“A HAZÁÉRT MINDHALÁLIG!” This inscription echoes the spirit of the Ludovika szárnyépület. It stands as a testament to Hungarian military officer training. The Ludovika szárnyépület is more than just a building. It is a symbol of national unity and sacrifice.
In 1808 a decision was made to create Hungarian language military officer training. This led to the establishment of the Magyar Királyi Honvéd Ludovika Akadémia. The academy was named after Ludovika Beatrix. She was the third wife of Emperor Franz I. She donated fifty thousand forints towards its establishment. That sum would equal 200-250 million forints today.
The creation of Hungarian language military officer training unified the nation. An unprecedented public fundraising began. It resulted in more than four times the amount needed for the academy. In total 995100 forints were collected. This sum equals about 4 billion forints today. The names of the 237 donors were enshrined in law. Not only private individuals but also church communities and counties joined forces. They helped to build the Ludovika szárnyépület. This noble gesture is commemorated by a series of coats of arms. You can find them in the building’s courtyard.
József nádor laid the foundation stone in 1830. Construction began based on Mihály Pollack’s classicist plans. It was completed in 1836. However officer training could not start immediately. The imperial government and the court war council always managed to obstruct the Ludoviceum. For years the building stood empty. In 1838 after the great Pest flood flood victims were accommodated here. The National Museum’s valuable collection was also moved here for safekeeping. Military education finally began at the Ludovika szárnyépület during the 1848-49 revolution. The Hungarian Military Academy was opened on January 7 1849. But its operation was banned ten days later. Austrian military authorities occupying Pest and Buda shut it down. Its equipment was seized. The building was converted into a military hospital.
In 1867 the Austro-Hungarian Compromise made it possible to train officers. These officers would serve in the Royal Hungarian Honvédség. The Ludovika Akadémia began its actual operation in 1872. Within a few years it became a higher education institution. It was on par with the Maria Theresa Academy in Vienna. From then on the best officers of the Hungarian army taught and mentored future soldiers.
Following World War I the Treaty of Trianon restricted the academy. The Ludovika Akadémia remained the only institution. It ensured officer replacement within the Honvédség. The institution operated until April 25 1945. Afterwards the ELTE Faculty of Science used the building for decades. The Hungarian Museum of Natural Sciences also found a home here. It had previously operated in scattered locations.
In May 2012 the Hungarian government decided to renovate the Ludovika historical building complex. It also decided to renew Orczy Park. The goal was to provide a worthy unified location for the National University of Public Service. The Ludovika Campus Project began with the reconstruction of the classicist main building. Pollack Mihály designed it. The renovation was completed by the spring of 2014. The National University of Public Service took possession of the renovated building on March 31.
In 2020 the renovation of the four-story Neo-Renaissance block was completed. József Kauser designed it in 1886. In recent decades several institutions operated here. These included the Kossuth Artillery Officer School and the Bem József High School. Kindergarten teacher training also took place here. The Raoul Wallenberg Human Vocational School and Gymnasium last used it. This lasted until 2015. Then the building became part of the Ludovika Campus. As part of the renovation the independent building got offices. It also got seminar rooms language labs and a computer room. A fencing room and community spaces were also added.
In 2022 the Ludovika Historical Exhibition opened in the Ludovika Campus szárnyépület. It commemorated the 150th anniversary of national military officer training. The interactive exhibition aims to showcase the Ludovika Akadémia’s exciting history. The academy always aimed to produce officers. They should love their country. They must be religious reliable and caring for their subordinates. They also needed to be chivalrous. The training emphasized social and cultural education. Officer candidates learned to dance sing fence and ride. They became familiar with almost all branches of the arts. They also studied sciences beyond military science. The exhibition is available in Hungarian and English. The Ludovika szárnyépület stands today as a blend of history education and national pride.