Was Maderspach Károlyné merely a name on a street sign? No. She was a symbol of defiance. She was a beacon of hope during Hungary’s darkest hours. This plaque commemorates her courage. It also honors her family’s unwavering support for the 1848-1849 revolution.
Maderspach Károlyné utca in Budapest’s District XI honors this remarkable woman. This street connects Ugron Gábor utca with Homonna utca. It sits on the southern slope of Sashegy. The street’s name first appeared on maps in 1937. But the story of Maderspach Károlyné goes back much further.
Born Buchwald Franciska in 1804 she married Maderspach Károly. Her husband was a prominent ironworks owner in Ruszkabánya. Together they ran one of Hungary’s largest industrial operations. The family actively supported the Hungarian fight for independence.
Franciska opened her home to honvéd officers. She helped equip a 600-strong national guard unit. General Bem himself frequented their Ruszkabánya estate. The Maderspach factory supplied Bem’s army with weapons. Even after the revolution faltered the family persisted. They aided Kossuth Lajos during his final night on Hungarian soil. They also assisted General Bem’s escape.
The imperial forces arrived in Ruszkabánya on August 22 1849. They sought to arrest Maderspach Károly. But his workers bravely shielded him. The soldiers turned their fury toward Franciska. They accused her of supporting rebels. They also said she burned an effigy of the emperor. This supposed act occurred during a celebration in June 1848.
On August 23 1849 Captain Gröber publicly flogged her. He acted under Haynau’s command. Maderspach Károly could not bear his wife’s humiliation. He ended his life with a shot from one of his own factory’s cannons.
Haynau’s cruelty sparked outrage. He was dismissed in 1850. Later while traveling in London he visited the Barclay and Perkins brewery. Workers recognized him as the “hyena” who flogged women. They attacked him with brooms and shovels. Police barely rescued him from the mob.
Franciska never saw justice in her lifetime. The family sold their Ruszkabánya factory in 1857. She spent her final years in Buda.
This plaque on Maderspach Károlyné utca ensures her story lives on. She may not have lived in District XI. But this street serves as a lasting tribute. It honors her suffering and the entire Maderspach family’s dedication to Hungary. Remember her name when you pass this plaque. Remember her courage. Remember Maderspach Károlyné.