Second Battle of Vác (1849)

The Second Battle of Vác was a significant engagement in the Hungarian Revolution of 1848-49. It took place on April 10, 1849, near the town of Vác, Hungary. This battle pitted the Hungarian revolutionary army, led by General Lajos Kossuth's military representative, General Lajos Aulich, against the Austrian Imperial army commanded by Lieutenant Field Marshal Prince Alfred Windisch-Grätz.

The context of the battle was the Hungarian struggle for independence from Habsburg rule. Following initial successes in the revolution, the Hungarian forces had suffered setbacks in late 1848 and early 1849. The Spring Campaign, launched by the Hungarian army, aimed to reverse these losses and liberate the country.

The battle itself was a Hungarian victory. Aulich's forces, demonstrating improved organization and fighting spirit, managed to defeat Windisch-Grätz's army. The Austrian forces suffered considerable losses, and the victory significantly boosted Hungarian morale and contributed to the overall success of the Spring Campaign.

The victory at Vác allowed the Hungarian forces to continue their advance, ultimately leading to the recapture of Buda (present-day part of Budapest) in May 1849. However, despite these victories, the Hungarian Revolution was ultimately suppressed with the aid of Russian intervention later that year. The Second Battle of Vác remains a symbol of Hungarian resistance and a key event in the country's 19th-century history.