Stefan Dunjov facts for kids
Stefan Dunjov (Bulgarian: Стефан Дуньов, Stefan Dunyov, Hungarian: Dunyov István) was a brave military leader and revolutionary. He was born on July 28, 1815, and passed away on August 29, 1889. Stefan Dunjov was a Banat Bulgarian, which means he belonged to a group of Bulgarians living in the Banat region. He is famous for fighting in two big historical events: the Hungarian Revolution of 1848 and the Italian unification, also known as the Risorgimento. He was also the very first ethnic Bulgarian to become a Colonel in an army.
Early Life and the Hungarian Revolution
Stefan Dunjov was born in a town called Vinga. At that time, Vinga was part of the Austrian Empire in the Kingdom of Hungary. Today, Vinga is in Romania. His family were farmers and belonged to the Roman Catholic faith.
Stefan studied law and became a lawyer in a city called Arad. He was inspired by the ideas of Hungarian leaders like Lajos Kossuth and Sándor Petőfi. These leaders wanted to bring change and freedom to Hungary.
In 1848, a revolution started in Hungary. Stefan Dunjov joined the forces fighting for this revolution. He was chosen to be part of a local committee in Arad. He then joined the Hungarian Army as a private soldier and later became a military judge. Stefan fought in many battles to protect the revolution. Because of his bravery, he was promoted. First, he became a Captain, and then he rose to the rank of Colonel.
Unfortunately, the revolution was defeated. Stefan Dunjov was captured by the Austrian authorities. He faced a very serious punishment, but it was later changed to ten years in prison. He was released in 1857. After his release, he was kept under watch in Pest.
Fighting for Italy's Freedom
In 1859, another war began, called the Second Italian War of Independence. Stefan Dunjov traveled to the Kingdom of Sardinia and joined the Italian Army. The war ended quickly, but Stefan's fighting spirit was still strong.
In 1860, he joined Giuseppe Garibaldi's famous Redshirts. Garibaldi was a hero who wanted to unite Italy. Stefan took part in a very important journey called the Expedition of the Thousand. During this expedition, Garibaldi's forces successfully took over Sicily for Sardinia.
Stefan Dunjov commanded a group of soldiers that included people from Hungary and some Banat Bulgarians. He showed great courage and skill in a major battle called the Battle of the Volturno. In this battle, he was badly wounded and lost a leg. Giuseppe Garibaldi himself praised Stefan for his bravery. Stefan also received the highest military and civilian awards from Italy.
Later Life and Legacy
After Italy became a united country, Stefan Dunjov lived there until he passed away. He spent his time working on scientific projects, writing for newspapers, and translating documents. He died in 1889 in the Italian city of Pistoia.
Stefan Dunjov is remembered as a hero in several countries. Streets are named after him in three different places:
