Hungarian History Podcast

What drives a man to walk across continents, master 17 languages, and found an entirely new field of science? This week on the podcast, we are honored to welcome back Konnát Árpád , a historian-archaeologist living in Transylvania, to explore the life of his fellow Székely, the legendary  Kőrösi Csoma Sándor (1784-1842). A philologist and Orientalist, Csoma set out on an epic quest to find the anc...

Happy Valentine's Day – with a Hungarian twist!  ❤️ Today, we celebrate Valentine's Day in Hungary – a modern tradition of love and hearts. But did you know that February 14 is also the name day of Bálint? And we have a fascinating historical record: Palatine Nádasdy Tamás once greeted his most faithful warrior,  Magyar Bálint , on his name day in a letter. Now, before you imagine a 16th-c...

Ready to be transported in time? 🎙️✨ I’m thrilled to share that I sat down with the fascinating author  Bordás Róbert  for the latest episode of my podcast! 📖  Who is Bordás Róbert? A Hungarian author writing in both Hungarian and English, based in Brno, Czechia. He brings history to life through deeply personal stories. ✨  Why his work is unique: He writes gripping historical novels in  Englis...

Today, I released a special New Year’s podcast — not just a look back, but a turn in the road. For years, this work has been my mission: to speak clearly about Hungarian history to three essential audiences — our global diaspora, Hungarians living around Hungary, and the interested non-Hungarian world. But last year taught me a difficult truth: some tasks outgrow one person. After serious health s...

New Episode & A New Chapter: Join the Movement! The 28th episode of the Hungarian History Podcast is now live, marking a pivotal moment. For months, this project has been a solo mission to share our history. But the response has been incredible, and the mission has outgrown one person. Today, I'm announcing that this digital activity is evolving into a  Movement . This is an open invitatio...

This powerful new installment continues our "Voices of ’56" series with Part 6, and for the first time, our focus spans the globe. I am honoured to host guests who found new homes in Canada and Belgium, sharing their deeply personal stories of the 1956 revolution and its aftermath. These firsthand accounts are the heartbeats of history, and I am privileged to be able to share them with y...

This new installment continues our powerful sub-series,  "Voices of '56,"  bringing you Part 5 of my interviews with the heroes of the Hungarian freedom fight and their families. These firsthand accounts are the heartbeats of history, and I am honoured to share them with you. A Moment of Thanks and a New Direction The response to our last episode—a comprehensive summary of 170 years...

I’ve just published a comprehensive episode on the  Hungarian History Podcast  that traces this epic story across continents and centuries. This is the 25th episode, and we follow the footprints of: 🚢 The  political exiles  of 1849 who became generals in the American Civil War. 🏭 The  millions of peasants  lured by the “American Dream,” only to be exploited by a ruthless emigration industry. 🗺️...

In these gloomy November days of 1956, the Soviet tanks had already crushed the major centers of resistance. Across Budapest, the fight for freedom was fading, sustained only by the sporadic, isolated gunfire of the last remaining freedom fighters. We're continuing our special series, "Voices of '56," dedicated to the personal stories of the Hungarian Revolution and the diaspora...

🎙️  EPISODE 23 IS LIVE: The Story of a 98-Year-Old Freedom Fighter  🎙️ I am deeply honored to share this chapter of our "Voices of '56" series. In Episode 23 of the Hungarian History Podcast, you will hear the testimony of  Julius Gyula Bogár, a 98-year-old freedom fighter , and his daughter, Kathy. This is more than an interview; it is a living piece of history. A story of courage,...

🎙️ Hungarian History Podcast – Special 1956 Series: Episode 22 🎙️ Welcome back to the Hungarian History Podcast. I’m your host, Szántai Gábor. Between the symbolic dates of October 23rd and November 11th, we continue our special series dedicated to the 1956 Hungarian Revolution and Freedom Fight — and the nearly 200,000 Hungarians who left their homeland in its aftermath. They carried with them st...

The 1956 Hungarian Revolution wasn’t just 19 days. It was the beginning of 200,000 journeys. This is the series dedicated to those journeys. I am proud to announce that Episode 21 of the Hungarian History Podcast is out now, launching a special sub-series preserving the personal stories of the 1956 exodus. In this first episode, I am honored to have  Batizy Levente , author of  "The Biggest H...

Who are the Székelys? Are they the descendants of Attila the Hun? A unique warrior class? The ancient guardians of Hungary's borders? In our special 20th episode, we delve into the epic history of the Székely people—the easternmost Hungarian group. This one is about the Székelys—my wife's people.  A community with a story of resilience, from medieval warriors carving runes on wood to moder...

