the Order of Vitéz
(Habsburg ring)
Róbert Mórocz
John Róbert Maria Mórocz, born in 1985 in Bratislava, is a descendant of the historic noble family Mórocz de Nagyabony. His great-grandfather, Vitéz Andreas Mórocz, was a World War I hero and a member of the Order of Vitéz during the Kingdom of Hungary.
In the veins of the Mórocz family of this lineage flow the genes of old noble houses, among them Ollé de Ollé-Tejedi, Farkas de Nagyjóka, Tajnay de Tajnai, Görföl de Jóka, Vargha de Nagyabony, Ersék de Dióspatony, and others.
In 2022, John Róbert Maria was knighted in Máriapócs by Archduke Joseph Charles of Habsburg-Lorraine, continuing the family tradition. The title Vitéz (meaning knight or hero) dates back to the Kingdom of Hungary and symbolizes honor and service.The Order of Vitéz includes members of royal and noble families worldwide, such as the Habsburg-Lorraine dynasty, the Duke of Braganza (claimant to the Portuguese throne), the Prince of Albania, the King of Rwanda, the Prince of Ethiopia, and the Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg.
Among the noble families represented in the Order are: Marquis Pallavicini, Count Batthyány, Széchenyi, Teleki, Zichy, Festetics, Ujlaky, degli Uberti (Count of the legendary Casale Monferrato), Baron Tunkel, Riedel, and many others.
Robert holds a diploma confirming his noble origin (nobilis, nemes), and the heraldic commission officially recognized and digitized his family coat of arms, now bearing the insignia of the Order.
Robert says:
“The Mórocz family (at least my branch) still feels a strong sense of loyalty to our former royal family, and I am proud to be part of a community under the patronage of this highly respected and influential European dynasty.”
Róbert strives to preserve the heritage of his ancestors in his everyday life. His wife, Lady Andrea Reseková (married name Mórocz Reseková), is a descendant of a notable family; her great-great-grandfather, Carolus (Károly) Reszek, served as the long-time mayor of Malacky from 1856 to 1867.
Dynastic legitimate Order of Vitéz
T
he dynastic Order of Vitéz was built on the foundations of nearly a thousand years of Hungarian history. Even Árpád, the chieftain of the Hungarian tribes, referred to himself as Vitéz. The word Vitéz can be translated as warrior, hero, or knight.
In the 17th century, Count Emery Thököly de Késmárk bestowed the title Vitéz and land upon his most valiant warriors. This acquired nobility was later recognized by the Habsburgs themselves, which explains why they remain patrons of the Order today.
The hereditary Order of Vitéz was restored on these foundations in 1920 by the Regent of the Kingdom of Hungary, Vitéz Miklós Horthy de Nagybánya. His goal was to revive the ideals of the old knightly traditions rooted in Hungarian heritage and reward the bravest. The Order became a community of true warriors and heroes.
Admission required at least a small medal for bravery (Vitézségi Érem) from the Great War, though this was only the minimum requirement. A first-class medal was highly valued. Admission involved formal knighthood and a grant of land, and the title was hereditary, passing to the eldest son.
Today, the Order is under the patronage of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine and is among the most respected knightly organizations in the world. The legitimate Order of Vitéz is a legal entity within the European Union, registered in the Kingdom of Sweden. It proudly stands on traditional European Christian values and is internationally recognized as a highly respected ideological community.
The Order is headed by Archduke Joseph Charles of Habsburg-Lorraine, Crown Prince of Hungary. Archduke Joseph-Augustus of Habsburg-Lorraine became the first knight of the renewed Order in 1920. The Order of Vitéz upholds the fundamental values of faith, nation, and family, based on Christian principles and the highest ethical standards. It adheres to conservative ideals and does not engage in modern politics.
Vitézavatás 2025 (Debrecen)
The Holy Crown of Hungary, Szent Korona, sceptre, orb, and sword, the historic symbols of the Kingdom of Hungary and Vitézi Rend
Why de Nagyabony?
T he Mórocz de Nagyabony family belongs to the old Hungarian nobility (régi nemes család). They were co-owners and landowners of Velke Blahovo (Nagyabony), which gave them the noble predicate de Nagyabony. This title clearly identified members of the family.
The Mórocz of Veľké Blahovo represented a typical medieval curial family of the Csallóköz region. Despite their proud heritage and deeds, Hungarian inheritance laws—requiring equal division among all heirs—gradually impoverished many noble families over centuries.
Velke Blahovo, first mentioned in 1162, was one of the oldest villages in Csallóköz and part of the Végvár system, playing a key military role against the Turks. For their bravery, the Mórocz family was awarded a sword and armored armmotif in their coat of arms.
