Nagykanizsa
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Nagykanizsa (; hr, Velika Kaniža/Velika Kanjiža, or just ''Kaniža/Kanjiža''; german: Großkirchen, Groß-Kanizsa; it, Canissa; sl, Velika Kaniža; tr, Kanije), known colloquially as Kanizsa, is a medium-sized city in
Zala County Zala ( hu, Zala megye, ; ; ) is an administrative county (comitatus or ''megye'') in south-western Hungary. It is named after the Zala River. It shares borders with Croatia ( Koprivnica–Križevci and Međimurje Counties) and Slovenia (Lendava ...
in southwestern
Hungary Hungary ( hu, Magyarország ) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning of the Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia a ...
. It is a
city with county rights A city with county rights (or urban county, Hungarian: ''megyei jogú város'', MJV) is a level of administrative subdivision in Hungary. Since 1994 all county seats are automatically awarded this status, and since 2012 this is the only way a new ...
. It lies not far from
Lake Balaton Lake Balaton () is a freshwater lake in the Transdanubian region of Hungary. It is the largest lake in Central Europe, and one of the region's foremost tourist destinations. The Zala River provides the largest inflow of water to the lake, and th ...
at the meeting point of five routes. For centuries the town has been a connecting link. Goods from
Slavonia Slavonia (; hr, Slavonija) is, with Dalmatia, Croatia proper, and Istria, one of the four historical regions of Croatia. Taking up the east of the country, it roughly corresponds with five Croatian counties: Brod-Posavina, Osijek-Baranja ...
were transported to
Graz Graz (; sl, Gradec) is the capital city of the Austrian state of Styria and second-largest city in Austria after Vienna. As of 1 January 2021, it had a population of 331,562 (294,236 of whom had principal-residence status). In 2018, the popul ...
via Nagykanizsa, and the town played an important role in the trade from the
Adriatic Sea The Adriatic Sea () is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan Peninsula. The Adriatic is the northernmost arm of the Mediterranean Sea, extending from the Strait of Otranto (where it connects to the Ionian Sea) to t ...
to the
Alpine Alpine may refer to any mountainous region. It may also refer to: Places Europe * Alps, a European mountain range ** Alpine states, which overlap with the European range Australia * Alpine, New South Wales, a Northern Village * Alpine National Pa ...
region,
Vienna en, Viennese , iso_code = AT-9 , registration_plate = W , postal_code_type = Postal code , postal_code = , timezone = CET , utc_offset = +1 , timezone_DST ...
, and
Budapest Budapest (, ; ) is the capital and most populous city of Hungary. It is the ninth-largest city in the European Union by population within city limits and the second-largest city on the Danube river; the city has an estimated population ...
.


