Kossuth,Lajos

Kossuth mausoleum

The cemetery was opened on June 15.,1847 in difficult times shortly before the failed revolution of 1848/49. In 1885 the cemetery became national pantheon open only for important and famous personalities. Lajos Kossuth has become a national symbol for the struggle for freedom and independance of the hungarians during the times of revolution and later. Kossuth had incredible qualities as a speaker and could "set the crowd on fire". After the failed revolution he had to flee first to Turkey,but soon in 1851 he was freed by the frigate "Missisippi". As hero of freedom the ports of Italy, France and Englands were open for him and his arrivals were celebrated like a triumph. His trip through the U.S. from December 1851 til Juli 1852 was unbeaten. On his receptions in New York,Philadelphia and Boston he was celebrated as a new Demosthenes, as the hungarian Washington. Since La Fayette Kosstuh was the first foreigner to be recepted by the senat and the house of representatives. In both houses he made a speech requesting support to gain freedom for hungaria. But his wishes came not true. Over years Kossuth was involved in hungarian politics from an exile position. He tried the utmost to avert the so called "Ausgleich" with Austria. After 45 years living outside of Hungary Kossuth died in Turin,Italy on march 20. 1894. His funeral was a powerful national demonstration.

The monument was designed by Kálmán Gerster with sculptures by Alajos Stróbl. Kossuth`s body was transferred from Turin to Budapest and 400 000 gold crowns were collected to finance the monument. Gerster won the competition and in 1909 the monument in eclectic style was finished. On top of the roof on 8 columns there is a genius and lion which represent the revolution and below there is the sarkophag. The entrance is guarded by 2 leopards. Inside is a famous mosaic by Miksa Róth after a fresco by Dezsö Kolber.

This is a detail of the monument showing the big sitting sculpture by Alajos Stróbl (1856 - 1926). The sitting figur "Hunnia" represents the hungarian people.