Antal Kreminger, a Provost from Szeged in 1848-1849

Abstract

Anthony Kreminger, a provost from Szeged, was a conservative clergyman following the spirit of Josephinism. Since the Emperor sanctioned the April Laws, Kreminger supported the changes in the spring and summer of 1848, which can be proved by several source materials in connection with the consecration of the 6th Honvéd Battalion's flag. However, he soon realized that the transformation was against the Emperor's and the Government of Vienna's interests. From autumn his opposition to the defensive warfare became more and more definite. He did not send off the circulars coming from the vicariate which had escaped to Makó, with only one exception. He also censored the Hungarian Government's decrees, and tried to turn the congregation against the war of independence. Szeged was under the control of the Hungarian Honvéds until 1 August 1849. The Hungarian authorities examined Kreminger's three cases. As a result of this, The Ecclesiastical Court of Csanad, with its seat in Makó at that time, restored him to his benefice. Later, on 27 July 1849 Mihály Horváth removed him, but finally, The Ecclesiastical Court of Csanad, with its seat in Temesvár, restored him again to his former benefice. Antal Kreminger did not support the War of Independence, but when the Emperor turned back to the Constitution in 1860 and 1867 Kreminger willingly followed his example.