The ‘White Woman’ of Lőcse (Széchenyi Square)
The well-known heroin of the novel of Mór Jókai, the ‘white woman of Lőcse’, Mrs. Julianna Ghéczy Korponai was imprisoned in the old Town Hall from April 1713. She was accused of having helped the emperor’s troops occupy the city of Lőcse during the Rákóczi war of independence. In fact she only had a diplomatic role – she transmitted letters and messages between the two sides before the city capitulated – but according to the propaganda the city fell because of her treason. After a long lengthy trial she was beheaded on Széchenyi Square, the ancient market square of Győr, on 25th September 1715 in front of a huge crowd. Her story was immortalized by Mór Jókai in his novel entitled ‘The White Woman of Lőcse’.
