Digitalization of text - Kingdom Hungary

The present project forms part of the larger context of scholarly cultural research on the History of Central European Multiethnicity. It is the goal of the basic research pertaining to this project to contribute to the documentation concerning the origin and development of various collective models of identity in the 18th and 19th centuries. This interdisciplinary approach to research is based on the following working hypothesis: prior to the formation of national paradigms of identity which even today determine collective identity in Central Europe there arose various, still poorly researched preliminary and intermediate forms of patriotic, territorial and civic consciousness which do not point necessarily to extinct precursors of the later patterns of national identity, but which could be regarded as alternatives which although they did not prevail would provide a rewarding object of study particularly with regard to the complex European identity developing today. In the era of Maria Theresia, Joseph II and Joseph IIs successors there arose an exceedingly interesting discourse on polyglossia and varying degrees of allegiance and political loyalties. In particular we witness the first comprehensive portrayal of the role of the German language as the lingua franca of the Habsburg empire. Particular emphasis will be placed on the development of this discourse in the Kingdom of Hungary within the wider conglomeration of Habsburg lands. A considerable portion of the source material in this area has to date been either unknown or not readily accessible. Within the framework of this project the first step will consist of publishing annotated basic text material in digital data bank form.

The present project forms part of the larger context of scholarly cultural research on the "History of Central European Multiethnicity". It is the goal of the basic research pertaining to this project to contribute to the documentation concerning the origin and development of various collective models of identity in the 18th and 19th centuries. This interdisciplinary approach to research is based on the following working hypothesis: prior to the formation of "national" paradigms of identity which even today determine collective identity in Central Europe there arose various, still poorly researched preliminary and intermediate forms of patriotic, territorial and civic consciousness which do not point necessarily to extinct precursors of the later patterns of national identity, but which could be regarded as alternatives which although they did not prevail would provide a rewarding object of study particularly with regard to the complex European identity developing today. In the era of Maria Theresia, Joseph II and Joseph II`s successors there arose an exceedingly interesting discourse on polyglossia and varying degrees of allegiance and political loyalties. In particular we witness the first comprehensive portrayal of the role of the German language as the lingua franca of the Habsburg empire. Particular emphasis will be placed on the development of this discourse in the "Kingdom of Hungary" within the wider conglomeration of Habsburg lands. A considerable portion of the source material in this area has to date been either unknown or not readily accessible. Within the framework of this project the first step will consist of publishing annotated basic text material in digital data bank form.