“The Keszthely Magnet”

Festetics Julianna (1753-1824)

In 2024, we commemorate the 200th anniversary of Countess Julianna Festetics’ death.

“You forgot to write that, drawn by the Keszthely magnet, you left Keszthely later,” wrote Mária Cziráky, mother of Ferenc Széchényi, in a letter to her son on February 2, 1775. The “Keszthely magnet” mentioned here was the young Count’s sister-in-law, Julianna Festetics. The influence of this noblewoman on Ferenc Széchényi and her true character can be explored in the biography of Festetics Julianna.

Széchényi Ferencné Festetics Julianna

Family Background

Julianna Festetics was born on October 30, 1753, in Jablonca as the first child of Pál III Festetics and Julianna Bossányi. Among her younger siblings, György, born in 1755, later founded Europe’s first higher agricultural institution, the Georgikon, and organized the Helikon Celebrations, a key cultural series of the Hungarian Enlightenment. Her younger brother Imre, born in 1764, is considered the “grandfather of genetics,” having formulated fundamental genetic rules in 1819 through his observations of sheep traits.

The Young Julianna Festetics

As was common in aristocratic families, Julianna’s education relied heavily on her family background. Her father, Pál III Festetics, held increasingly important official positions in Vienna, while early childhood education was mainly overseen by her mother, Julianna Bossányi. After completing her basic studies, Julianna attended the Notre Dame de Sion convent school in Pozsony, where she graduated as a cultured young woman fluent in multiple languages, including German, English, French, and Italian.

Remarkable Marriages

At the age of 19, in 1772, Julianna married 21-year-old József Széchényi, eldest son of Zsigmond Széchényi and Mária Cziráky. The marriage was short and childless. On November 30, 1774, her young husband suffered a fatal hunting accident, leaving Julianna a widow at 21. By agreement with her late husband’s brother, Ferenc Széchényi (born 1754), she could live in the Horpács castle of the Széchényi family. Ferenc was not indifferent to his sister-in-law, as even his brother József had noticed. In his last letter dated October 19, 1774, he wrote: “…my wife was in the highest esteem before you, my brother. I too will now remain silent and stay in the affection of our family ties.”

Marriage to Ferenc Széchényi

It took three years before Julianna married Ferenc Széchényi. Initially, both families—the Festetics and the Széchényi—opposed the marriage due to the brother-in-law/sister-in-law relationship. Ferenc’s close friendship with Julianna’s brother, György I, supported the union from the start. The mutual attraction between Ferenc and Julianna proved stronger than the parents expected. With papal permission and the payment of 6,000 florins, the wedding was held on August 17, 1777, in Kópháza.

The marriage produced six children, five of whom survived into adulthood: György (1778, died in infancy), Lajos (1781), Franciska (1783), Zsófia (1788), Pál (1789), and István (1791), who would later become known as “the Greatest Hungarian.”

Ferenc Széchényi and Julianna Festetics shared a harmonious marriage. “For behold, I have such a spouse, whom I may rightly call a pearl of a wife, a precious good mother, and a wise housekeeper,” wrote Ferenc to a friend. Kazinczy Ferenc, visiting the family in Vienna, praised the couple and their dedication to raising their children in the Hungarian spirit.

Minerals and Stones in the Service of Science

Julianna Festetics was a worthy companion to her husband throughout their lives. She supported him during his official duties and stood by him in retirement, including during the later years of Emperor Joseph II. Notably, during the diplomatic trip to Naples in 1790–1791, Julianna used her Italian skills to assist her husband and the imperial house.

In 1802, Ferenc Széchényi requested royal permission to donate his scientific collection as a museum gift. On November 25 of that year, he donated his library of thousands of volumes and manuscripts to the Hungarian nation, establishing the National Széchényi Library and the Hungarian National Museum. Festetics Julianna had been collecting various minerals, plants, and stones, which she contributed to her husband’s collection, forming the basis of the later natural history museum. (Unfortunately, this collection was lost in the 1956 fire.)

Final Years

In the 1810s, the Széchényi couple lived a retired life but still received guests at their Vienna residence when possible. Despite health issues, their visitors noted the evident love and respect they had for each other.

Gróf Széchényi Ferenc

Ferenc Széchényi died on December 13, 1820, after a serious illness. Julianna mourned deeply, and her health declined in the following years. She spent summers at the Carlsbad spa in her last three years and assisted her children whenever possible. On December 28, 1823, she spoke for the last time with her youngest son, István. She encouraged him to avoid a political career, even though she was pleased he left the army.

Gróf Széchenyi István

Julianna Festetics passed away on January 20, 1824, in Vienna at the age of 71, before witnessing the political and patriotic achievements of her youngest son, István. She was laid to rest in the Széchényi family crypt in Nagycenk.

In 1817, the couple celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. On her mother’s birthday, their children presented her with an album. István Széchényi wrote a poem to his mother, calling her the best mother, and expressing her enduring influence:

“Amid fire and arms, you kept me with prayer,
You cared for me swiftly on my sickbed,
You taught me,
You advised me,
You planted in my heart the good from which I am and will be,
And whatever little I do for God and my homeland,
Is your work!”

Sources

• Fraknói Vilmos: Széchényi Ferencz, 1754–1820. Budapest, 1902. Link
• Hazai ’s Külföldi Tudósitások, February 7, 1824, pp. 81–82
• Hegyaljai Kiss Géza: Széchenyi István édesanyja. Új Idők, September 7, 1941, pp. 292–293
• Dr. Szabó Dezső: A herceg Festetics család története, 1928

Image Sources

• Johann Ender: Countess Ferencné Széchényi, Julianna Festetics (link)
• Young Festetics Julianna (link)
• Ferenc Széchényi and Festetics Julianna (link)
• Map of Naples, 1790s (link)
• Johann Ender: Count Ferenc Széchényi (link)
• Johann Ender: Count István Széchenyi (1818) (link)