HUNGARY - Sárospatak : multiviews

HUNGARY stamps



Location of SAROSPATAK in HUNGARY

Sárospatak is a town in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county, northern Hungary. It lies 70 km northeast from Miskolc, in the Bodrog river valley. The town, often called simply Patak, is an important cultural centre.

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Saint Elizabeth of Hungary (Hungarian: Árpád-házi Szent Erzsébet, July 7, 1207 – November 17, 1231) was a princess of Hungary and a Catholic saint, celebrated mainly in Germany and Hungary. According to tradition, she was born in the castle of Sárospatak, Hungary, on July 7, 1207. She was the daughter of King Andrew II of Hungary and Gertrude of Andechs-Merania, and at age four was brought to the court of the rulers of Thuringia in Central Germany, to become a future bride who would reinforce political alliances between the families. Elisabeth was married at the age of fourteen, widowed at twenty, relinquished her wealth to the poor, built hospitals, and became a symbol of Christian charity in Germany and elsewhere after her death at the age of twenty-four.

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John Amos Comenius (Hungarian: Comenius Ámos János) (1592–1670) was a Czech teacher, educator, and writer. He served as the last bishop of Unity of the Brethren, and became a religious refugee and one of the earliest champions of universal education, a concept eventually set forth in his book Didactica Magna. He is often considered the father of modern education.

The first Protestant college, one of the most important colleges of Hungary at the time, was founded in Sárospatak in 1531. In 1650 Zsuzsanna Lorántffy, widow of George I Rákóczi prince of Transylvania invited the famous Czech educator Jan Comenius to Sárospatak. Comenius lived there until 1654, as a professor of the college, and he wrote some of his most important works there. The college (since 2000 a faculty of the University of Miskolc) now bears his name.

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Francis II Rákóczi (Hungarian : II. Rákóczi Ferenc - 27 March 1676 in Borsi, Royal Hungary – 8 April 1735 in Tekirdağ, Ottoman Empire) Hungarian aristocrat, he was the leader of the Hungarian uprising against the Habsburgs in 1703-11 as the prince (fejedelem) of the Estates Confederated for Liberty of the Kingdom of Hungary. He was also Prince of Transylvania, an Imperial Prince, and a member of the Order of the Golden Fleece. Today he is considered a national hero in Hungary.

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Sárospatak Castle was built in the 13th century by order of Andrew II the Jerosolimitan. His daughter Elizabeth, who was later canonized, was born in the castle.

Elizabeth was sent to the rulers of Thuringia when she was four years old. Elizabeth was a kind soul with a heart of gold, and was married to Ludwig IV at age fourteen, only to be widowed six years later. She was much loved by the people for her generosity and graciousness. After her husband's death, the harsh inquisitor Konrad von-Marburg was appointed her confessor, and he was a cruel man. He demanded impossible behavioral standards from Elisabeth, and ordered beatings as punishments if she did not live up to these standards. He also ordered her to send her children away. Elizabeth gave all her wealth to the poor, and died at the tender age of twenty-four. Some speculate it was because of the treatment by Konrad. She was canonized a saint soon after, while her father was alive to receive the news.

In the 16th century, the town of Sárospatak was hit hard by the Plague, and lost many of its people. The Dobó family became owners of the castle and Krisztina Dobó married the founder of modern Hungarian lyric poetry, Bálint Balassi. Later, the castle was passed to the Rákóczi family. Ferenc II Rákóczi became the elected Prince of the Kingdom of Hungary and Prince of Transylvania. He also played a pivotal role in the revolution against the Habsburgs.

In the 17th century, secret meetings were held in a room in Sárospatak Castle by the participants of the Wesselényi conspiracy. Today the castle is a popular tourist attraction and if you'd like visitor's information, check out Hungary Starts Here/Sárospatak.

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Postcard sent by Eszter, as "serae"
Private swap - Reference HU003

Multiviews of Sárospatak :
Statue of Comenius, the castle of Rakoczi, statue of Rakoczi,
swimming pool, Reformated high school

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