International Conference in English (partly in French and German) Commemorating the 350th Anniversary of the Birth of Prince Francis II Rákóczi.

The international conference, held in connection with the 350th anniversary of the birth of Francis II Rákóczi, will bring together 15 international guest speakers from five countries (France, Austria, Poland, Turkey, and Slovakia), alongside the most distinguished experts in Hungarian historiography and literary history, as well as doctoral students presenting their latest research findings. Over the course of three days, the conference will feature 33 presentations focusing on the most recent research.

The conference will examine the characteristics of the late 17th and early 18th centuries—which also shaped the balance of power in Central Europe—from four principal perspectives. Particular attention will be paid to the contemporary normative framework of political theory and the question of the balance of power. In addition to developments in military affairs, the conference will also analyse the culture and practice of peacemaking.

In the context of European politics, the career of Francis II Rákóczi—including both his active political years and his years in exile—can be compared with a variety of parallel life trajectories. The person of the Prince, his intellectual and political legacy, his reflections on himself and his experiences, and his memoirs offer opportunities for cultural and intercultural approaches across a range of academic disciplines.

The conference’s interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary approach, bringing together new perspectives from several fields, is intended to provide valuable insights not only for historians and students of history, but also for scholars of literary history and legal history. Bringing together several generations of researchers, the conference will also provide doctoral students with an opportunity to present the results of their latest research.