Revolutionary Stefan Dunyov

Stefan Dunyov was a Banat Bulgarian born on 28 July 1816 in Vinga, then in the Austrian Empire and now in Romania. He came from a Bulgarian Catholic family with roots in the Chiprovtsi region.

Dunyov graduated in law and finance and opened a legal practice in Arad. Drawn to the ideas of the Hungarian revolutionaries Lajos Kossuth and Sándor Petőfi, he actively participated in the Hungarian revolution for national independence. He was elected to the regional committee in Arad and took part in military operations, being promoted to captain and later lieutenant colonel.

After the Austrian imperial authorities defeated the revolution, Dunyov was captured and sentenced to death. His sentence was commuted to ten years in prison. In 1857, he was released and subjected to compulsory residence in Pest.

In 1859, Dunyov went to the Kingdom of Sardinia and enlisted in its army to participate in the Second Italian War of Independence. In 1860, he joined Giuseppe Garibaldi's movement and became his comrade-in-arms. Dunyov commanded a volunteer unit including Hungarians and Banat Bulgarians, which distinguished itself in the Battle of the Volturno near Naples. He was wounded and lost a leg in this battle. For his contribution, he received high military decorations and was promoted to colonel.

After Garibaldi's death, Dunyov continued living in Italy, undertaking research, writing and translation. He died in Pistoia on 29 August 1889.

Stefan Dunyov has been called a national hero of Hungary, Italy and Romania. Numerous streets, squares and monuments in various towns in these countries bear his name.