Miesto Martina Tamaškoviča v národnom hnutí
(Martin Tamaškovič’s Place in the National Movement)
Marcel Sokolovič
Download PDFSOKOLOVIČ, Marcel. Martin Tamaškovič’s Place in the National Movement. In Historický zborník, Vol. 33, 2023, No. 2, pp. 13–40.
Abstract: The article is devoted to Martin Branislav Tamaškovič, nicknamed “Svätopluk of Trnava”, who was not only one of the most important figures of Trnava in the nineteenth century but also an exceptionally active figure of Slovak national history. Although he was not educated (he learned to write and count himself as an adult), he achieved great things in several fields through his tenacity and tireless work. He was instrumental in founding Matica slovenská, as well as of Saint Adalbert Association, took an active part in many meetings of Slovak patriots with whom he carried on a voluminous correspondence. He was active in literature and encouraged Slovaks to raise national awareness and fight for national rights. For these activities, he was often attacked by Hungarized Trnavans; they kept accusing him, repeatedly destroyed his house and property. He founded a reading room with Slovak and Czech literature and prints, supported and promoted theatrical performances in the Slovak language. He donated the greater part of his property, including his books, to Matica slovenská. Furthermore, Tamaškovič became a leading figure of national life in Trnava in the nineteenth century and was a pillar of society not only in his region but also at the national level.
Keywords: Martin Tamaškovič; Trnava; Matica slovenská; Saint Adalbert Association; poetry.