Did you know that this monument marks a place of sorrow and remembrance? Here stands the II. Lajos király emlékmű. It commemorates King Louis II of Hungary. He tragically lost his life fleeing the Battle of Mohács.
This II. Lajos király emlékmű stands north of Mohács. It is located where Route 56 crosses the Csele stream. Tradition marks this as the spot of King Louis II’s death. He was escaping the battlefield.
Let me tell you about Soma Turcsányi. He was a Hussar lieutenant. He fought in many battles of the Hungarian Revolution. After the surrender, the imperial court sentenced him to death. But he escaped from the Arad fortress. He settled in Bár. Bár is near Mohács. His employer vouched for him. He said Turcsányi worked for him during the revolution. This saved him from the authorities. As a state road master he traveled the roads. He visited the site of the Battle of Mohács. He conceived the idea to erect a monument. It would honor those who fell in battle.
In 1864 the original monument was erected. It was a stone column. Its top was shaped like a pyramid. A sleeping stone lion rested on top. The lion symbolized the heroes. They stood against the conquerors. Turcsányi Soma maintained the oak fence. He paid for it himself. He did so for thirty years until his death in 1894.
By the time of the millennial celebrations the monument was crumbling. In 1896 enthusiastic citizens called for its restoration. Albin Saratko, a sculptor from Vienna, led the reconstruction. The renovated II. Lajos király emlékmű was inaugurated in 1899. This day marked the three hundred and seventy-third anniversary. It was of the Battle of Mohács.
A bronze relief was added to the roadside of the stone column. György Kiss created it. It depicts Louis falling from his horse. He plunges into the Csele stream. Below the relief are lines from a poem. Károly Kisfaludy wrote it. It is titled “Mohács”.
In 1997 the Mohács Fibreboard Factory renovated the monument and its surroundings. This II. Lajos király emlékmű stands as a reminder of a king’s untimely death. It also marks the bravery of those who fought. It also embodies national tragedy. The II. Lajos király emlékmű serves as a place for reflection. We remember Hungary’s past struggles. We honor those who gave their lives. It ensures their sacrifice is never forgotten.