Ioan Buteanu was a leader of the Transylvanian Romanian Revolutionaries in 1848 and a prefect of Zaránd County between 1848 and 1849.
Early life and activity
Ioan Buteanu was born in 1821 to a noble family. His birthplace is sometimes listed as Sighetu Marmatiei or Somcuta Mare, where his father was born. He attended gymnasium in Baia Mare and Carei. He was a Chancellor for three years at Tabula Regia in Targu Mures. After obtaining a lawyer's diploma he settled in Abrud. Austrian General Anton Puchner appointed him as the administrator of Zarand, and the Romanian National Committee appointed him prefect in that region. On May 15, 1848, he gave a speech at the Blaj Assembly, criticizing the intent of the Hungarian revolutionaries to unify Transylvania with Hungary. Located in Sibiuin the summer of 1848, he received an invitation from Nicolae Bălcescu asking him to join the Wallachian Revolution. Buteanu asked Avram Iancu to advocate in the National Committee to take action "to help the brothers beyond." During the 1849 truce between the Hungarian revolutionaries and the Transylvanian Romanians led by Avram Iancu, on May 6, the major adventurer Imre Hatvani with a detachment of Hungarian revolutionaries Abrud surprised and disarmed the Romanians. On May 7, the prefects Petru Dobra and Ioan Buteanu were taken as prisoners. Dobra was shot at Abrud, and Buteanu was sent to Brad and jailed. On May 19, Major Hatvani withdrew from Abrud to Brad, then through Baia de Criş and Hălmagiu to Gurahonţ. Hatvani hanged Buteanu without trial on 23 May 1849 at Josesel.
Legacy
Ioan Buteanu was painted by Barbu Iscovescu when he was held prisoner alongside other Wallachian revolutionaries in the Apuseni Mountains. On May 23, 1999, Pro-Maramures Cultural Society "Dragos Voda" built a bust in the center of Sighet to commemorate the 150 year anniversary of the death of Buteanu. On the Memorial House, now a place of worship, a commemorative plaque was placed. Gurahont-Arad High School is named after Buteanu. His name was also worn by the 6th Regiment of Turda, a regiment commanded between 1972-1976 by Stefan Gusa.
