HISTORY
POLISH • HUNGARIAN • WORLD FEDERATION & AFFILIATES
The Polish Hungarian World Federation was founded in 1968 by Dr. Karol Ripa who had been the Polish Consul General in Chicago before WWII. Dr. Ripa had invited leaders of the various Polish and Hungarian Organizations in Chicago to join him in formally establishing a worldwide organization based on the better than 1100 years of close cooperation, friendship and indeed brotherhood of these two great nations.
How did these two Peoples without commonality of ethnicity or language come to establish and maintain such a close friendship and brotherhood over the centuries? A unique brotherhood which is still strong to this vary day. The answer to this bewildering question may at first glance seem complicated. It is, however, quite reasonable and easy to understand.
Beginning with the fact that both Poles and Hungarians are fiercely independent minded freedom loving people who had long stood for individual rights, human dignity and freedom of choice, the following three basic facts will help our understanding this close relationship.
- Both Poland and Hungary are very old nations in Europe, having established their nation states at about the same time, over 1100 years ago.
- Both Nations adopted Western (Roman) Christianity in association with the founding of their nation states.
- Early on they both recognized their common fate. That is, the threat of Pan-Germanic expansionism from the West & Russian led Pan-Slavic expansionism from the East. (soon to come would be the Islamic expansionism from the South)
Recognizing their common geographic location (in the center of Europe)and the eminent threat posed to their nations, they became good neighbors and friends. They cemented this relationship through various Royal Marriages thereby establishing the basis for Political, Military, Social, Cultural and Economic exchange in support of each other. This relationship served not only to strengthen both nations but also to stabilize all of Europe over the course of more than ten centuries.
In the 9th Century the tribes of Polani, Slazani, Opolani, Mazowsani, Willani, Luziczani –
had formed the cradle of Poland which was unquestionably Slavic speaking. At about the same time Magyar speaking tribes of the Ural-Altaic Language Group reconquered the great empire of “Attila the Hun” and reestablished the Carpathian (or Eastern) portion of the proud Avar Khaganate. The Western Portion had been conquered and plundered by “Charles the Great” in the expansion of his Frankish Empire. Among the plundered Avar artifacts was Attila’s Royal Crown with which Charles was crowned “Emperor of the HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE.” Charles had been buried with that Crown and Pope Silvester II ordered the crown exhumed for the coronation of Stephen the first Christian King of Hungary. Thereafter, Poles and Hungarians have referred to New Year(new era) as Sylvester.
From this crucible emerged two nation states destined to forge strong alliances.
The unlikely friendship and brotherhood of Poles and Hungarians has withstood the test of time. Together, defenders of Christendom, preserving Western Culture stands a shining example for the entire world of how such close cooperation can be the path to greatness and a better future for all.
Thus, Poles and Hungarians remain brothers forever.
As the saying goes. . .
“Poles and Hungarians fight side-by-side and drink side-by-side”
Csaba Zongor(President)
6549 N MOZART ST. • CHICAGO, IL 60645 • 773-750-4621