Image of Hungary in France - the Hungarian Research Institute published its latest book with this title. A scientific conference was also organized to present the volume, the patron of which was Eszter Vitályos, the parliamentary state secretary of the Ministry of Culture and Innovation.
In his greeting, the politician recalled the historical aspects of French-Hungarian relations. According to him, the millennial history of French-Hungarian relations is also based on many beliefs and stereotypes. Among these are positive prejudices, such as the homeland of St. Martin and the defense of Christianity. But there are also scary ones, like the wrong folk etymology of the names ogre (monster) and hongrois.
One of the historical characteristics of Hungarian-French relations is that it is so durable that it is often burdened by political antagonisms. Whether it's the incursions of the "adventurous" Hungarians or France, the ally of Sultan Suleiman, the state secretary declared.
Eszter Vitályos established that international real politics in the XIX. by the end of the century, he increasingly distanced the two parallel historical narratives from each other. - This is how the Hungarians, who were still celebrated as champions of freedom in 1848, became the oppressors of the Slavs, and although the Hungarian art world and supporters of progress continued to cast their watchful eyes on Paris, the great break of 1914 was inevitably approaching - said the state secretary.
The full article of Magyar Nemzet can be read here.
Image: Hungarian Research Institute
