About Gal Huszar

Gál Huszár is one of the most interesting figures of the 16th century Hungarian cultural history, significant printer, reformer. Scientist, school founder, man of letters in one. Nevertheless, he describes himself in his printed books with the latin word 'anaxius' meaning unworthy. He learnt clerical profession in Switzerland and printing in Vienna.

16 10 1512

The date of birth of Gál Huszár.

1553
His work, studies and first forty years of his life has remained a mystery. He appeared as mature man in Magyaróvár as a pastor. Miksa, the later Hungarian king protected him as he had been excommunicated twice because of his protestant faith. He maintained a pastor-training school and meanwhile he gained many new believers for the new faith.

Vienna, 1557

He got to know Rafael Hoffhalter, the printer who taught him how to print books. Their acquaintance might have become friendship. Hoffhalter gives a part of his own letter-set to Gál huszár giving him a chance to establish his own press.

Óvár, 1558

The Óvár Press got launched. Here had Gál Huszár his preaching booklet published in Hungarian and his first printed Hungarian drama along with a theological work written for the Hungarian by a Swiss theologist.
Gál Huszár believing and proclaiming Calvinist doctrines, his activity caught the eyes of the representatives of the Catholic Church. In April 1558, Márk Velykei summoned him before the Holy See. He was charged with heresy, printing and distributing non-catholic books. Finally, he had to escape, otherwise he would have got into prison becuase of his faith.

Kassa, 1560

Gál Huszár was offered a job of a pastor, who was already an excellent speaker and man of letters. His publications prove that he has acquired the printers' trade perfectly. But he doesn't live in peace in Kassa either because of his faith and his press. Finally, Antal Verancsics, the archbishop of Eger captures Gál Huszár with royal permission. His followers don't leave him, the town stood for him, but his ministry is still in danger. Archduke Miksa ensured the preaching activity for pastor Gál due to the intercession of the protestant believers. When Verancsics wants to take pastor Gál again to the trial in Eger, the believers, the army and Péter Bornemissza helped the printer pastor to escape from Kassa. Debrecen, the centre of the Calvinist doctrines or later called the Calvinist Rome is going to be his new home.

Debrecen, 1561

Gál huszár recommends himself in the defence of János Török Enyegi and he starts the first press in Debrecen with the set of letters taken from Kassa. There had been a great need for printing books as Peter Juhász méliusz had been organizing the Calvinist Church in these times.
During this short stay in debrecen, Gál Huszár was only printing the works of Méliusz. The press might have started working around 1561. The printing equipment consisted of 5 kinds of fonts, a 39-piece set of notes, 6 illustrative boards, 5 lines of initials and 5 sorts of decorative lines. His first publication was a work written about the letter of apostle John by Peter Méliusz. It was dedicated to the council of the city which might have provided financial support.
There are several books preserving Gál Huszár's fingerprints as the memories of the months spent in Debrecen: preachings about the intercession of Christ written by Peter Juhász Méliusz, the pastor of Debrecen; Confession of Egervölgy. Printing books didn't fill his time, he missed the work in the church. He hoped to stand again to preach in front of the people. And finally, this desire takes him away from the town which can thank a lot to him.

1562 Révkomárom

After one and a half year's stay he leaves the place threatened by the Turks. Most of his press remained in Debrecen. In Révkomárom he turned the representatives of the Catholic church against himself again, so they start to chase him, but his followers help him to escape. Gál Huszár may have informed Rafael Hoffhalter from here about the vacancy of the press in Debrecen. This time does the famous printer decide to settle in Debrecen.

Nagyszombat, 1563

Gál Huszár spends some peaceful months. He goes on preaching the protestant faith, he teaches and runs his press as well.

Komjáti, 1565

He leaves his address obeying a royal command. Imre Forgách has become his patron. He prints his most significant publications: The sermon volume of Peter Bornemissza and the greatest song-book of the 16th century here. The basic of his press meant some fonts, a movable set of notes and decorative items brought from Debrecen.

Pápa, 1574

His last station was this town. Here does he minister with the significant man of letters and reformer, Mihály Sztárai.

Pápa, 23 10 1575

Gál Huszár became a victim of the plague. His press was taken over by his son, David who is the founder of the press in Pápa.