Historic Battle Comes to Life at Gyula Fortress Days
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Gyula castle
A record number of traditionalists will reenact the 1566 Siege of Gyula during the 13th Border Fortress Days of Gyula between July 25 and 27, organizers announced at a press conference on Monday.
Chief organizer Ágnes Kovács said that 25 traditionalist groups with around 300 members will reenact the events of 459 years ago at seven locations and 53 events. On Saturday, the Turkish occupation and on Sunday, the recapture of Gyula Castle will be “reenacted” by the traditionalists, accompanied by scientific and professional commentary from military historian Professor Tamás Chikán. This year, a historical medical order will also join the program, treating the wounded during the war games and demonstrating contemporary healing methods and tools in the camp.
She added that
another new feature is that the cavalry will also join the “military events,” such as Friday’s parade, thanks to the participation of a traditionalist group.
There will also be a lecture on cultural and gastronomic history, and those interested can hear about Turkish proverbs and dishes that are still alive today in the castle in a lecture by the Históriás Asszonyok (historical storyteller women).
The main organizer emphasized that they are paying special attention to families, with a “medieval” playground, felting, and fan-making activities awaiting children.
Festival-goers can also enjoy free concerts in the evenings, featuring Hungarian bands: Show&Bors on Friday, Follow the Flow on Saturday, and R-Go on Sunday.
Dániel Repisky, managing director of public education at Erkel Ferenc nonprofit company, the organizer of the border fortress days, said that the Gyula festival is one of the most significant events in the city, attracting more and more visitors every year. Their goal is to present the heroic struggle of the Hungarian defenders of the castle in an authentic manner, based on professional and scientific backgrounds.
Repisky recalled that between July 2 and September 2, 1566, an Ottoman army of about 30,000 surrounded the castle of Gyula that was defended by approximately 2,000 to 2,500 Christian soldiers.
The siege, unprecedentedly long in Hungarian military history, ended with an agreement between castle captain László Kerecsényi and Pertev Pasha, the brother-in-law of Suleiman I.
Due to the depletion of supplies in the castle and the outbreak of dysentery, the Hungarian commander surrendered the castle in exchange for free passage.
Gyula in 1566, during the siege. Photo via Wikipedia.
The troops leaving the castle were about a mile from Gyula when, despite the agreement, the Ottoman army attacked the retreating soldiers. Kerecsényi was captured, taken to Nándorfehérvár, and soon executed. Although Kerecsényi’s actions were considered treason in his time, historians today view him differently than our ancestors did, explained the executive director.
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