A HUNGARIAN MAGICIAN SEEKS REFUGE IN ISTANBUL
The story of how the famous Hungarian magician Joseph Vanek came to Istanbul is extremely interesting. Vanek, a professor of physics at Budapest University, was highly esteemed by Lajos Kossuth, the famous Hungarian freedom fighter. When Kossuth came to power in 1848 after winning Hungary’s independence from Austria, he gave Vanek an important post in his government. But when the Russians invaded Hungary at Austria’s request in 1849, Kossuth was defeated and sought refuge in Turkey. And together with him, Joseph Vanek also came to Istanbul.
Kossuth left for the U.S. two years later. But Vanek preferred to stay in Istanbul, where he devoted himself to the art of illusion, which held a special interest for him. His tricks gradually attracted such attention that his fame reached the Palace. Sultan Abdülmecid, who presented him with a diamond-studded gold watch and twenty-five thousand kurush, brought Vanek to the Palace. But Vanek was a famous magician now and was long overdue embarking on a tour. When an amnesty was issued in 1855 he returned to his native land.