Betyár

Betyárs
Founding location Kingdom of Hungary
Years active Early-late 19th century
Territory Hungary and Slovakia
Ethnicity Hungarian and Slovak
Criminal activities banditry, highway robbery, horse theft mail, robbery, train robbery
Sándor Rózsa's reconstructed portrait
Jóska Sobri (painted by Sándor Száva)

The betyárs (Hungarian: betyárok), were the highwaymen of the 19th century Kingdom of Hungary. The "betyár" word is the Hungarian version of "Social Bandit".[1] (The word itself is of Ottoman Turkish origin, meaning 'bachelor' or 'unmarried man'.)

Several betyárs have become legendary figures who in the public mind fought for social justice. The most famous Hungarian betyárs were Sándor Rózsa from the plain, Jóska Sobri, Jóska Savanyú from Bakony and Márton Vidróczky from Mátra.

A wanted poster from 1856 promising reward for Sándor Rózsa, dead or alive

Hungarian folktale tradition

Until the 1830s they were mainly regarded as criminals, but an increasing public appetite for betyár songs, ballads and stories gradually gave a romantic image to these armed and usually mounted robbers. Rózsa is only the foremost of many Hungarian outlaw heroes, or betyárs, who appear in Hungarian history and folklore.[2] There is a far-flung Hungarian folktale tradition featuring a large number of local Robin Hoods.[2]

Famous betyárs

See also

References

  1. ↑ Shingo Minamizuka, A social bandit in nineteenth century Hungary: Rózsa Sándor, East European Monographs, 2008, p. 1
  2. 1 2 Graham Seal, Outlaw Heroes in Myth and History, Anthem Press, 2011, p. 79
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