“A lily pressed to his heart.” What image does that conjure for you? That is how Saint Emeric is depicted here in this statue. He stands on Zsigmond Móricz Circus in Budapest’s 11th District. This statue is more than bronze and stone. It embodies a pivotal moment in Hungarian history.
Let’s step back to a time when legends intertwined with reality. Saint Emeric was the son of Saint Stephen. Saint Stephen was Hungary’s founding king. Emeric died young in 1031 while hunting. Details of his life are scarce. Later stories portray him as a virgin Christian prince. He represents a lost opportunity in Hungarian eyes. His reign never happened. It remained a dream.
The statue’s story began in a time of national reflection. The St. Emeric Memorial Year between 1930 and 1931 marked 900 years since his death. The Hungarian state and the Catholic Church organized grand ceremonies. But the statue wasn’t a state commission. Archduchess Isabella von Croÿ-Dülmen funded it. She lived in Hungary with her husband. He was a retired military commander.
Imagine the unveiling on August 17, 1930. Contemporary accounts speak of immense splendor. Some said it rivaled the coronation of Charles IV. The statue found its place near Bishop Gerard’s martyrdom site. Bishop Gerard was Emeric’s educator. This area was rapidly developing. The 11th District was newly independent.
This location gained importance quickly. The Ferenc József Bridge, now Szabadság Bridge, spurred construction. Multi-story buildings rose along Átlós Road. The Technical University relocated here. The Circus became the area’s heart.
The roads around changed names reflecting the times. Átlós Road became Fehérvári Road. The square adopted the name of Governor Miklós Horthy. A street was named Prince Saint Emeric Road. The Szent Imre Grammar School opened nearby in 1929.
Zsigmond Kisfaludi Strobl created the sculptures. Descriptions from 1930 detail Emeric in decorated clothes. A crown similar to Saint Margaret’s rests on his head. He faces the youth. The lily symbolizes innocence. Figures surround him. One kneels offering lilies. A schoolgirl brings her heart. A soldier stands in awe. A scout stands proudly. A peasant girl looks up in amazement. A student stands nearby.
The statue’s pedestal shows Saint Stephen offering the Holy Crown to the Virgin Mary. Saint Emeric kneels before him. The back displays Archduchess Izabella’s coat of arms. A bronze wreath of wildflowers is also present. Archduke Albrecht donated it on behalf of Hungarian youths.
Primate Justinián Serédi inaugurated the statue. Governor Miklós Horthy also spoke. The 11th District became Szentimreváros. This translates to Saint Emeric City.
The communist regime disliked the statue. It rejected the inter-war system. The square became Móricz Zsigmond Circus. Szent Imre Herceg Road changed to Villányi Road. The district lost the name Szentimreváros.
The statue miraculously survived the war. Plans to remove it surfaced in the 1950s. In 1956, there was a discussion to remove Saint Emeric’s statue. They wanted to make space for a statue of Zsigmond Móricz.
During the 1956 revolution, fighting damaged the statue. But it remained standing. In 1957, a reader’s letter criticized the statue. It questioned Saint Emeric’s significance. The Catholic Church newspaper spoke out against its removal.
Relocation plans arose again in the 1970s. Traffic management was cited as the reason. Fortunately, these plans never materialized. Restoration only occurred in 2002.
The statue of Saint Emeric still stands today. It stands in Szentimreváros. It reminds us of Saint Emeric. It also reminds us of Hungary’s complex history. A history of faith. A history of power. A history of art. A history of survival. Take a moment. Reflect on the prince. Reflect on Hungary.