Batthyani

Batthyani, the name of a distinguished Hungarian family that has since the 15th century been closely connected with the varying fortunes of the Magyar kingdom. Louis Batthyani, Count of Nemeth Ujvar, was born in 1809 and served as a youth in the Austrian army. He then took to politics, and from 1839 to 1848 struggled bravely in the House of Peers against the attempt to crush out Hungarian nationality. Alarmed by the revolutionary movement the Emperor Ferdinand made sweeping concessions, and allowed Batthyani to form an independent ministry. At the same time he treacherously incited Jellachich, the Ban of Croatia, to invade the kingdom. The Croatians were defeated in spite of Austrian support, and Batthyani, eager to arrive at a peaceful solution, went, in October, 1849, to the headquarters of Prince Windishgratz to propose terms. He was seized, tried by court-martial, and shot.