Did the Kingdom of Hungary vanish after 1526? And was the Transylvanian Principality just a mere vassal state of the Ottomans? You’ve heard it countless times: after the Battle of Mohács, Hungary disappeared . I have heard this narrative from many Romanians that Hungary was wiped off the map, swallowed by empires, and only “reappeared” centuries later. But that’s not what really happened. “The Hun...

What really happened during the legendary 39-day siege of Eger Castle? You may know Gárdonyi Géza’s classic novel  The Stars of Eger (or also called „The Fall of The Crescent Moon”) —but have you ever heard the story from the  Ottoman perspective ? In this dramatic episode of the  Hungarian History Podcast , we step into the tents of Pasha Hádim Ali and Serdar Kara Achmed as they lead nearly 45,00...

History and Power: Can the Past Ever Be Objective? Today I have a very special guest: Dr. Péter Illik , one of the leading experts on early modern Hungarian history. He is the author of more than 15 books and 200 scholarly articles , many of which have reshaped our understanding of the 16th century, the Ottoman–Habsburg conflicts, and even the international reception of the Treaty of Trianon. 🔎 I...

The Hungarian History Podcast returns with one of the bloodiest battles of the 1552 campaign. Only weeks after the fall of Drégely, the Ottomans pushed north – and at Palást, they met the Christian armies of General Teuffel. German mercenaries, Italian soldiers of fortune, and Hungarian hussars clashed with Janissaries, Sipahis, and Ottoman cannons. It was a disaster for the Christians – yet men l...

The Hungarian History Podcast continues with the dramatic Siege of Drégely (1552) — the heroic last stand of Captain György Szondi and his men against overwhelming Ottoman forces. The year is 1552. A small, crumbling fortress in the Börzsöny Hills stands as the last barrier between the Ottoman war machine and the heart of Europe. Inside, Captain Szondy György and his 146 men prepare to face an arm...

Outnumbered, undersupplied, and betrayed by allies, Captain Losonczy István and his men faced the unstoppable Ottoman war machine in one of the most dramatic sieges of the 16th century. This is a story of defiance, betrayal, and a final stand that still echoes through history. 🎙️ It is still the only English podcast focusing entirely on Hungarian history. If you care about Hungary’s past and want...

🔥 Intrigue, Betrayal, and the Shadow of Siege 🔥 Transylvania, 1551. An uneasy alliance shatters. The White Monk — Martinuzzi György, cardinal, statesman, and master of intrigue — meets his fate in one of the most infamous political assassinations in Hungarian history. As the Ottomans and Habsburgs circle like vultures, the frontiers of Hungary erupt into fire. 🎙 In the latest episode of the Hung...

Still the  only  podcast in English dedicated entirely to Hungarian history, and today’s episode is something special! Instead of a solo deep-dive, I’m thrilled to be joined by historian  Konnát Árpád  for a rich, dynamic conversation. A Transylvanian Hungarian, researcher at the  Trianon Museum in Várpalota , and my dear friend (and swordmate!), Árpád brings incredible depth to this discussion. F...

Heroic last stands, brutal betrayals, haunted legends… In this episode, we take you deep into the blood-soaked heart of the 16th century, when Hungarian and Ottoman forces clashed over castles, cities, and survival. From the fall of Buda to the forgotten siege of Valpó, from brave hussars to treacherous burghers – this is the story of the fortresses that shaped Hungary's fate. 💻 Digital self-...

🎙️ Episode 10 — After Mohács: Resistance, Rebellion, and a Deal with the Sultan; The Hungarian History Podcast with Szántai Gábor, the only English voice about Hungarian history on social media . Before the catastrophe at Mohács in 1526, Queen Maria of Habsburg blocked all attempts to negotiate with the Ottomans. After the king’s death, her brother Ferdinand of Habsburg claimed the Hungarian thron...

'Re-examining the Death of King Lajos II at Mohács' The death of King Lajos II in 1526 remains one of the most consequential historical mysteries in Central Europe. Although it has traditionally been recorded as an accidental drowning, several contemporary sources merit closer examination. The subsequent power struggle between Habsburg Ferdinand and Szapolyai János resulted in conflicting...

🎙️ Episode 8 – The Battle of Mohács: Cavalry, Chaos, and Collapse In this episode of the Hungarian History Podcast , we take you to one of the most tragic—and misunderstood—days in Central European history. August 29, 1526. On the fields of Mohács, the fate of a kingdom is decided in just a few brutal hours. But this is not just the story of defeat. It is a story of warhorses and riders, of elite...