If you've traced your ancestry back to the days of the Austrian Empire's rule of Hungary you may find some notes in church or other records that mention that a man is serving or has rank in the military. This can be an interesting addition to your genealogy and family history story.
Here is a brief and general history of Hungarian Military under Austrian Rule focused on the records that we'll be looking at:
In 1867 it was determined that Hungary and Austria were separate "states" though many a Hungarian never thought of themselves as Austrian or thought of Austria as anything other than an occupier of Hungary. (Thus the uprisings mid 1800's, in particular 1849.)
Prior to this men who turned 18 had the expectation that they would serve in the military. It had been three years of service but, in what was considered a Compromise, in 1867, that was reduced to two years.
Prior to this some men paid for another man to take their place, but now they could no longer use this legal way out, though perhaps by paying someone else to serve in their place, they could have then attend to their education or family business. It might have been a good opportunity for a poorer man to take the place of a richer one, particularly a noble one, for military service had long been a way for some men to advance their education, work, and status. Being the servant of a noble, especially in the days of castle defense, had elevated some to the "castle noble" nobility as well. So if you and your family were scratching out a living, serving for someone else really could be a good opportunity, especially if you were a younger son who might not be expecting an inheritance. Especially if service was not seen as especially risky because it seemed to be a time of peace.
Then again, maybe, seeing that you were the one the family could not do without, you might ask a relative to substitute for you... and not have to pay him!
From 1815 to 1848 the Austrian military was experiencing a long period of peace rather than a long time at war, with just a few military actions. But who knew how or when war might break out and things could change? (They sure did when World War I broke out!)
So in 1867 the rules about military service changed. When a man turned 18, he had to sign up for what was a draft, sort of like the lotteries used to call up American citizens to serve in our Vietnam war. Annual lotteries were used to call up men to serve from the entire draft enrollment - not just the 18 year-olds. So it wasn't that if a man turned 19 he would not be called. He might duly serve his time and get out and go back to his life. Some might have been able to distinguish themselves in some way and stay in a while, perhaps have a career.
A man who was born in 1849 would have turned 18 some time in 1867. Do a little math to see if and when your ancestor would have been eligible to sign up for that new draft lottery and serve!
(It could be interesting to find out that your ancestor was part of the mid century uprisings about that time. From our view looking back those who rose up were Hungarian patriots who wanted Hungary to have it's freedom from Austrian rule. However the military squelched the uprisings.)
Circa 1867, when the changes were made, if the man were NOT called up to serve by lottery for the two years, then he HAD to be in the Reserves or in a "territory" militia. The territory was actually the COUNTRY of Hungary and in Hungary the military was called the Honved. (Austria was a territory, so was Croatia.) Like today, to be in the Reserves he had to attend some meetings, some training. He had to be ready to serve if needed. So when you hear that all men had to serve, it's true; some were in the Honved and some were in the Reserves.
There was also an opportunity for the men who were educated, say college candidates, to volunteer for a year. This was a bit like the role of ROTC in the United States in which men who went to college on ROTC scholarships and graduated were moved into the leadership roles as officers for Vietnam. Hungary was a bit special in this regard because many of the reservists who volunteered for a year with the army were Jewish. The records reflect religious diversity at the time.
Though we are focusing on this new era 1867ish, it wasn't until 1918, after World War I, when Austria no longer ruled Hungary, that Hungarian men no longer served for Austria.
The label 1867 - Austrian-Hungarian Military Pro Tips brings up all posts in the series.
*** This contemporary town heraldry shield for Gonc will be used to help identify this series of genealogy tips as this records held under this town's name will be the ones we look at.
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