Széchenyi’s education was interrupted by the Napoleonic Wars: in the spring of 1809, at the age of 17, he joined the noble insurrection with his two brothers. He was immediately promoted to the rank of officer, and after a few months, when the irregular army was disbanded, he joined the army of the Empire. He distinguished himself in several battles in later wars, eventually rising to the rank of captain of the hussars.
In 1815 the wars ended, and Széchenyi lived the social life of a wealthy and distinguished young officer; he also often took time off military duty and travelled in Western Europe and the Middle East.
His way of life made him a true citizen of the world, who almost forgot the Hungarian language. However, the carefree lifestyle, which avoided all serious goals and responsibilities, was less and less satisfying to him, and when his military career faltered and his attempts at marriage failed, he became more and more conscious of finding something worthwhile to do.
His values were shaped by his reading – which included the literary masterpieces of the Enlightenment and Romanticism as well as the scientific and political works of his time – and his personal experiences. His travels abroad aroused his interest in his homeland and made him aware of Hungary’s backwardness, and he began to think about finding a way out. Having found his purpose in life in public life, he left the army in 1826.
