By imperial decree, Emperor Franz-Joseph of Austria-Hungary abolished the requirement that Jews in Hungary gain the permission of the authorities before they marry. The law was made retroactive so that many "unauthorized" unions became legal. In a later loosening of the state grip, in January 1860 all restrictions on Jews testifying in court were also removed. (By John Osborne)
Source Citation
Raphael Patai, The Jews of Hungary: History, Culture, Society (Detroit,MI: Wayne State University Press, 1996), 302.