Ceremonial guard of honour
With mounted or on-foot appearances, a guard of honour and wreath-laying, we make national and local commemorations more worthy.
Debrecen's hussar heritage
The Debrecen hussar tradition kept alive
We preserve the memory of the Royal Hungarian Debrecen 2nd Honvéd Hussar Regiment in period-accurate uniforms, on horseback and on foot. Through ceremonies, memorial rides and living history lessons we bring the values of the hussars closer to today's communities.
Our association
We don't just recall history. We keep it alive.
“Shared memories, a shared treasure — the honour of the regiment”Our story from 1988 to today
The members of the Hajdú-Bihar County Hussar Heritage Association preserve the military and equestrian traditions of the Debrecen 2nd Honvéd Hussar Regiment. In period uniforms, with historical knowledge and military discipline, we take part in ceremonies, commemorations, parades and memorial rides that cross borders.
Our community is held together by a love of horses, respect for history and the responsibility to pass our heritage on to the next generations. The Hajdú-Bihar hussar band was founded in 1988 — since then its members have kept the hussar tradition alive in Debrecen, in the towns of Hajdú-Bihar and in many Hungarian communities across the Carpathian Basin.
Our uniforms, equipment and appearance follow the traditions of the historic regiment, and our service is defined by the same values:
- Discipline
- Honour
- Comradeship
- Love of country
The legacy of the 2nd hussars
The Royal Hungarian Debrecen 2nd Honvéd Hussar Regiment
The regiment was a defining part of the military history of Debrecen and the Tiszántúl region. Its men served in the armed forces of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy and stood their ground on the battlefields of the First World War. Prime Minister Count István Tisza was also closely linked to the regiment.
Our association keeps alive the regiment's clothing, memories, military values and spirit of comradeship.
History becomes a personal encounter
Hussar heritage for every generation
Mounted and on-foot parades
In period uniforms and military order we march at city celebrations, village days and historical events.
Living history lessons
We present the history of the hussars through original documents, uniform pieces, military equipment and personal stories.
Memorial rides and hussar forays
On horseback and in heritage equipment we visit the key sites of Hungarian military history across the Carpathian Basin.
Memorial sites and wreath-laying
We take part in erecting historical plaques, carved memorial posts (kopjafa) and statues, and in tending the memory of the heroes.
Community programmes
Through our gatherings, lectures and cross-border connections we build community around our shared historical heritage.
Organising an event?
We respond to enquiries from local governments, schools and event organisers with a tailored proposal and consultation.
Memory that crosses borders
Hussar forays across the Carpathian Basin
Our forays are about more than visiting historic sites. We meet people, families and communities. On horseback, in period uniforms and military order, we have carried the memory of the Debrecen 2nd Honvéd Hussar Regiment to places once connected to the regiment's history.
130+
towns in the Partium and Transylvania we have reached over the past decades
Home· since 1988
Debrecen
Our association's home: our forays set out from here, and here we hold our ceremonial guard duties — from the 15 March commemoration to the Golden Bull's mirror hall.
Appearance· 2022 · annual
Hortobágy — Mátai stud
We are returning participants of the Hortobágy Horse Days; here we unveiled the memorial plaque of György Sándor Hetey and rode across the Hortobágy river.
Appearance
Hajdúböszörmény
Wreath-laying at the statue and a guard of honour in this hajdú town.
Appearance
Balmazújváros — Semsey Castle
Our hussar history exhibition at Semsey Castle.
Appearance· 2025
Vámospércs
Unveiling of the Artúr Görgei memorial post; a stop on the “On the heroes' path” memorial ride.
Appearance
Budapest — National Gallop
Riding for Debrecen at the National Gallop on Heroes' Square.
Mounted memorial ride· 2016
Beszterce → Jobbágyfalva
Count István Tisza Memorial Ride: on horseback between Beszterce and Jobbágyfalva, in memory of the prime minister linked to the regiment.
Mounted memorial ride· 2009
Marosvásárhely → Magyardécse
Transylvanian horse ride from Marosvásárhely to Magyardécse.
Mounted memorial ride· 2016
Transylvania — General Bem memorial ride
On horseback, following the trail of General Bem's 1848–49 Transylvanian campaign.
Mounted memorial ride· 2011
Kolozsvár → Kézdivásárhely
Transylvanian memorial ride on horseback from Kolozsvár to Kézdivásárhely in Háromszék — across the Mezőség and Székelyland.
Mounted memorial ride· 2026
Koltó → Nagybánya
Szatmár foray from the Teleki mansion to Nagybánya — in Koltó, Sándor Petőfi and Júlia Szendrey spent their honeymoon.
Mounted memorial ride· 2007
Szentegyháza → Szentjobb
A long foray from Székelyland to the Partium: setting out from Szentegyháza to Szentjobb in Bihar, where St. Ladislaus's abbey once kept the relic of the founding king.
Appearance
Poland
A joint appearance with Polish uhlan heritage keepers.
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Drag the map and tap a pointClick a point to read the story of a foray
Moving images from the archive
Films from the forays
Recordings from our memorial rides, celebrations and horse-riding days — a selection from the moving-image memories of our archive.
How did a hussar dress?
What did he take with him into service?
How did he care for his horse?
What did discipline and comradeship mean?
Living history
Beyond the textbooks
In our living history lessons, students get up close to the clothing, equipment and everyday life of the hussars. Through stories, objects and personal demonstrations, the past becomes a tangible experience.
- We visit schools
- Tailored to age groups
- With hands-on displays
The tradition needs a future too
Be part of the next chapter
We need riders, history-minded members, organisers, helpers and young people who would like to belong to a close-knit community. Joining doesn't start with the uniform — it starts with interest, learning and shared work.
1
Get in touch
feel free to write to us
2
Personal meeting
we get to know each other
3
Join a programme
try out the community
Help preserve the heritage
Behind every hussar band stands a lot of invisible work
As a private individual, business or institutional partner you can help keep the Debrecen hussar tradition alive for generations to come. We can accept donations via bank transfer.
What your support is used for
- care and transport of the horses
- maintenance of uniforms and equipment
- organising memorial rides and forays
- tending historic memorial sites
- costs of programmes and events
Our tax number: 18567166-1-09
Bank account details, the 1% tax donation scheme and our supporters' logos will be added to the site soon.
Photo archive
Archive footage from our forays
Contact
Invite the Debrecen hussars
Planning a national holiday, city event, school programme or historical commemoration? Write to us about the venue, date and programme you have in mind — after a conversation we will choose together the mounted or on-foot appearance that suits the event.
- venue
- date
- expected audience
- programme idea
or write directly:szoboszlai.soma@debrecenihuszarok.hu