He was born in Pest, but soon after his family moved to vál, a small town in Transdanubia. He started poetry early since his first published poem appeared in 1844. He was the youngest member of the youths of 1848, a group of young poets, writers and other intellectuals who played a leading role of the March revolution. After the fall of the Freedom fight against the Austrian Monarchy, he was recruited in the Austrian Army as a repercussion for his participation, and had to spend long years far from his homeland. When he eventually returned, he continued his literary carrier, and fought to maintain a high standard in poetry in the years when cheap epigonism and undemanding, low quality in art were commonplace. He also wrote against the gradually expanding imperialist ideas.