints of:
đą The political exiles of 1849 who became generals in the American Civil War.
đ The millions of peasants lured by the âAmerican Dream,â only to be exploited by a ruthless emigration industry.
đșïž The generations torn from their homes by the trauma of Trianon.
đ„ The 200,000 heroes of the 1956 Revolution who fled to the West.
đ The quiet, bureaucratic struggle of those escaping the âgoulash communismâ of the Cold War.
âïž The modern wave of 500,000+ who left for the EU, reshaping our country today.
It is worth noting that since 1990, approximately 150,000 children have been born abroad to Hungarian mothers. However, only a small portion of them (~44,000) currently live in Hungary.
This is not just a series of statistics. It is the story of our nation. It is a story of resilience, but also one of tremendous loss. The chronicle of Hungarian emigration is a mirror held up to our history. Â
We canât avoid finally answering the question: âHow many people of Hungarian descent live in the world today, outside the Carpathian Basin?â Here, I need to insert that concerning the Hungarians living outside modern-day Hungary, in the neighboring states, about one million Hungarians disappeared in the last 100 years. Ponder on it.
Based on the waves of emigration weâve chronicled, historians and demographers estimate that the global Hungarian diaspora numbers approximately 4 to 5 million people. As for me, I would double this number because I would count all individuals who claim to have some Hungarian descent. And this number includes only those who live outside the Carpathian Basin.
This isnât just a story of loss; itâs also a story of incredible resilience and geniusâa few words about the great Hungarian inventors working abroad in the past 170 years. Their rate, compared to the genius brains of other nations, seems almost unreal.
In total, from the 19th century to the present day, there have been several hundred people of Hungarian descent who have achieved outstanding results internationally in the fields of science, technology, the arts, and culture.
This figure includes only the most famous names and represents a uniquely high proportion relative to the size of the Hungarian population. Indeed, the list of Hungarian inventors and Nobel winners abroad is staggering. So, while Hungary lost talent, the world gained genius.
If youâve ever wondered why so many Hungarians live abroad, this episode is for you.
đ§ Listen to âThe Chronicle of Hungarian Emigrationâ now on your favorite podcast platform!
Share, Subscribe, and Support this project of spreading Hungarian history:
In these gloomy November days of 1956, the Soviet tanks had already crushed the major centers of resistance.
Across Budapest, the fight for freedom was fading, sustained only by the sporadic, isolated gunfire of the last remaining freedom fighters. We're continuing our special series, "Voices of '56," dedicated to the personal stories of the Hungarian Revolution and the diaspora that followed. This is the 4th sub-episode, and I sit down with new guests whose powerful messages of courage and legacy need to be heard.
Let's meet Emma, Steve, and Stephen from England...
The response to this series has been incredible. This focus on personal stories is resonating globally, helping our community explode to over 54,500 followers. Most impressively, our content now reaches over 1.5 million people every month. Â
Thank you for helping this living history travel so far! This is more than history; it's a living archive. My mission is to ensure these stories are never forgotten. In our next episode, we will take a step back to provide crucial context.
We'll present a comprehensive summary of 170 years of Hungarian emigration.
Understanding this broader historyâthe waves of leave-takings and the diasporas they createdâwill allow us to place the "Voices of '56" into a deeper, more meaningful perspective. It is the essential backdrop to appreciate the stories of our future guests fully.
If you know someone who should hear thisâespecially the children and grandchildren of 1956âplease share it with them. Their story is our history.
https://www.hungarianottomanwars.com/hungarian-history-podcast-24-voices-of-56-part-4/
đïžÂ EPISODE 23 IS LIVE: The Story of a 98-Year-Old Freedom Fighter đïž
I am deeply honored to share this chapter of our "Voices of '56" series. In Episode 23 of the Hungarian History Podcast, you will hear the testimony of Julius Gyula Bogår, a 98-year-old freedom fighter, and his daughter, Kathy.
This is more than an interview; it is a living piece of history. A story of courage, exile, and legacy, preserved against the passage of time.
The response to this series has been overwhelming, proving how urgently these stories are needed. Our reach has grown to 1.2 million people monthly, connecting with the diaspora and a global audience hungry for our authentic narrative.
