October 6: Remembering the Martyrs of Arad

Every October 6, Hungary commemorates its National Day of Mourning in honor of the 13 Martyrs of Arad —a tragic event marking the end of the 1848–1849 Revolution and War of Independence.

These thirteen Hungarian generals, heroes in the fight for independence and freedom against the Austrian Empire, were executed in the city of Arad (now in Romania) by order of General Julius Jacob von Haynau. Their sacrifice on October 6, 1849, symbolized not only military defeat but also the consolidation of Austrian oppression. Yet their legacy of courage, dignity, and love for their homeland endures to this day.

The deep humanity of their sacrifice is captured in one final moving moment. Count Károly Vécsey, the last to be executed, knelt before the body of his fallen comrade and former rival, General János Damjanich, and kissed his hand. This simple act became a symbol of reconciliation and mutual respect, proving that an unbreakable faith in freedom united them until the very end.

On this day, the Venezuelan community in Hungary joins the Hungarian people in honoring their memory. We remember that, as with our own struggles, some fights never end —they live on in the heart of a people.