Ferenc Kölcsey (archaically English: Francis Kolcsey,[1] 8 August 1790 in Sződemeter – 24 August 1838) was a Hungarian poet, literary critic, orator, and politician, noted for his support of the liberal current in Hungary regarding the politics involving the Austrian Empire. He wrote Himnusz, the national anthem of Hungary in 1823.
Kölcsey was born in Sződemeter, Hungary (now Săuca, Romania). He was orphaned at an early age and handicapped by the loss of an eye to smallpox. At age fifteen, he made the acquaintance of Ferenc Kazinczy and adopted his linguistic reforms. In 1809 Kölcsey went to Pest and became a notary to the Royal board. He was disenchanted with the office, and, while in Szatmárcseke, he devoted his time to aesthetical study, poetry, criticism, and the defense of Kazinczy's theories.[2]
Kölcsey's early metrical pieces contributed to the Transylvanian Museum did not attract much attention, while his severe criticisms of Mihály Csokonai Vitéz, János Kis, and especially Dániel Berzsenyi, published in 1817, rendered him very unpopular. From 1821 to 1826 he published many separate poems of great beauty in the Aurora, Hebe, Aspasia, and other magazines of polite literature. He joined Pál Szemere in a new periodical, styled Élet és Literatúra (Life and Literature), which appeared from 1826 to 1829, in 4 vols., and gained for Kölcsey the highest reputation as a critical writer.[2]
From 1832 to 1835 he sat in the Hungarian Diet, where his extreme liberal views and his eloquence soon rendered him famous as a parliamentary leader. Elected on 17 November 1830 a member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, he took part in its first grand meeting; in 1832, he delivered his famous oration on Kazinczy, and in 1836 that on his former opponent Dániel Berzsenyi. In 1838, when the opposition leader Miklós Wesselényi was thrown into prison upon a disputed charge of treason, Kölcsey conducted his defense with noted eloquence, but without success. He died about a week afterwards at Szatmárcseke, from internal inflammation.[2]
Kölcsey's strong moral sense and deep devotion to his country are reflected in his poems, his often severe but masterly literary criticism, and his funeral orations and parliamentary speeches. His collected works, in 6 volumes, were published at Pest, 1840–1848, and his journal of the Diet of 1832–1836 appeared in 1848.[2] The first collected edition of all his works appeared in 1886–87.
A monument erected to the memory of Kölcsey was unveiled at Szatmárnémeti on 25 September 1864.[2] His poem Himnusz (1823), evoking the glory of Hungary's past, became the national anthem of Hungary.
Personal life
Kölcsey never married and had no documented relationships; based on some of the intimate letters Kölcsey wrote to his male contemporaries, literary historian Krisztián Nyáry theorised that Kölcsey may have been homosexual.[3][4]
Famous works
Vanitatum Vanitas 1823.
Himnusz 1823. The national anthem of Hungary
Huszt 1831. Epigram
Honors
Ferenc Kölcsey stamp were issued by Hungary on 5 May 1937.[5]
On 3 August 1990 another postage stamp was issued.[6]
References
^Emil Reich (1899) Hungarian Literature: An Historical & Critical Survey. p. 107
^Hercsel Adél (11 October 2013). "Kölcsey férfiaknak írt szerelmes leveleket" [Kölcsey wrote love letters to men] (in Hungarian). hvg.hu. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
^ [Was Ferenc Kölcsey gay?] (in Hungarian). Könyves Blog. 11 October 2013. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Kölcsey, Ferencz". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 15 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 888.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ferenc Kölcsey.