This is the only English-language podcast entirely dedicated to Hungarian history, and it's becoming the archive our community deserves.
đ§Â Listen to Julius and Kathy's powerful story now.
If this story moves you, please help us find more. Subscribe, support if you can, and share this with someone who needs to hear it.
Your story is our history.
You can support it or subscribe to my page:
https://www.hungarianottomanwars.com/hungarian-history-podcast-voices-of-56-part-3/
đïž Hungarian History Podcast â Special 1956 Series: Episode 22 đïž
Welcome back to the Hungarian History Podcast. Iâm your host, SzĂĄntai GĂĄbor.
Between the symbolic dates of October 23rd and November 11th, we continue our special series dedicated to the 1956 Hungarian Revolution and Freedom Fight â and the nearly 200,000 Hungarians who left their homeland in its aftermath.
They carried with them stories of courage, loss, and hope. Stories that built new lives across the free world.
Today, in Episode 22, you will hear from three guest speakers from the United States â voices that form part of the living symphony of 1956. Through their memories, we gain an intimate look into the journeys that shaped generations.
I ask each guest three simple but powerful questions:
Their answers are more than memories â they are history.
These stories are still coming in â and this series will continue. If you or someone you know has a story to share from after the Revolution, please send me a message.
Thank you for helping us preserve these voices.
Support this project:
https://www.hungarianottomanwars.com/hungarian-history-podcast-voices-of-56-part-2/
The 1956 Hungarian Revolution wasnât just 19 days. It was the beginning of 200,000 journeys. This is the series dedicated to those journeys.
I am proud to announce that Episode 21 of the Hungarian History Podcast is out now, launching a special sub-series preserving the personal stories of the 1956 exodus.
In this first episode, I am honored to have Batizy Levente, author of "The Biggest Hole in the Iron Curtain: The Batizy Story", a remarkable account of his family's escape.
We discuss his story, the legacy of that journey, and its significance today.
Learn more about his book on Amazon:Â
https://www.amazon.com/Biggest-Hole-Iron-Curtain-Batizy/dp/1478756942
This is just the beginning. The door is open, and more voices will follow to ensure these stories are never forgotten.
Your story is our history. If you or your family have a story to share, please don't hesitate to message me.
Who are the Székelys? Are they the descendants of Attila the Hun? A unique warrior class? The ancient guardians of Hungary's borders?
In our special 20th episode, we delve into the epic history of the SzĂ©kely peopleâthe easternmost Hungarian group. This one is about the SzĂ©kelysâmy wife's people.Â
A community with a story of resilience, from medieval warriors carving runes on wood to modern-day bonfires lit for autonomy on the last Sunday of October..
I discuss their fierce love of freedom and why their struggle for rights remains as relevant today as it was in the 16th century.
Tune in for a journey to Székelyföld, a land of fortified churches, legendary battles, and unbroken tradition. If you love tales of identity, courage, and deep history, this is for you.
Did the Kingdom of Hungary vanish after 1526?And was the Transylvanian Principality just a mere vassal state of the Ottomans?
Youâve heard it countless times: after the Battle of MohĂĄcs, Hungary disappeared. I have heard this narrative from many Romanians that Hungary was wiped off the map, swallowed by empires, and only âreappearedâ centuries later.
But thatâs not what really happened.
âThe Hungarian Kingdom vanished into the blueâ â this is a provocative modern nationalist narrative, spread by those who want to marginalize Hungaryâs historical role and deny its sacrifice in defending Western civilization, for which it paid a bloody price. Itâs time to pose a Hungarian narrative to challenge these intentionally fabricated misconceptions.
In this episode, we uncover what really happened after 1526 â how the Kingdom of Hungary survived as a sovereign state, ruled by its own crown, laws, and diet, in personal union with the Habsburgs.
Royal Hungary, Transylvania, and Croatia each carried forward parts of that sovereignty, keeping the kingdom alive. In this episode, I also compared the Transylvanian Principalityâs status with that of Wallachia and Moldavia.
We also examine the Croatian argument, which has a genuine historical and legal foundation â and how both sides utilized law, diplomacy, and power to defend their claims under extremely challenging circumstances.
This is not a story of disappearance.
Itâs a story of continuity â of a kingdom divided but alive, sovereign even under the weight of empires.