The earliest records date to the 15th century, with Michael de Nagyabony (1488) as the first known ancestor. His son Mauricio (Móricz) gave rise to the surname, and Benedictus Mórocz de Nagyabony was the first to use it. In 1641, King Ferdinand III confirmed their property by royal donation. Later, the family expanded to nearby villages, including Eperjes (Jahodná), forming the Eperjes branch.
Origins of the Mórocz Family
T he Mórocz de Nagyabony family proudly traces its roots to the era of the Árpád Hungarian Kingdom. The surname Mórocz originated from the first name Mauricio (Móric). The family’s ancestors settled on Žitný ostrov in an area called Abony, allegedly descending from castle soldiers who were granted land for military service.
The first documented direct ancestor from the 15th century was Michael de Nagyabony, a nobleman from Velke Blahovo. His son Mauricio de Nagyabony is considered the forefather of the family, and Mauricio’s son Benedictus was the first to use the surname Mórocz in the early 16th century.
renowned for their bravery in battles
against the Ottoman Turks
Coat of arms of the family in the catalog of coats of arms (Siebmacher) from 1895
video 1: The ceremonial of knighted
Granting of the coat of arms by Emperor Ferdinand III.
video 2: The ceremonial of knighted
Diploma awarded to Andreas Mórocz in 1942
video 3: One day of ceremonial
Mórocz family of Eperjes on the Battlefield
The noble family of Mórocz of Eperjes belonged, from the second half of the 19th century onward, to the traditional members of the armed forces of the Habsburg Monarchy. Family members most often served in the 72nd Imperial and Royal Infantry Regiment within the von Ramming regiment.
72nd Infantry Regiment – Brief Overview
In the 19th Century
The regiment took part in several key conflicts of the monarchy:
- 1848–1849 – battles during the revolutionary events,
- 1859 – the Austro-Sardinian War in northern Italy,
- 1866 – the Austro-Prussian War and operations in Bohemia.
In the second half of the century, the regiment was stationed mainly in Komárom, Pressburg, and Győr.
In the First World War
The regiment’s deployment was extensive:
- Serbian front (1914),
- Russian front in Galicia (1915–1916),
- Italian front – Isonzo and Piave (1916–1918),
- Romanian front (1916–1917).
The commanders of the regiment during the war were: Haerdtl von Haerdtlen, Otto Müller, Karl von Szabó, and Josef Fiedler.
The Mórocz Family in the First World War
All three – Ferencz, Ignácz, and András – were noble farmers (gazdálkodó) originating from Eperjes.
Nob. Mórocz Ferencz vitéz
Son of: Ferencz Mórocz and Emi Krascenits
A veteran of both the Russian and Italian fronts, he served in the rank of örmester. He received several decorations and was awarded the honorary title of vitéz. After the war, he returned to farming.
Wife: lidértejedi Gódány Róza
Children: Árpád, Ferenc, Imre, Erzsébet
Nob. Mórocz Ignácz
Son of: Mihály Mórocz and Sofi Szabó
He fought on the Russian front. After returning home, he took over the family’s water mill dating back to 1800 and continued in agriculture.
Wife: Mucska Apollónia
Children: Rozália, Ferenc
Nob. Mórocz András vitéz
Son of: János Mórocz and Sofi Takács
The most notable military figure of the family, a noble farmer who later lived in Senec (Szenc).
In 1914, he distinguished himself at Jagodina on the Serbian front, where he led a breakthrough of the enemy line. He later fought on the Italian front at Doberdò, where he suffered a severe knee injury, and in 1917 also on the Romanian front. For his bravery, he was awarded the title vitéz.
Wife: jókai Görföl Erzsébet
Children: János, András, Sándor, Ilona, Erzsébet, Mária
András Mórocz in 1940 – Platoon Leader of the Hussars
In 1940, he was called up as a platoon leader in the 1st Honvéd Hussar Regiment (Budapest). The regiment recruited part of its personnel also from the regions of today’s southern Slovakia, which after 1938 became part of Hungary.
What Kind of Men Were Recruited as Hussars
Hussar units were considered the elite of the cavalry. They recruited mainly men who:
- had excellent physical condition,
- excelled in agility and quick reflexes,
- came from rural areas with experience working with horses,
- were brave, reliable, and disciplined,
- were typically younger and enduring.
Transylvania 1940
During the operation in northern Transylvania, the regiment carried out reconnaissance tasks, secured communication routes, and occupied strategic positions. The operation proceeded largely without heavy fighting. The title vitéz greatly strengthened András’s authority among both soldiers and officers.
The Mórocz family of Eperjes left a significant mark in the history of the region and the military – from the conflicts of the 19th century through the fronts of the First World War to the events of 1940. The most notable representatives were Nemes Mórocz Ferencz vitéz and Nemes Mórocz András vitéz, who continued their family’s tradition of service with honor and bravery.
