Introduction
Former officer training institute in Hungary The Royal Hungarian Ludovica Defense Academy (Magyar Királyi Honvéd Ludovika Akadémia, Ludoviceum, Ludovika Akademie), shortened to Ludovica or Ludovica Academy, was Hungary's officer cadets training institute prior to .Former officer training institute in Hungary The Royal Hungarian Ludovica Defense Academy (Magyar Királyi Honvéd Ludovika Akadémia, Ludoviceum, Ludovika Akademie), shortened to Ludovica or Ludovica Academy, was Hungary's officer cadets training institute prior to .
The main edifice of the academy was erected in 1836 at the Ludovica Garden, in Budapest's centrally located VIIIth .The main edifice of the academy was erected in 1836 at the Ludovica Garden, in Budapest's centrally located VIIIth .
The building was designed by Mihály Pollack in the classical .The building was designed by Mihály Pollack in the classical .
Mission
The academy combined the functions of an advanced Military High School level preparatory school, a military academy on the level of United States Military Academy at West Point, and an advanced college to facilitate assignments as junior staff officers to the Austro Hungarian General .The academy combined the functions of an advanced Military High School level preparatory school, a military academy on the level of United States Military Academy at West Point, and an advanced college to facilitate assignments as junior staff officers to the Austro Hungarian General .
The high school provided volunteers of pre conscription age, between the ages of 14 and 17, the opportunity to join the Royal Hungarian Honvéd as cadets or junior officers, depending on academic .The high school provided volunteers of pre conscription age, between the ages of 14 and 17, the opportunity to join the Royal Hungarian Honvéd as cadets or junior officers, depending on academic .
Ninety students per year were accepted where, 34 students were financed by private foundation grants, 10 students received free tuition provided by the Government, 23 students paid the full annual tuition of 600 Forints, and 23 paid half tuition per .Ninety students per year were accepted where, 34 students were financed by private foundation grants, 10 students received free tuition provided by the Government, 23 students paid the full annual tuition of 600 Forints, and 23 paid half tuition per .
The officers training course required four years to complete, and the interdependence of functions fulfilled several needs of the Defense .The officers training course required four years to complete, and the interdependence of functions fulfilled several needs of the Defense .
It provided a well trained officer corps, a training ground for instructional opportunities for officers, and finally, advanced military training to match the academic level of the Theresian Military Academy in Wiener Neustadt, .It provided a well trained officer corps, a training ground for instructional opportunities for officers, and finally, advanced military training to match the academic level of the Theresian Military Academy in Wiener Neustadt, .
The parallel curriculum, and the matched level of quality, between the two schools guaranteed that the majority of officers of the Hungarian Defense forces were selected from the Ludovica .The parallel curriculum, and the matched level of quality, between the two schools guaranteed that the majority of officers of the Hungarian Defense forces were selected from the Ludovica .
From the beginning of the final school year, some subjects, of both practical and theoretical nature, were taught in German, and qualified graduates received dual commissions as officers in both .From the beginning of the final school year, some subjects, of both practical and theoretical nature, were taught in German, and qualified graduates received dual commissions as officers in both .
This was especially important for the combined Hussar Corps, because this arrangement provided for, in a cycle of 2 to 3 years, a fresh assignment of Hungarian speaking officers to command Hungarian speaking .This was especially important for the combined Hussar Corps, because this arrangement provided for, in a cycle of 2 to 3 years, a fresh assignment of Hungarian speaking officers to command Hungarian speaking .
Notable graduates
Kamill Aggházy (1882–1954) military officer, military .
Pál Almásy (1818–1882) military officer, military .
Tibor Berczelly (1912–1990) fencer, sport target .
Béla H. Bánáthy, (1919–2003) military officer, educator, and systems scientist Lajos Bánfalvy (1906 1944) military officer, military .
István Berkó (1880–1958) military officer, military .
Miklós Bonczos (1897–1971) politician, Minister of the Interior ).
Károly Csáky (1873–1945) military officer, Minister of Defense ).
Béla Dálnoki Miklós (1890–1948) military officer, politician, Prime Minister of the temporary government ).
Gyula Erdélyi (1892–1949) military officer, military .
Kamill Erdoss (1924–1962) folklorist, .
Gábor Faragho (1890–1953) military officer, politician, Minister of Public Welfare ).
Ferenc Fáy (1921–1981) .
Zoltán Franyó (1887–1978) writer, screenwriter, .
Loránd Fráter (1872–1930) .
Sándor Győrffy Bengyel (1886–1942) military officer, politician, Minister of Public Welfare ).
Samu Hazai (1851–1942) military officer, Minister of Defence ).
Vilmos Hellebronth (1895–1971) military officer, .
Jenő Horváth (1852–1915) military officer, military historian, member of Hungarian Academy of .
Gyula Kádár (1898–1982) military .
Géza Káplány (1880–1952) .
Béla Király (1912 2009) officer, historian, .
Lajos Kiss (1922–2003) linguist, Slav specialist, member of Hungarian Academy of .
Antal Kunder (1900–1968) military engineer, politician, Minister of Industry, Trade and Commerce (1938–1939, ).
István Lágyi (1901–1978) .
Árpád Lajtos (1910–1986) military .
Géza Lakatos (1890–1967) military officer, politician, Prime Minister ).
Pál Maléter (1917–1958) military officer, politician, Minister of Defense ).
Antal Pálinkás Pallavicini (1922–1957) military .
Denes Pataky (1916 1987) military officer, Five time Hungarian Figure Skating .
Jeno Pilch (1872–1937) military historian, member of Hungarian Academy of .
Pál Prónay ?)
military officer, leader of the Prónay .
Imre Radványi (1909–1984) military .
Liviu Rebreanu (1885–1944), writer, Director of the National Theatre Bucharest (1928–1930 and ).
Endre Rodriguez (1899–1975) film .
Vilmos Rőder (1881–1969) military officer, Minister of Defense ).
Sándor Szurmay (1860–1945) military officer, Minister of Defense ).
Jenő Tombor (1880–1946) military officer, Minister of Defense ).
Zoltán Tóth (1888–1958) historian, member of Hungarian Academy of .