One sculptural group in the historical arcade depicts Ferdinand I and János Szapolyai. In doing so, Bory Jenő placed not merely two rulers side by side, but recalled one of the most critical periods in Hungarian history: the era of the dual monarchy following the Battle of Mohács.
After the death of Louis II in 1526, the Hungarian estates elected two kings. One part of the country supported János Szapolyai, Voivode of Transylvania, while the other supported the Habsburg Ferdinand, who claimed the Hungarian throne through family ties. The two rulers each regarded himself as Hungary’s lawful king, leading to a prolonged civil war.
János Szapolyai was crowned king in Székesfehérvár in November 1526. His authority was supported chiefly by the lesser nobility and the eastern regions of the country. Later he also accepted an alliance with the Turkish sultan in order to preserve his position against Ferdinand. He ruled until his death in 1540.
Ferdinand I, a member of the Habsburg dynasty, likewise asserted his claim to the Hungarian crown in 1526. Through a long struggle, he gradually consolidated his power in the western and northern parts of the country. His reign marked the beginning of the Habsburgs’ role in Hungary, which would continue for several centuries.
In Bory Jenő’s statue, the two kings stand facing one another, with a heraldic shield rising between them. The composition emphasises opposition and division. It is no coincidence that the designation ‘The Rival Kings’ is inscribed on the pedestal. The work thus recalls not a shared royal achievement, but the period in which the Hungarian kingdom was divided between two centres of power.
The sculptural group commemorates a historical turning point that ultimately led to the country’s division into three parts. The figures of Ferdinand and Szapolyai therefore symbolise in Hungarian history not merely two rulers, but also the beginning of a long-lasting political division.