Michael Kovats de Fabriczy
Colonel Michael Kovats de Fabriczy, born in 1724 in Karcag, Hungary, played a pivotal yet underrecognized role in the American Revolutionary War as a co-founder of the U.S. Cavalry. With extensive military experience in the Habsburg, French, and Prussian armies—most notably under Frederick the Great—Kovats was a seasoned cavalry officer well-versed in European hussar tactics.
In 1777, inspired by the ideals of liberty and reports of the American Revolution, Kovats offered his services to the Continental cause through a letter to Benjamin Franklin. He famously wrote, “Golden freedom cannot be purchased with yellow gold,” pledging to shed his blood for the freedom of a nation not his own. This letter, penned in Latin, stands as one of the most passionate appeals of foreign support during the Revolution.
Upon arriving in America, Kovats joined forces with Polish nobleman Casimir Pulaski, and together they organized Pulaski’s Legion, a mixed cavalry and infantry unit. Kovats took charge of cavalry recruitment and training, bringing discipline and professionalism to a struggling American force. His leadership helped shape the emerging American cavalry into a more effective and respected branch.
The legion fought under a distinctive banner crafted by the Moravian Sisters in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in early 1778. Designed under Kovats’ direct instructions, the flag incorporated Hungarian national colors—red, white, and green—and featured the Latin motto Unita Virtus Forcior (“United Valor is Greater”) encircling the letters “US.” The reverse side displayed the Eye of Providence with the phrase Non Alius Regit (“No Other Governs”). This banner stands as one of the few surviving military flags from the Revolutionary War and reflects the deep Hungarian cultural ties embedded in the fight for American independence.
Tragically, Kovats was killed in action on May 11, 1779, during the Siege of Charleston. Though his burial site remains unknown, his legacy endures through commemorations in both the United States and Hungary, and in the banner that still testifies to his transatlantic fight for freedom.