Móric Beňovský - A man of many firsts

Publikováno: 6. 7. 2023
Autor: Silvia Mária Petrovits
Foto: Wikimedia and Shutterstock.com

A Hungarian count, soldier and merchant, prisoner and outcast, traveler and adventurer, successful diplomat, colonizer, as well as the author of a book that became a bestseller at the turn of the 18th and 19th century – Maurice Benyovszky.

Despite certain contrary opinions, he is the man whose name is borne by one of the most beautiful islands of the Indian Ocean – Mauritius. April 2023 marks 245 years since Maria Theresa bestowed upon this first citizen of Europe and globetrotter the title and station of count.

Bestselling author
Benyovszky Máté Móric Mihály Ferenc Szerafin Ágost, most commonly referred to throughout history as Maurice, lived a life rife with battles, escapes, imprisonments, fame, and failures. He left his mark on the political development of Poland, the USA, France, Austria, and Madagascar. He was a man of many firsts. The author of the bestselling book "Memoirs and Travels" was the first European to sail the waters of the North Pacific Ocean, several years before James Cook. Streets have been named after him in the capital of Madagascar as well as three other cities on the island and various more in Poland, but his name can also be seen adorning street signs in Budapest and Vienna. And the native from Vrbové near Piešťany fascinates people to this day. The Poles, Hungarians, and Slovaks alike claim him as their own. Strangely enough, even though you won't find his name in the history books, he's well known by the general public. One thing that helped his name spread was the 1975 history show "Vivat Beňovský!" of joint Czechoslovak and Hungarian production with Jozef Adamovič in the lead role. Benyovszky's memoir became a bestseller at the time. Thanks to his curious mind and a knack for penmanship he laid out his exploits in a colorful but believable manner; however, he often embellished and even appropriated various stories and events. Historians are unable to distinguish fact from fiction in his writing to this day. Unfortunately, the author never got to enjoy literary fame as his French diary scribbles were only published after his death in 1790 by João Jacinto de Magalhães, the son of the famous seafarer, both in the French original and in an English translation.

From outlaw to explorer
Benyovszky's family was an ancient noble house in Hungary. Besides blue blood, he also inherited a knack for all things military from his father. In the Enlightenment, a young noble scion was destined for a career in the military, the clergy, or that of a clerk. Young Maurice found his way into the army. Following the death of his mother and the loss of a court battle for his family assets, he got an early taste of imprisonment, escape, and the life of an outlaw at just fifteen years of age. He joined the Confederation of Bar in the fight for Polish independence in the Spiš region, which was held by the Polish king at the time. When the Polish-Russian war broke out, he left his wife Zusanna Hönsch to lead the Krakow cavalry. Sustaining injuries, he was captured by the Russians and jailed in Kazań, going on to escape a few months later. Maurice was subsequently outcast to Kamchatka, which he also escaped from alongside other prisoners only to strike out on a voyage to explore the Pacific Ocean as well as the Aleutian and Kuril Islands.

First European in western Alaska
Maurice dropped anchor off the coast of the Japanese empire in July 1771. He was the first European to explore the western coast of Alaska, going on to sail from Kamchatka to Macau. He navigated the seas around Asia and Africa and explored Saint Lawrence Island and Madagascar. His voyage around the Cape of Good Hope and eventually all of Africa to the south of France ended on the island of Groix. Benyovszky's famous travels made their way into contemporary print as well. The French King Louis XV was taken by his tenacity and innate feel for diplomacy as well as his military strategy and trade acumen. Benyovszky's triumphant arrival in Paris in the summer of 1772 culminated with him enlisting in the French army and becoming a colonel. The French government did refuse his plan to colonize Formosa (present-day Taiwan) but it entrusted him with leading a military expedition to Madagascar. He was to defend French interests, establish an overseas trading post, and help prepare the island for French colonization. In February 1774, Benyovszky alighted with a team of volunteers in Antongil Bay. He built the Louisburg fortress and two other strongholds on the island.

King of Madagascar
He managed to gain the trust and favor of the local people. The Malagasy tribes started whispering about Maurice being descended from the last great king of Madagascar Larizon Ramini, who was murdered by pirates. The Sambariva tribe interpreted it as the fulfillment of a prophecy and the act of their god Zanahary. Things quickly came to a head. When the Great Kabar (ceremonial gathering) of various tribes of indigenous peoples convened on the Mahevelou Plateau on October 1, 1776, they named Benyovszky their ruler and titled him Ampansacabé – the king of kings. However, Benyovszky ruled but a small fraction of an island in disarray and that for only a short time, likely never as a formal ruler.

Pardoned by Maria Theresa
Maurice subsequently returned to Paris to garner the support of the French government for his kingdom. But Versailles was not interested in having an independent Madagascar, they intended for it to be a French colony. The French King Louis XVI had no interest in entertaining Benyovszky's plans but he did promote him to the rank of general with lifetime benefits and awarded him the Order of St. Louis. And so, Benyovszky turned to the imperial court in Vienna instead. To be able to return to the Danubian monarchy, he had to overcome his past transgressions. However, his notoriety meant he was not only pardoned by Queen Maria Theresa but also elevated to the station of count. Maurice also offered her his expertise in military strategy and trade, which rendered no major successes.

Death in battle
Despite his failures, Benyovszky didn't falter, setting out for London in 1783 to entrust the British crown with the defense of Madagascar. He became a member of the Madagascar High Council for Matters of Politics and Trade. He settled in Baltimore with his family for some time, establishing a trading company. In 1785, he returned to Madagascar as an agent of the British crown. His plans to build his own empire on the island under the protection of Great Britain were ambitious. He started building Mauritania, the capital of his realm, on Cape East. Similar to his initial forays on the island, he tried his best to disrupt the French slave trade and incited rebellion among the locals, which led to a great deal of opposition from French traders and the government alike. Maurice's plans were starting to fall apart. France dispatched a military force to deal with him, which conquered his fortress, resulting in Benyovszky's demise on May 23, 1786, at the age of just 39 years. The matter of his grave is shrouded in mystery to this day as explorers have been unable to find it despite having access to various maps and clues. His widow Zusanna Hönsch left Baltimore and returned with her daughters Roza and Zsofia to Hungary where she died in 1825.

HE WAS CLOSEST WITH THE OCSKAYS
Maurice Benyovszky's family can trace its noble roots back to the 14th century. Despite the family's status, their assets dwindled over time. Regardless of his turbulent fate, Maurice Benyovszky maintained a relationship with the family of his godfather Mihály Ocskay and his wife Teréz Révay. The house of Ocskay from Ocskó is an ancient noble house dating back to the 11th century. It spawned various soldiers, writers, officials, and scientists as well as the famous Kuruc general Lászlo, dubbed "Rákoczi's Lightning." Besides Benyovszky's godfather Mihály, his son-in-law Rudolf, the husband of his daughter Zsofia, also belonged to the house.

SERVING AMERICA
Following the signing of the Peace of Teschen (1779), Benyovszky turned his attention back to Madagascar and sought allies in the New World. Despite successfully fighting for the Americans in the battle of Savannah, he found only disappointment. During his time in Paris, he befriended the American ambassador and founding father Benjamin Franklin. Benyovszky returned to America in 1782 and met George Washington whom he offered his help with gathering an army for the American Revolution in Germany. At Washington's suggestion, he presented the Continental Congress once again with his proposal to establish an American outpost on Madagascar to fight the British. The Congress refused, citing interest in improving relations with Great Britain. Benyovszky left the USA and made for the Danube monarchy. Emperor Joseph II did appoint him the founder of the Austrian colony in Madagascar but nothing ever came of it.