An illustration from the Illuminated Chronicle: King Stephen captures the Transylvanian leader Prokuj in 1003.

The First Great War of the Kingdom of Hungary and the Power of Prayer

The modern reader might scoff at the medieval chronicler’s words about divine assistance, even dismiss it as gibberish, as he rather tries to find rational reasons for military victory. This attitude, however, fit in perfectly with medieval thinking, and the protagonists were fully convinced that their success or failure was due to the gaining or lack of heavenly support.

István Széchenyi at the Iron Gates of the Danube River (painting by József Schöfft after Ágoston Schöfft, 1836)

Afrikaners and Hungarians: Inspiration from the Life of István Széchenyi

‘We have come to learn that in Hungary there is some (healthy) debate about the balance between fighting for freedom and building for freedom. This debate should not be regarded as a choice between two mutually exclusive paths, but rather as a pursuit to balance two necessary components of the same struggle. What is so remarkable about this discussion from an Afrikaner perspective, is that it speaks directly to one of our main slogans: “veg en bou” (“fight and build”). When we say veg en bou, we mean that we have to fight against injustice in order to protect what is ours, but at the same time, we ought to develop our own institutions to strengthen our ability to take care of our communities.’

Strategic Agenda 2024–2029: Need for a Stronger, More Competitive EU

The strategic agenda, which outlines the political priorities and main strategic objectives for the EU’s new actors over the next five years, is a crucial document that must be developed prior to institutional changes, the European Parliament elections of June 2024, and the appointment of the European Commission.