What really happened during the legendary 39-day siege of Eger Castle? You may know GĂĄrdonyi GĂ©zaâs classic novel The Stars of Eger (or also called âThe Fall of The Crescent Moonâ)âbut have you ever heard the story from the Ottoman perspective?
In this dramatic episode of the Hungarian History Podcast, we step into the tents of Pasha Hådim Ali and Serdar Kara Achmed as they lead nearly 45,000 Ottoman troops against Dobó Istvån and his defiant garrison.
Through cannon fire, secret tunnels, betrayal, and explosive gunpowder plots, experience one of Hungaryâs most heroic stands like never before.
Become a Regular Supporter:
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Make a One-Time Donation:Support me occasionally on Buy Me a Coffee:
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History and Power: Can the Past Ever Be Objective?
Today I have a very special guest: Dr. PĂ©ter Illik, one of the leading experts on early modern Hungarian history. He is the author of more than 15 books and 200 scholarly articles, many of which have reshaped our understanding of the 16th century, the OttomanâHabsburg conflicts, and even the international reception of the Treaty of Trianon.
đ In this episode, we explore:
This is a powerful conversation about how history is written â and how it continues to shape the way we think about the past and the present.
The Hungarian History Podcast is still the only English-language podcast dedicated entirely to Hungarian history. Since launching this show in April 2025, it has already reached more listeners than the Central European Universityâs âViennaâ podcast did in its entire first year, at least based on the publicly available information.
Thank you for your interest and support! If you enjoy my work, please share it with your friends and consider supporting it â I donât have billionaires backing me, only listeners like you.
đ Listen now, and share it with your friends so more people can discover Hungaryâs fascinating history!
Become a Regular Supporter:
Join me on Patreon to help sustain this work:
https://www.patreon.com/hungarianottomanwars
Make a One-Time Donation: Support me occasionally on Buy Me a Coffee:
The Hungarian History Podcast returns with one of the bloodiest battles of the 1552 campaign.
Only weeks after the fall of DrĂ©gely, the Ottomans pushed north â and at PalĂĄst, they met the Christian armies of General Teuffel.
German mercenaries, Italian soldiers of fortune, and Hungarian hussars clashed with Janissaries, Sipahis, and Ottoman cannons.
It was a disaster for the Christians â yet men like Thury György still kept the flame of resistance alive.
đ§ Listen now and step onto the battlefield.
Please, subscribe to Substack or Patreon to support this project, or on the Buy me a coffee page, here are the links:
https://www.hungarianottomanwars.com/hungarian-history-podcast-16-the-battle-of-palast-1552/
The Hungarian History Podcast continues with the dramatic Siege of DrĂ©gely (1552) â the heroic last stand of Captain György Szondi and his men against overwhelming Ottoman forces.
The year is 1552. A small, crumbling fortress in the Börzsöny Hills stands as the last barrier between the Ottoman war machine and the heart of Europe. Inside, Captain Szondy György and his 146 men prepare to face an army of 12,000 Ottomans.
Their story is one of impossible odds, unwavering honor, and a sacrifice that shook even their enemy. It is a creation of a legend that has inspired Hungarians for centuries.
đ The Hungarian History Podcast is still the only English voice dedicated entirely to the rich and dramatic history of Hungary â making our past accessible to the world.
đ Listen, subscribe, and share to help spread Hungarian history beyond our borders.
đ If you find value in my work, please consider supporting the project with a contribution or subscription â every bit helps me continue bringing these stories to life.
Substack: https://shorturl.at/nsFZ2
Outnumbered, undersupplied, and betrayed by allies, Captain Losonczy IstvĂĄn and his men faced the unstoppable Ottoman war machine in one of the most dramatic sieges of the 16th century. This is a story of defiance, betrayal, and a final stand that still echoes through history.
đïž It is still the only English podcast focusing entirely on Hungarian history.
If you care about Hungaryâs past and want these stories to reach the world, give it a listen, share it, and help keep the project alive.
Support this project on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/hungarianottomanwarsor on Buy me a Coffee:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/duhoxoxa or on Substack:https://shorturl.at/nsFZ2
Thank you / Köszönöm.
