Ever since its inception, the Count Gyula Andrássy Jr. Foundation has been working with unceasing commitment to uphold and promote the achievements of our historical constitution by embracing the message of the Holy Crown as the embodiment of Hungary’s continuous statehood and the national unity of its people. Through its work, the Foundation has contributed to the contract uniting the efforts of past, present, and future generations of Hungarians—the contract that, even as we speak, continues to be an important pillar of the Hungarian nation, Hungary, and the Fundamental Law of the country. While the Foundation’s value-creating and value-preserving activities are exemplary in the academic arena both at home and abroad, they also reach the general public.
The Foundation is represented by Dr. Erika Szeiler (Chair of the Board of Trustees).
Honorary Trustees:
Dr. Géza Jeszenszky
Dr. Tamás Mihály Révész
Members of the Board of Trustees:
Dr. Róbert Hermann
Dr. József Ferenc Holló
Prince Johannes von und zu Liechtenstein
Julianna Maratics
During its more than seventeen years of operation so far, the Foundation has implemented the following programmes:
– In the summer of 2010, in cooperation with the Military History Institute and Museum of Budapest, the Foundation published a book about its namesake Count Gyula Andrássy Jr. entitled Az európai utas – Ifjabb gróf Andrássy Gyula emlékezete (“Travelling the European Path: In Memory of Count Gyula Andrássy Jr.”). More than a decade and a half ago, the authors of the volume endeavoured to reintroduce the Andrássy family, and particularly Count Gyula Andrássy Jr., a wholehearted enthusiast for the Hungarian cause, into the public consciousness.
– The launch of the highly successful book took place on 10 November 2010 in the Marble Hall of the Military History Institute and Museum before an audience of over 80 participants with an academic interest in the subject. The book, which also commemorated the 150th anniversary of the birth of Count Gyula Andrássy Jr., provided an overview of his multifaceted activities in such diverse fields as domestic policy, legal and constitutional history, foreign policy, European integration, military history, economics, heraldry, intellectual history, patronage of the fine arts, and the philosophy of art.
– On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the birth of Count Gyula Andrássy Jr., the Hungarian Post—in cooperation with the Foundation—released a special edition postcard featuring a commemorative rubber stamp to acknowledge and honour the intellectual and architectural legacy left by Count Gyula Andrássy Jr. for the Hungarian nation.
– On 9 December 2010, the book Travelling the European Path: In Memory of Count Gyula Andrássy Jr. was also presented at the County Hall of Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County. “When Count Gyula Andrássy Jr. was born one hundred and fifty years ago, a wonderful career was set in motion. He became a politician who dealt with society and its problems, the economy, history, as well as military issues. He was not only a politician in foreign and domestic as well as economic and social policy, but also a historian, a military historian, an expert on heraldry, a philosopher of law, and a patron of the arts; he was, in modern terms, travelling ‘the European path’, an intelligent manager, and much more besides. His life is an example to young and old alike. He was a role model whose work should be taught to current and future generations alike”—Retired Lieutenant General József Holló emphasised.
– On 14 May 2011, a conference in memory of Count Gyula Andrássy Jr. took place at the Royal Palace of Gödöllő—the venue of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union—with special focus on Hungary’s historical constitution and the Holy Crown. The main patron of the conference was Prof. Dr. Szilveszter E. Vizi, former President of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.
Presenters and contributions:
- Dr. T. Mihály Révész: Count Gyula Andrássy Jr., the Polymath
- Dr. András Gergely: Count Gyula Andrássy Jr. on the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867
- Dr. Attila Horváth: Count Gyula Andrássy Jr. and the Historical Constitution of Hungary
- Dr. Gábor Máthé: Count Gyula Andrássy Jr. and the Doctrine of the Holy Crown
- Dr. Géza Jeszenszky: The Diplomacy of Count Gyula Andrássy Jr. during World War I
In her introduction, Dr. Erika Szeiler stressed that the aim of the Foundation was not merely to commemorate a great Hungarian personality, but also to promote the ideas of a thinker who is still relevant today, and to actively contribute to the incorporation of these ideas into public thinking.
– On 8 June 2012, an international charity conference took place in the Hall of Mirrors of the Stefánia Palace and Cultural Centre under the title Krásna Hôrka Castle: Our Common Heritage and Count Gyula Andrássy Jr. The main patron of the conference was Minister of Foreign Affairs Prof. Dr. János Martonyi.
