Romantic symbol of the past – Ilona Zrinyi and Imre Thokoly

Uzhgorod.in continues to tell interesting love stories of our famous countrymen. Today’s story is about the extraordinary life and love of legendary Ilona Zrinyi and Imre Thokoly.

When one brave woman makes history and becomes a symbol of struggle and courage, it does not matter what men surrounded her, only her heart and feelings are important.

Ilona Zrinyi is known as the "captain", who was defending Mukachevo Castle for several years, the mother of the rebel and fighter for freedom of the Hungarian people – Ferenc II Rakoczy, and also as a faithful wife of Imre Thokoly. These names have long been inseparable, romantic symbol of the century.

Beautiful, intelligent (she knew several languages, including Croatian, German, Slovak, Polish… was interested in law), rich, and also mother of three children, she would never have thought that she would meet the love of her life in 1682.

This women endured great trials. She lost her father, her husband and eldest son Ferenc I Rakoczy within a very short time. 

She found comfort in 14 years younger Imre Thokoly, a military leader and active participant in the kuruc uprising (anti-Habsburg uprisings in the Kingdom of Hungary between 1671 and 1711). Their secret meetings were followed by a magnificent wedding, which took place on 15 of June, 1682 in Mukachevo castle. 

The description of this eight-day-long feast is a mandatory subject of any tour in the city on the Latorytsya.

Ilona dedicated herself to the young husband and two children – Ferenc Rakoczy II and Julianna. Happy family life did not last long, because the political career of Imre and its anti-government activities led to his expulsion from the country and exile to Turkey.

By the turn of events, Ilona had to become the defender of the castle. She herself was making decisions and gaving orders, to boost morale of her soldiers she would come to the castle walls to show her invincibility and faith in victory.   

Three years of defense and only one betrayal led to the surrender. Ilona and her daughter were sent to a convent for several years, and the son – to the Jesuit school.

She reunited with her husband in 1692. Ilona died in 1703, never seeing her son leading the uprising, which she once actively participated in. Her husband followed her in 1705.

Thus, the story of their love ended. But several centuries later, it was revived, because now almost everyone knows this about union. They have monuments and holidays dedicated to them, it is one of those stories that survived the centuries to live forever.                                                                                           

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