đ„ Intrigue, Betrayal, and the Shadow of Siege đ„
Transylvania, 1551.
An uneasy alliance shatters.
The White Monk â Martinuzzi György, cardinal, statesman, and master of intrigue â meets his fate in one of the most infamous political assassinations in Hungarian history.
As the Ottomans and Habsburgs circle like vultures, the frontiers of Hungary erupt into fire.
đ In the latest episode of the Hungarian History Podcast, we trace the deadly chain of events from palace intrigue to the launch of the great Ottoman campaign of 1552.
Youâll hear how this campaign set the stage for the fall of VeszprĂ©m, the heroic stand at DrĂ©gely, and the defense of Eger â sieges that will each be told in full detail in future episodes.This is the outline before the storm⊠and next time, we march to the siege of TemesvĂĄr Castle.
đ Listen now â history has never sounded this vivid.
Support this project with a cup of coffee if you can:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/duhoxoxa or follow me on Patreon to spread Hungarian history: https://www.patreon.com/hungarianottomanwars
Still the only podcast in English dedicated entirely to Hungarian history, and todayâs episode is something special!
Instead of a solo deep-dive, Iâm thrilled to be joined by historian KonnĂĄt ĂrpĂĄd for a rich, dynamic conversation. A Transylvanian Hungarian, researcher at the Trianon Museum in VĂĄrpalota, and my dear friend (and swordmate!), ĂrpĂĄd brings incredible depth to this discussion.
Fluent in languages, skilled with both saber and longsword, and an author of historical fictionâheâs a true Renaissance man! (You might also know him as an admin of our thriving Facebook group, "Hungarian History And Culture Without Borders".)
This episode goes beyond the usual timeline, offering fresh insights, reflections, and context you wonât want to miss. đĄïžđ
đ Listen nowâand if you enjoy it, please share! Supporting the podcast on Patreon, Substack, or Buy Me a Coffee helpskeep Hungarian history alive in English. Join me on:
https://www.patreon.com/hungarianottomanwars and
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/duhoxoxa
Thank you for being part of this journey! đđșâš
Heroic last stands, brutal betrayals, haunted legendsâŠ
In this episode, we take you deep into the blood-soaked heart of the 16th century, when Hungarian and Ottoman forces clashed over castles, cities, and survival. From the fall of Buda to the forgotten siege of ValpĂł, from brave hussars to treacherous burghers â this is the story of the fortresses that shaped Hungary's fate.
đ» Digital self-defense in the 21st century needs heroesfrom the past.
đĄïž Making the invisible visibleâ Unearthing hidden, forgotten, or misrepresented layers ofHungarian history. Real history, no compromise.
đ§ Listen now and explore the battles before Eger andSzigetvĂĄr!
đ Only on the Hungarian History Podcastâ the only English-language voice dedicated to Hungaryâs past.
â¶ïž Support the project. Share our legacy.
đïž Episode 10 â After MohĂĄcs: Resistance, Rebellion, and a Deal with the Sultan;
The Hungarian History Podcast with SzĂĄntai GĂĄbor, the only English voice about Hungarian history on social media.
Before the catastrophe at MohĂĄcs in 1526, Queen Maria of Habsburg blocked all attempts to negotiate with the Ottomans.
After the kingâs death, her brother Ferdinand of Habsburg claimed the Hungarian throne, promising that he and Emperor Charles V would defend the realm.
But behind the curtain?
Ferdinandâs envoys were offering tribute to the same sultan they claimed to oppose. They proposed an even greater sum than King Szapolyai had ever offered.
In this episode, we uncover what happened in the chaotic years after MohĂĄcs:
âïž The forgotten resistance at PusztamarĂłt in 1526 â where Hungarian peasants and nobles made their last stand.
đ„ The Serbian uprising of Cserni JovĂĄn in 1527 â a brutal internal war that tore through the southern frontiers.
đïž And the secret negotiations of Szapolyaiâs envoy in Istanbul â a desperate diplomatic mission that worked.
This is the missing link between MohĂĄcs and the Castle Wars that followed.
Tune in â and discover the story that Europe forgot.
'Re-examining the Death of King Lajos II at MohĂĄcs'
The death of King Lajos II in 1526 remains one of the most consequential historical mysteries in Central Europe. Although it has traditionally been recorded as an accidental drowning, several contemporary sources merit closer examination.
