The memorial year of Bálint Balassi was closed

By: Dóra Gyarmathy

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The first Hungarian poet, the valiant soldier, the passionate suitor Bálint Balassi was born 450 years ago and died 410 years ago. So a memorial year was announced by the Ministry of National Cultural Heritage in the first part of 2004. Bálint Balassi’s adventurous life and pioneering art was shown in this year in Hungary and outside the borders. There were several programmes about him during 2004. A travelling exhibition, which demonstrated his life and art, got to Krakow, Poland after travelled through several Hungarian towns. His poems, which were setted to music, was shown on festivals and concerts, his life and art could be get to know in competitions, books and CDs were published on him in this year, the audience could see and hear presentations and interviews about him and the Hungarian Radio had a series which followed his footsteps in those towns where he had lived. So the memorial year was worthy of the first Hungarian poet, Bálint Balassi.

Bálint Balassi is called the first Hungarian poet although there had been several Hungarian poems before the 16th century but the poetry before Balassi can’t be attached to a personality. He was the first poet who create a school in his lifetime and he was the creator of the Hungarian love-lyrics. Bálint Balassi’s life was more than adventurous. He was born in 1554 in the fortress of Zólyom (Zvolen, Slovakia) into a Protestant aristocratic family. After his years of study his father sent him against Prince István Báthori of Transylvania to prove his loyalty to the King. Bálint was taken to Transylvania as a prisoner, but he found a pleasant home at the court of Báthori. Balassi followed the prince to Poland when he became the King of Poland. Meanwhile his father had died and he became the head of the family and found himself in financial instabilty. He tried to make better his circumstances with litigations, taking part in the fights against the Ottoman Empire, moreover he tried to make his fortune with a marriage. Although he had some success but he never reached the financial security. He died at the siege of Esztergom in 1594. His poetry reflects his contradictory life, his humanist education (besides his native Hungarian and classic Latin, he spoke seven languages including Italian, German, and Turkish), the Renaissance style of poetry. His poems are separeted love lyrics, religious and soldier’s poems. His last poem is a paraphrase of Psalm 50: “Revive my mind by sending your joy. / Don’t let the marrow dry up in my bones because of my