by Pavol Fabik

Ludovit Stur was the leading person of Slovak life in period, when groundwork of our whole later cultural and formal developement was layed.

Ludovit Stur was born on 29.10. 1815 in the village Zay Uhrovec (nowadays Uhrovec) in the family of literal and cultural active Samuel Stur and his wife Anna. Here young Ludovit become basic school education. Then he studied in Gymnazium in Rab (1827-29). This study evoked in him deference and admiration to P.J. Safarik, J. Kollar and J. Dobrovsky. In 1829 he changed the school and went into seminary in Bratislava, where he became a member of Spolocnost cesko-slovanska (Word by word translation: Czech and Slav Society). Here he took fancy to Samo Chalupka and Daniel Lichard. In this time he begun to public his first poetry.

In 1834 in cause of finance reasons he had to abandon his study for 8 months. After his comeback to Bratislava he become to be recorder and in short time secretary of Society. In 1836 he with his colleague published almanac Plody (REM Hays; I'm not sure with the meaning) and prepared auxiliary-ledger City vdecnosti (Feelings of appreciation). In 1836/37 L. Stur become non-stipendiary assistant of professor J. Palkovic. Later among the Slovak youth he created a travelling society. This society enabled to its members to travel Slav countries and research there concrete life. In 1838 L. Stur went for next study to Halle in Germany. On his way he stopped in Prague at P. J. Safarik. He stayed here for one month and he studied linguistic, history and policy. In Germany he studied 2 years. He acquainted with theory of J. W. P. Hegl. Then he applied this theory into his own Slav ideology.

To Bratislava Stur came after very restless period, because of activity of general inspector Karol Zay. He wanted to hungarize our country. Like outcry Stur wrote his own document Stary i novy vek Slovaku (REM Old and new age of Slovaks).

Slovak request was prepared and in 1842 was delivered to sovereign in Wien. It contained maximally important demands. Stur's outcries had bad aftermath. He lost his job as an assistant. Stur didn't capitulate and he tried to publish political newspaper. He gained a dispensation in 1845.

In July 1843 in Hlboke three most important actors of young Slovakian motion Stur, Hurban and Hodza came to an agreement that Slovak language will be literal language. Then they went to Jan Holly (also important Slovak person) to get acceptance from him. A year later they established society Tatrin. This society used Stur's Slovak as its language. 1. August 1845 was published first number of Slovenske narodne noviny (Slovak national newspaper) with addition Orol tatransky (Tatra eagle) written with Stur's Slovak language. The main linguistic works of Stur were Narecja slovenskuo alebo potreba pisanja v tomto nareci (Slovak vernacular or necessity of writing in this vernacular) and Nauka reci slovenskej (Doctrine of Slovak language).

Stur has written grammar of Slovak language on demand of society Tatrin. Basis is stredoslovenske narecie (middleslovak vernacular) and he used phonetic way of writing (write as you hear).

In 1847 town Zvolen (our town) vote Stur in congressman. In 1848 he took part on conference in Wien, and then he joined manifestation where he was talking against separating Slavs and he wanted to unify them. L. Stur helped to establish society Slovanska lipa (Slovak lime), to design Ziadosti slovenskeho naroda (it's a document, translated it means: Requests of Slovak Nation) and with organization Slovansky zjazd (Slav congress). In cause he helped with organization of congress, there was warrant on him. In the time of congress a rebellion brake out and Stur took a part there. After end of this rebellion he went to Zahreb and with Hurban and other persons they continued to prepare armed conflict against Ugrian cabinet.

When in 1851 his older brother Karol died, settled Stur indefinitely in Modra. He lived here under police control. He attended to writing poetry, took care of brother's children and he tried to establish Slovak Gymnazium (in meaning High School), but he failed in this objective. His last work was Slovanstvo a svet buducnosti (Slavs and World in future), written in German language.

Ludovit Stur died 12.1. 1956 in cause of his injury on hunt.

His importance isn't only in his verse, science, administrative and politic activity, also in his moral greatness, in absolute sacrifice of personal life for public and national interests.