Two months ago I visited a historical exhibition that was quite unique. Historical exhibition usually means exhibiting objects from the past with historical value for the public to see. This was different though as there were no historical objects, just the part, the history itself.
The exhibition was called The Exhausted Regiment of Lajos Kossuth.
Lajos Kossuth de Udvard et Kossuthfalva (19 September 1802 – 20 March 1894) was a Hungarian nobleman, lawyer, journalist, politician, statesman and governor-president of the Kingdom of Hungary during the revolution of 1848–1849.
With the help of his talent in oratory in political debates and public speeches, Kossuth emerged from a poor gentry family into regent-president of the Kingdom of Hungary. As the influential contemporary American journalist Horace Greeley said of Kossuth: "Among the orators, patriots, statesmen, exiles, he has, living or dead, no superior." source
To help people understand where and how the whole thing started, there was this poster, explaining what a veteran means, what a veteran hospital or veteran care home means and when it started. It's interesting to learn that Les Invalides in Paris was built by the order of Louis XIV in 1670. Ok, I knew that as I visited the place years ago and learnt about it. It gives home to Napoleon's tomb, a very interesting one by the way. I should post my own photos from Paris, but lost them all due to a computer crash.
Royal Hospital in Chelsea was founded in 1682, a similar establishment was inaugurated in 1787 in Vienna and slowly in other major cities as well.
There were no photos back in those days, so drawings and illustrations were the ones making the events memorable and thanks to the latest techniques, you can scan them, print them, even make animation about them if you like.
Hungary joined the trend in 1716, when the construction of such a home began. Postcards play a huge role in history as quite many are testimony of the past. Photography was not available yet or not as widespread among individuals, only professionals and a selected few could afford to buy a camera. So these postcards are serving as witnesses of the past and are more valuable than you think.
Two postcards from the 19th century. One featuring József Takaró, retired soldier, one of the residents. The other is an illustration from a magazine printed in 1887, featuring a veteran. According to this article, veteran were widely used as guards. This is something you see today too, veterans often continue as security officers, due to their experience.
This is a book with the names of the military officers from 1848 - 1849, published in 1867 at Budapest. That book is actually 156 years old. The actual book is most likely well kept at a museum in Budapest.
Veteran home from 1900.
Apart from these veteran homes, something else started to form, and those were the national defense associations, which often had political power too.
This slide presents details about the construction of the veteran home and photos too.
Portrait of Vetter Antal, army general, published on the cover of a magazine in 1862. Please note, this is a drawing or graphic art. Look at how life like it is, almost looks like a photo.
András Gáspár, major general.
Looking at the photos now I realize this exhibition really pays tribute to those who fought for their country as well as to those who laid the foundation of veteran care.
Woodcut illustration that was published in one of the magazines (Sunday paper actually), in 1877, featuring the inauguration of a memorial stone for those lost in the revolution in 1848 - 1849.
Call for donation for veterans from 1873.
An article about János Vidats, the founder of the veteran home or shelter.
The story of the veteran home, till nationalization 1882. This means the state took over the home in 1882.
Commanders and committee presidents of the home and their obituary on the right. This is actually a very sad one.
This man was actually a knight, a lawyer and had his PhD as we call it today.
Several handwritten documents from those times, like birth certificates, other certificates and a poverty certificate. This shocked me a bit as I've been hearing this expression all of my life, referring to shortcomings, like when you don't know how to behave, or your lack of knowledge in math for example. But had no idea it was actually a thing back in those days. This certificate was given to the poor, to certify they don't have anything. It's sad.
If you thought this was a hotel, with all the services included, I have to disappoint you as you were wrong. This slide talks about the organization, admission system and policies. And this is where that poverty certificate comes in. In order to gain admission, you had to have a poverty certificate, that justified you need the support of the veteran home. Those who had properties and wealth had no place there.
This was the daily schedule and rules that needed to be respected. I'm going to translate it as it is in Hungarian.
- Morning wake up - at 6am between 1st of April and 30th of November, 7am at the rest of the months.
- Dressing up - means do the bed, get dressed, comb your hair, after which comes the inspection.
3 - Taking note of who wanted to go out and if they will be back for lunch. This report was then passed on to the commander.
There were 3 slides with the rules and after reading them all, God! This was worse than in the actual army. You would think these old guys served the country with dignity and now they deserve some rest, but this was anything but. I bet there was order in the house as the rules are very strict. They had the right to have a 10 day vacation per year, if it was approved.
Reading these rules I feel sorry for them, honestly. Shamelessly tagging 
A photo taken in 1894, at the funeral of Lajos Kossuth.
An article about the upgrade of the veteran home.
By 1910, only a few of the veterans were still alive, so the home was transformed in hospital for invalids.
The last inhabitants and the last man standing. I don't even want to imagine what the last man must felt, when everyone he spent his life with was already gone.
A painting of two old veterans. Imagine what their life was like. They set on the bench talking about the old days.
Old press articles about the veteran home.
Destruction or decay of the veteran home and the survival of its memory. This exhibition definitely helped in its memory to survive.
This exhibition was like a walk back in history and honestly, it made me sad. I'm glad I was able to learn about this part of history and have the photos to read everything that it is written here, but it is still sad. Very sad. But, compared to what we have today, they had a chance to live together in a military structure that was kind of similar to the army base they spent their youth at, even though the rules were brutal.
If you're a newbie, you may want to check out these guides:
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