Works by Ferenc Kölcsey at LibriVox (public domain audiobooks)
January 05, 2023
ferenc, kölcsey, native, form, this, personal, name, kölcsey, ferenc, this, article, uses, western, name, order, when, mentioning, individuals, archaically, english, francis, kolcsey, august, 1790, sződemeter, august, 1838, hungarian, poet, literary, critic, o. The native form of this personal name is Kolcsey Ferenc This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals Ferenc Kolcsey archaically English Francis Kolcsey 1 8 August 1790 in Szodemeter 24 August 1838 was a Hungarian poet literary critic orator and politician noted for his support of the liberal current in Hungary regarding the politics involving the Austrian Empire He wrote Himnusz the national anthem of Hungary in 1823 Portrait of Ferenc Kolcsey by Anton Einsle 1835 Coat of arms of his family Contents 1 Biography 2 Personal life 3 Famous works 4 Honors 5 References 6 External linksBiography EditKolcsey was born in Szodemeter Hungary now Săuca Romania He was orphaned at an early age and handicapped by the loss of an eye to smallpox At age fifteen he made the acquaintance of Ferenc Kazinczy and adopted his linguistic reforms In 1809 Kolcsey went to Pest and became a notary to the Royal board He was disenchanted with the office and while in Szatmarcseke he devoted his time to aesthetical study poetry criticism and the defense of Kazinczy s theories 2 Kolcsey s early metrical pieces contributed to the Transylvanian Museum did not attract much attention while his severe criticisms of Mihaly Csokonai Vitez Janos Kis and especially Daniel Berzsenyi published in 1817 rendered him very unpopular From 1821 to 1826 he published many separate poems of great beauty in the Aurora Hebe Aspasia and other magazines of polite literature He joined Pal Szemere in a new periodical styled Elet es Literatura Life and Literature which appeared from 1826 to 1829 in 4 vols and gained for Kolcsey the highest reputation as a critical writer 2 From 1832 to 1835 he sat in the Hungarian Diet where his extreme liberal views and his eloquence soon rendered him famous as a parliamentary leader Elected on 17 November 1830 a member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences he took part in its first grand meeting in 1832 he delivered his famous oration on Kazinczy and in 1836 that on his former opponent Daniel Berzsenyi In 1838 when the opposition leader Miklos Wesselenyi was thrown into prison upon a disputed charge of treason Kolcsey conducted his defense with noted eloquence but without success He died about a week afterwards at Szatmarcseke from internal inflammation 2 Kolcsey s strong moral sense and deep devotion to his country are reflected in his poems his often severe but masterly literary criticism and his funeral orations and parliamentary speeches His collected works in 6 volumes were published at Pest 1840 1848 and his journal of the Diet of 1832 1836 appeared in 1848 2 The first collected edition of all his works appeared in 1886 87 A monument erected to the memory of Kolcsey was unveiled at Szatmarnemeti on 25 September 1864 2 His poem Himnusz 1823 evoking the glory of Hungary s past became the national anthem of Hungary Personal life EditKolcsey never married and had no documented relationships based on some of the intimate letters Kolcsey wrote to his male contemporaries literary historian Krisztian Nyary theorised that Kolcsey may have been homosexual 3 4 Famous works EditVanitatum Vanitas 1823 Himnusz 1823 The national anthem of Hungary Huszt 1831 EpigramHonors EditFerenc Kolcsey stamp were issued by Hungary on 5 May 1937 5 On 3 August 1990 another postage stamp was issued 6 References Edit Emil Reich 1899 Hungarian Literature An Historical amp Critical Survey p 107 a b c d e Chisholm 1911 Hercsel Adel 11 October 2013 Kolcsey ferfiaknak irt szerelmes leveleket Kolcsey wrote love letters to men in Hungarian hvg hu Retrieved 26 December 2019 Meleg volt Kolcsey Ferenc Was Ferenc Kolcsey gay in Hungarian Konyves Blog 11 October 2013 Archived from the original on 14 October 2013 Retrieved 26 December 2019 colnect com en stamps list country 6955 Hungary year 1937 colnect com en stamps list country 6955 Hungary year 1990 page 5 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Kolcsey Ferencz Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 15 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 888 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ferenc Kolcsey Works by or about Ferenc Kolcsey at Internet Archive Works by Ferenc Kolcsey at LibriVox public domain audiobooks Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ferenc Kolcsey amp oldid 1102334110, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
