The monument
of the Pákozd battle of 29 September 1848 was erected on the Northern extension
of the Velence hill, on Mészeg-hill in 1951. The earlier monument - a column
built in 1889 - stands in the main street of Pákozd. When looking round
from the monument we have a clear view of the battlefield of triangle shape.
The Hungarian armed forces fought their battle in the region of Pákozd,
Pátka and Sukoró, on the Northern side of lake Velence on the slopes and
in the valleys to protect the main road connecting Székesfehévár with Buda,
the capital.
This Battle brought the first victory to the new army of the 1848-49-year
revolution and war of independence against the troops of lieutenant-general
Jellasics protecting the interests of the Habsbug Empire against the achievements
of the March revolution. The victory took place and demonstrated the power
of the Hungarian army in a historical period when the key achievments of
the revolution were at risk. Lajos
Batthyány the first responsible Hungarian prime minister played a key
role in organizing and setting up the army. The victory at Pákozd was both
moral and political success, that energized all the battles and fights
during the glorious period of the war of independence. This is the reason
for between 1951 and 1992 the day of the People's Army was celebrated on
29 September, and later on this day was devoted to the Armed Forces, and
most recently the Hungarian Army Day has also been celebrated on this date.
The decision about the battle was made on 28 September 1848 after lengthy
debate of the war council held in the protestant church of Sukoró. The
hungarian troops were headed by lieutenant-general János Móga, the right
wing by liutenant-colonel Milpökh, the main body by general Holtsche, the
left wing by major Répássy, the reserve troops by general Teleki, the troops
in the Southern region of Velence lake were commanded by colonel Mór Perczel.
The management successfully scouted the area, occupied advantageous position
and provided for the flank guards as well. The total headcount of the Hungarian
troops exceeded 17 thousand.
According to the reports of the commander-in-chief Jellasics the headcount
of the Croat and Imperial and Royal forces was 48 thousand without the
reserve troops. The commanders of the division were generals Kempen, Schmiedl
and Hartlieb, although the later one arrived only later, after the battle.
Actually the Jellasics troops participated with a headcount of 22 thousand
in the battle.
The Hungarian troops were able to protect their defense positions which
is primarily due to the field artillery headed by József Mack and
Károly Jungwirth. The national guards of Pest and Tolna took significant
military actions under the command of Richard Guyon and the Perczel
brothers, respectively, while Gyula Andrássy orderly officer successfully
protected the right wing with a small unit.
The young Hungarian army managed to keep its positions, and achieved
its defense objectives. The armed forces of Jellasics were not able to
hold control of the road to the capital, did not reach their objective
and during the three-day armistice they left the battlefield and to take
their way to Vienna.
The losses suffered by the parties can be estimated only: according
to the sources 50 - 50 soldiers died or were wounded.
The flank guards and the territorial army ardently supporting the Hungarian
troops played a key ole in cutting the Jellasics troops from their reserves.
On 3 October the population of Fehérvár disarmed the garrison troops left
in Székesfehérvár. So they mamaged to prevent the invasion of the town
by the reserve troops commanded by generals Roth and Philippovics, left
alone by the commander-en-chief. The retreating troops were disarmed at
Ozora on 7. October by the flank guards of Mór Perczel and Atúr Görgei,
the territorial army of Counties Fejér and Tolna headed by Vilmos Csapó,
after the defeats suffered at Báránd, Tác and Káloz. The victory of the
Hungarian troops at Ozara completed the defeat of the invasion troops at
Pákozd.
GPS: N47 13.050 E18 34.771