József Katona

He studied at the University of Pest as a lawyer, and at the same time, he took part in theatrical life of the capital: he was an actor, he wrote several plays, and he also translated and adapted German melodramatic works for the Hungarian stage.

József Katona wrote Bánk bán, his most important drama for a literary competition organized by a Kolozsvár periodical in 1815.

Bánk became involved in a conspiracy against the German-born wife of the king; he tries to prevent the rebellion, but finally he is the man who kills the queen.

His reason for the murder was political and personal at the same time: Queen Gertrude had taken part in a plot to seduce Bánk’s wife.

In 1848, in the evening of March 15, the Hungarian National Theater scheduled a performance of Bánk Bán.