Battles of the Seven Magyars
Interactive military history project at the Ópusztaszer Heritage Park
MúzeumCafé 48.
The Conquest and the subsequent so-called era of incursions was one of the richest chapters in Hungarian military history. However, in public consciousness the period is somewhat vague and generally it is the portentous defeat at Augsburg which comes to mind. Fortunately, thanks to the latest research and changing views of history, we can rediscover battles and military campaigns and show that the tactics of the mounted warriors were on the highest level. History teaching is increasingly dealing with the theme, the aim being to increase knowledge in the public mind about the heroic deeds of the Hungarians. The Ópusztaszer Heritage Park has joined the initiative with a series of interactive military history days in the Park and, working with the Historical Animation Association, is offering the opportunity for participating school students to get to know, with the help of specialist presentations, the 10th century history of the Hungarians and their military culture. Computer software allows them to re-enact the major battles of the period. Students from 14 institutes in Szeged, Csongrád, Szombathely, Létavértes, Kistelek, Hódmezővásárhely, Makó and Ópusztaszer are participating in the project, have the opportunity to take part in the extra curricula activities, and with the help of modern technology, multi-media and computer software become more familiar with the era of the Conquest. The Heritage Park and the Historical Animation Association are cooperating in the planning and execution of the project, and with the help of an older development, the Total War computer game, have developed modifications specifically relating to Hungarian history.