The subsequent power struggle between Habsburg Ferdinand and Szapolyai JĂĄnos resulted in conflicting accounts of the king's final moments.
However, the tendency of historians to insist on drowning as the cause of death likely stems from the political convenience of avoiding a 500-year-old crime scene, as both ruling powers after MohĂĄcs benefited from the ambiguity.
In short, the king who chose to ride into certain death at MohĂĄcs may well have been betrayed in the marshes by those closest to him.
đTo me, the available evidence and motifs strongly suggest that King Lajos II was murdered, rather than accidentally drowning. Was it the Habsburgs? The Szapolyais? The Fuggers?
In this episode, we explore forgotten sources, political motives, and the fate of those who were supposed to protect him.
Why does this matter?
The death of Lajos â a young king who rode bravely into battle â shaped Hungaryâs fate. Yet the full story remains obscured by political agendas and conflicting accounts.
đ§ Listen now as we analyse the evidence without speculation, focusing on historical detective work.
https://www.hungarianottomanwars.com/hungarian-history-podcast-episode-9-the-death-of-the-king-1526/
đïž Episode 8 â The Battle of MohĂĄcs: Cavalry, Chaos, and Collapse
In this episode of the Hungarian History Podcast, we take you to one of the most tragicâand misunderstoodâdays in Central European history.
August 29, 1526.
On the fields of MohĂĄcs, the fate of a kingdom is decided in just a few brutal hours.
But this is not just the story of defeat.
It is a story of warhorses and riders, of elite Hungarian knights and overconfident warriors, of strategy, panic, and unexpected strength.
Weâll explore how the Hungarian cavalry fought with deadly precision, how their tactics almost turned the tide, and why the death of King Lajos (Louis) II changed everything.
đ§ Listen now to discover the real story behind the Battle ofMohĂĄcs.
Follow the podcast, and support this unique English-language project on Hungarian history.
đ„EPISODE 7: Gold & Blood â The 36-Year War BeforeMohĂĄcsđ„
"The Borderland never slept. For 30 years, heroes held thelineâoutnumbered, underpaid, but never broken, whilekings were betrayed, treasuries looted, and Europe looked away."This episode shatters the myths:
âïžÂ Queen Beatrix's schemes. Kinizsi's betrayal. HowMĂĄtyĂĄs' legacy was stolenâïžÂ The Jagellonian "Weakness" Lie â Why UlĂĄszlĂł II and Lajos II were not the fools history painted them to be
âïžÂ Kinizsi. Korvin JĂĄnos. BerislaviÄ. The commanders who fought relentless wars while Budaâs nobles bickered
âïžÂ 1,000+ villages burned. 80+ battles. The untold cost ofholding the frontier against the Ottomans
âïžÂ Habsburg Mary emptying the treasury as the Fuggersseized Hungary's silver
âïžÂ France + Venice + The Pope â How the League of Cognac sided with the OttomansâïžÂ How Hungaryâs own elite sabotaged their kingsâand signed MohĂĄcsâ death warrant
đ§LISTEN NOW to the Hungarian History Podcast âwhere history gets a voice, and the past fights back.
đ Visit: https://www.hungarianottomanwars.com/hungarian-history-podcast/
Next time: The Battle of MohĂĄcs. The mysterious death of the king.
In this special episode, I talk with Katerina Dunne, author of the historical novel Lord of the Eyrie.
Set in the time of Hunyadi JĂĄnos, her story brings 15th-century Hungary to life, told through the eyes of both a nobleman and his wife, caught in the chaos of war, politics, and survival.
Katerina is a Greek-born writer who lived in Ireland for 25 years and recently moved to Cyprus.
She learned Hungarian, fell in love with our history, and now shares it with the world in English.
We talk about her creative journey, historical reenactment, buhurt fighting, and why this era still matters today.
Katerinaâs books are available in English, Hungarian, and German:
German:
https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Katerina-Dunne-ebook/dp/B0D9S2VV2N?ref_=saga_dp_bnx_dsk_dp
and Hungarian:
â https://www.lira.hu/hu/konyv/szepirodalom/sasfeszek-ura#