Folard lovag és a Nagyságos Fejedelem : Feljegyzések egy Rákóczi rodostói könyvtárából kiemelt mű margójára = The Chevalier de Folard and the Illustrious Prince : Notes on a Work Removed from Rákóczi’s Library in Exile

Tóth, Ferenc (2025) Folard lovag és a Nagyságos Fejedelem : Feljegyzések egy Rákóczi rodostói könyvtárából kiemelt mű margójára = The Chevalier de Folard and the Illustrious Prince : Notes on a Work Removed from Rákóczi’s Library in Exile. In: „Hic discursus de praeteritis, praesentibus et futuris”. Tanulmányok Tüskés Gábor 70. születésnapjára / Beiträge zum 70. Geburtstag von Gábor Tüskés. Reciti Kiadó, Budapest, pp. 186-193. ISBN 9789636720315

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Abstract

This study explores the intellectual and possibly personal connection between Prince Francis II Rákóczi, the exiled Hungarian leader, and Jean-Charles de Folard, a key military thinker of early 18th-century France. Drawing upon overlooked archival material and recent research, the paper highlights the presence of Folard’s Histoire de Polybe in Rákóczi’s Rodosto (Tekirdağ) library, suggesting that the prince’s interest in military science endured during his exile. Evidence from Folard’s surviving letters indicates a correspondence with Rákóczi, including discussions on tactics such as column warfare, the psychological effects of artillery, and interpretations of classical military texts. Their exchanges reflect broader debates of the time between ancient and modern military doctrines, with Rákóczi offering critical insights rooted in his own wartime experiences. The paper positions both men within a shared intellectual and spiritual milieu influenced by Jansenism and classical education. It concludes by underscoring the significance of re-evaluating the Franco-Hungarian intellectual connections of the 18th century and the untapped potential of the Folard–Rákóczi correspondence in military and cultural history.

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