Presenters and contributions:
- Retired Lieutenant General Dr. József Holló: Count Gyula Andrássy Jr.: A Thinker Travelling the European Path
- Associate Professor Dr. Attila Pandula: Museological and Fine Art Treasures in Krásna Hôrka Castle
- Art Historian Dr. Beatrix Basics: Count Gyula Andrássy Jr. and Krásna Hôrka Castle
- Professor Dr. Péter Kónya: Krásna Hôrka Castle in the 17th and 18th centuries: The Castle as the Centre of the Prešov Region in Slovakia
- Professor Dr. András Gergely: Krásna Hôrka Castle: Its Mythology and Its Future
Dr. Erika Szeiler emphasised that the history of the Andrássy family was deeply intertwined with Krásna Hôrka Castle. The Foundation was saddened to learn that the roof of the castle had been destroyed by fire. By organising the charity conference, the Foundation wished to contribute to the reconstruction of the castle by collecting donations. The Foundation advocated that once reconstructed, the castle should be much more than a museum rich in treasures of the fine arts: an international meeting place for academic discussions and art events and a venue for international diplomacy. As Dr. Erika Szeiler explained, the purpose of the conference was to pay tribute to a family with a great historical past—a family that, beyond a family that not only produced two joint foreign ministers of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy and accumulated fine art treasures, but also opened Krásna Hôrka Castle to the public as a museum in the early twentieth century. The conference was also a tribute to the Slovak state as the public custodian of the museum, acknowledging the country’s commitment to undertaking all necessary efforts to reconstruct and further develop the museum. The Foundation intended to contribute to the reconstruction of the castle through its modest means, by collecting donations from Hungary and by approaching sponsors during the conference.
– On 11 December 2014, the Count Gyula Andrássy Jr. Foundation and the National University of Public Service organised a joint event in the Chapel of the latter entitled Count Gyula Andrássy Jr. and World War I.
Presenters and contributions:
- Prof. Dr. Barna Mezey: The Law of Extraordinary Executive Powers in Hungary
- Dr. Gergely Patyi: Public Law Issues during World War I
- Prof. Emeritus Dr. József Kardos: Matters of War and Peace in the Thinking of Count Gyula Andrássy Jr.
- Vince Paál, PhD: Press Policy and Press Supervision during World War I
- Prof. Dr. András Gergely: Count Gyula Andrássy Jr.: A Politician in Opposition during World War I
- Prof. Dr. András Gerő: The National Delirium of 1914: Pro-War Enthusiasm in the Theatre
- Museologist Dr. Lajos Pallós: The Leading Figures of Hungarian Politics in Images from the Period of World War I
- Dr. László Nagy: Count Gyula Andrássy Jr. and the Fine Arts
- Prof. Dr. Géza Jeszenszky: Count Gyula Andrássy Jr. and the Reasons Leading to the Dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy
Guests included state secretaries, former ministers, diplomats, church dignitaries, rectors, and professors. As Dr. Erika Szeiler emphasised, “For us, it is important to be worthy of the Foundation’s namesake Count Gyula Andrássy Jr. and to stand behind the Foundation’s main objective: to put forward the initiative of establishing an independent international postgraduate academy for the training of diplomats and politicians in Budapest— an institution of international prestige that would serve its students and faculty while also enhancing Hungary’s international standing.” The excellent presentations delivered during the morning and afternoon sessions conveyed a fitting message—never again war—and underscored the vital importance of political intelligence, responsible statesmanship, and diplomatic engagement in preserving peace.
– In the autumn of 2016, the Foundation released the conference proceedings in both Hungarian and English. The book, which was a resounding success, underscored that the implicit goal of the conference was to set an example and provide future diplomats with a role model.
– By the end of 2017, the Foundation completed the production of a series of educational films entitled The Two Counts Gyula Andrássy. On 15 November 2017, the series was screened in the Ceremonial Hall of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences before a 500-strong audience. Ever since, the series has been a valuable resource and has been broadcast by numerous television channels both in Hungary and abroad. It has also been widely shown in cultural centres and in educational contexts.
– On 26 October 2018, in cooperation with the Royal Palace of Gödöllő Public Benefit Non-Profit Ltd., the Count Gyula Andrássy Jr. Foundation organised a conference entitled Hungary 1918: The Last Year of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy and Historic Hungary at the Royal Palace of Gödöllő.
– The proceedings of the above conference were published by the Foundation at the beginning of 2020. The book was launched on 17 October 2020 in the Ceremonial Hall of the Hungarian National Museum before a sizeable audience despite the restrictions and difficult circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
– Early 2021 saw the publication of the album The Two Counts Gyula Andrássy. The book launch took place on 14 June 2021 in the Ceremonial Hall of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. The event was attended by about 100 participants with an academic interest in the subject. During the book launch, which included a short accompanying conference, highly acclaimed historians explored a number of issues relating to the historical periods in which the two Counts Gyula Andrássy lived—issues that continue to affect present generations.
– An international conference entitled National Service, Churches, Constitutionality, and Freedom in the Careers of the Two Counts Gyula Andrássy took place on 20 September 2021 in the Ceremonial Hall of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. The conference was attended by about 150 participants.
– The launch of the conference proceedings took place on 9 December 2022 at the Ceremonial Hall of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. Both the conference and the book proved to be a resounding success.
– On 22 September 2023, in cooperation with the Royal Palace of Gödöllő Public Benefit Non-Profit Ltd., the Foundation organised a conference entitled The Providential Statesman: A Conference Commemorating the 200th Anniversary of the Birth of Count Gyula Andrássy Sr. in the Riding Hall and Stables of the Royal Palace of Gödöllő. The conference was attended by around 120 participants, including prominent representatives of many academic disciplines, diplomats, and politicians. By organising the conference, the Foundation reaffirmed its commitment to conveying the message that Gyula Andrássy—the providential statesman—was one of the most eminent figures in Hungarian political history and that his achievements should be recognised and his memory preserved for present and future generations.
Presenters and contributions:
- Géza Jeszenszky: Andrássy Gyula as Foreign Minister of Austria-Hungary
- Judit Pál: Transylvania and the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867
- Marianna Kaján: Gyula Andrássy in the Royal Palace of Gödöllő
- Dr. Franz Adlgasser: Two Imperialists? Foreign Minister Count Aehrenthal on the Foreign Policy of Count Gyula Andrássy
- László Csorba: The Handsome Hanged Man: Gyula Andrássy in Emigration
- Róbert Hermann: Gyula Andrássy in the Hungarian Civic Revolution and War of Independence of 1848
- Csaba Katona: The Two Counts Andrássy for Budapest
- Tamás Melkovics: Gyula Andrássy in the Hungarian Reform Era
- János Papházi: The Homecoming of Gyula Andrássy
- Ádám Schwarczwölder: The Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867 and the Premiership of Gyula Andrássy
- Barna Mezey: The Andrássy Government: Promoting the Modernisation of the Legal System
- T. Mihály Révész: The Second “Media War” in Hungary after the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867
- Tibor Balla: Gyula Andrássy and the Royal Hungarian Honvéd
- Beatrix Basics: The Private Collection of Count Gyula Andrássy Jr.
– The conference volume containing the papers presented at the event was published by the Foundation in early 2025. It was launched on 25 June 2025 in the Ceremonial Hall of the Hungarian National Museum.
– On 10 April 2026, an international conference commemorating the 350th anniversary of the birth of Ferenc II Rákóczi was held in the Ceremonial Hall of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.
– Between 2013 and 2019, the Foundation conducted research that led to the discovery of the mortal remains of Count Gyula Andrássy Jr. and his wife, together with associated funerary objects. Count Gyula Andrássy Jr.’s funerary pelisse and necktie were subsequently restored. The Foundation’s work, however, came to a standstill because of governmental obstacles.
– Between 2013 and 2017, the Foundation developed the concept for establishing the International Postgraduate Academy for the Training of Diplomats and Politicians (DPA), consulted experts on the proposal, and obtained letters of intent in support of the initiative. This work, too, was subsequently brought to a standstill by obstacles at government level.
The Count Gyula Andrássy Jr. Foundation will continue its exemplary work to explore and preserve the heritage of the Holy Crown, Hungarian national unity, and the values of the past, present, and future.
Budapest, 14 June 2026
The Board of Trustees of the Count Gyula Andrássy Jr. Foundation