In March 1848, revolution came to Hungary. The reformers demanded constitutional government, civil liberties, the end of feudalism, national autonomy. At first, the Habsburg court seemed to yield.
But the concessions were temporary. By autumn, the empire had regained its balance. The new Austrian government rejected Hungarian autonomy. War became inevitable.
Vilmos faced a choice. He had sworn an oath to the Habsburgs. He had served faithfully for decades. To join the revolutionary army was to break that oath, to risk everything.
But he was also Hungarian. His nation was fighting for its freedom. Could he stand aside while others died for what he believed in?
He chose Hungary. He resigned his imperial commission and joined the revolutionary forces. He was made a colonel, then a general.
Vilmos wrote to his mother: "I have broken my oath to the emperor because I have discovered a higher oath — to my people and to justice. If I am damned for this, so be it. But I believe that God judges us by the sincerity of our hearts, not by the formalities of our promises."