History

The city's oldest Roman era ruins were uncovered in the 1960s. Later, during the Middle Ages, it became one of the most important strongholds of the Hungarian Kingdom. The fortress had a significant role in the southern shield line of Hungary, keeping the whole of Western Europe safe from the attacks of the Ottoman Empire. The name Kanizsa was first mentioned in a document in 1245. The Kanizsai family continued building the castle and constructed a rectangular castle with an enclosed back yard on an islet in the River Kanizsa. The town and the castle were in their prime in the first half of the 16th century, when Kanizsa became a centre of trade with Italy and
Styria Styria (german: Steiermark ; Serbo-Croatian and sl, ; hu, Stájerország) is a state (''Bundesland'') in the southeast of Austria. With an area of , Styria is the second largest state of Austria, after Lower Austria. Styria is bordered to ...
. Szigetvár and Kanizsa became the most important strongholds in southern Hungary. In 1600, the Turkish army occupied the castle. This castle was the center of an Ottoman eyalet including the sanjaks of Sigetvar,
Kopan Kopan Monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery near Boudhanath, on the outskirts of Kathmandu, Nepal. It is a member of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), an international network of Gelugpa dharma centers, ...
, Valpuva, Siklos, Nadaj, and Balatin until 1690 (see
Ottoman Hungary Ottoman Hungary ( hu, Török hódoltság) was the southern and central parts of what had been the Kingdom of Hungary in the late medieval period, which were conquered and ruled by the Ottoman Empire from 1541 to 1699. The Ottoman rule covered ...
), when the city was invaded by the Habsburg armies. In 1601, during the Ottoman-Habsburg War of 1593–1606, a siege began on September 9 and ended on November 18. The Habsburg forces were commanded by Ferdinand the Archduke of Austria, and
Tiryaki Hasan Pasha Tiryaki Hasan Pasha ( Turkish: ''Tiryaki Hasan Paşa''); Hasan-paša Tiro (Bosnian); also called Alacaatlı Hasan Pasha (1530–1611), was an Ottoman military commander, who participated in the Long Turkish War. He received his education in the ...
was defending the castle. Hasan Pasha won the fight against the ten times larger army of Austrians with many cunning military ploys, and was raised to the rank of Vizier. At the beginning of the 18th century, the holder of the castle moved German, Croatian, and Serbian settlers into the deserted town. A particularly mixed ethnic group lived in a suburb called Kiskanizsa. After the Turks were driven out, the town lost its strategic significance, so the Vienna war council demolished the castle in 1702. Business became lively, trade became important again, and crafts developed significantly. In 1765, elementary and secondary education was begun by the
Piarist order The Piarists (), officially named the Order of Poor Clerics Regular of the Mother of God of the Pious Schools ( la, Ordo Clericorum Regularium pauperum Matris Dei Scholarum Piarum), abbreviated SchP, is a religious order of clerics regular of the ...
supported by
Lajos Batthyány Count Lajos Batthyány de Németújvár (; hu, gróf németújvári Batthyány Lajos; 10 February 1807 – 6 October 1849) was the first Prime Minister of Hungary. He was born in Pozsony (modern-day Bratislava) on 10 February 1807, and was e ...
, palatine of Hungary. The first business school of Transdanubia was opened in Nagykanizsa, and in 1895 it was made into a college. Many people who had attended its schools became famous: Benedek Virág, Pál Király, Ferenc Deák, Károly Kaán, Sándor Hevesi, and
Ferenc Mező Ferenc Mező, also known as Grünfeld (March 13, 1885 – November 21, 1961), was a Hungarian poet. He was born in Pölöskefő, Zala County, and died in Budapest Budapest (, ; ) is the capital and most populous city of Hungary. I ...
all studied in the ancient buildings of Nagykanizsa's "almae matres". Nagykanizsa started a new phase of large-scale development in the 1860s. The railway connecting Nagykanizsa with Vienna,
Budapest Budapest (, ; ) is the capital and most populous city of Hungary. It is the ninth-largest city in the European Union by population within city limits and the second-largest city on the Danube river; the city has an estimated population ...
, and
Rijeka Rijeka ( , , ; also known as Fiume hu, Fiume, it, Fiume ; local Chakavian: ''Reka''; german: Sankt Veit am Flaum; sl, Reka) is the principal seaport and the third-largest city in Croatia (after Zagreb and Split). It is located in Primor ...
was constructed at that time. There was rapid development in industry as well. This industrial and business development resulted in the foundation of banks. Besides the four local banks, an Austro-Hungarian and an Anglo-Hungarian bank also opened branch offices in town. Telephone lines were established and the town was connected with a long-distance system in 1895. At the same time, a 70-bed hospital was opened. During
World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
, military barracks were built in the town. This necessitated the construction of a municipal water network. Kanizsa became a modern town; drainage system construction and paving of streets began. World War I caused grave consequences. Kanizsa became isolated and lost its markets in the south and west. Oil helped the town to survive. After successful exploration by the American corporation ''Eurogasco'', Hungarian-American Oil Inc. was formed. Nagykanizsa became the centre of the Hungarian oil industry. Near the end of
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, the Nagykanizsa oil fields were the last remaining in German hands, and to protect these fields the last German offensive of the war,
Operation Spring Awakening Operation Spring Awakening (german: Unternehmen Frühlingserwachen) was the last major German offensive of World War II. The operation was referred to in Germany as the Plattensee offensive and in the Soviet Union as the Balaton defensive operati ...
, was launched. This failed and the town soon fell to the Soviet Nagykanizsa–Körmend Offensive. Beer brewed in Kanizsa Brewery regained its reputation as one of the best Hungarian beers, carrying off the palm at more and more international competitions – at the beginning of the century the brewery was closed as demand for beer fell drastically. Kanizsa Trend Ltd. grew out of the company, with its furniture products gaining a high reputation all over Europe. The predecessor of the present day Tungsram Plc, now belonging to
General Electric General Electric Company (GE) is an American multinational conglomerate founded in 1892, and incorporated in New York state and headquartered in Boston. The company operated in sectors including healthcare, aviation, power, renewable energ ...
, was opened in 1965. It is now one of the biggest light bulb factories in the world. Károlyi Park, City Park, and large squares like Kossuth, Eötvös, and Erzsébet squares were extended after 1962. A boating lake was formed, becoming a popular recreation centre. In the 2010s Nagykanizsa attracts thousands of dental tourists.


Education


High schools

Batthyány Lajos High School


Politics

The current mayor of Nagykanizsa is László Balogh (''Fidesz-KDNP''). The local Municipal Assembly, elected at the 2019 local government elections, is made up of 15 members (1 Mayor, 10 individual ward members and 4 compensation-list members) divided into these political parties and alliances:


Sport

*
Nagykanizsa FC Nagykanizsa Futball Club is a Hungarian football club from the town of Nagykanizsa. History Nagykanizsa FC debuted in the 1994–95 season of the Hungarian League Hungarian may refer to: * Hungary, a country in Central Europe * Kingdom of Hun ...
, association football club


Notable people

* Kanijeli Siyavuş Paşa,
Grand Vizier Grand vizier ( fa, وزيرِ اعظم, vazîr-i aʾzam; ota, صدر اعظم, sadr-ı aʾzam; tr, sadrazam) was the title of the effective head of government of many sovereign states in the Islamic world. The office of Grand Vizier was first ...
of the Ottoman Empire *
Edmund Gutmann Baron Edmund Gutmann von Gelse und Belišće (3 March 1841 – 17 January 1918) was a Croatian nobleman, industrialist and together with his family (father and brothers) founder of the settlement which became Belišće, Croatia. Baron Gutmann ...
, known Hungarian-Croatian wholesaler and industrialist * Elizabeth Jaranyi, Holocaust survivor and author *
Leopold Wittelshöfer Leopold Wittelshöfer (14 July 1818, Nagykanizsa, Hungary – 8 January 1889, Vienna, Austria) was an Austrian physician. He was educated at the University of Vienna (M.D. 1841). After practising medicine for ten years in Raab, Hungary, he moved to ...
(1818–1889), physician * Ferenc Fejtő, journalist and political scientist *
Kornél Dávid Dávid Kornél (in English sometimes Kornel David, born October 22, 1971) is a Hungarian former professional basketball player. He is the only Hungarian to play in the NBA. Early life Dávid grew up with the Budapesti Honvéd juniors squad an ...
,
NBA The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America. The league is composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada) and is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United St ...
player *
Lajos Balázsovits Lajos Balázsovits (born 4 December 1946) is a Hungarian film actor. He appeared in 60 films from 1968 to 2006. Selected filmography * ''The Upthrown Stone'' (1969) * '' The Confrontation'' (1969) * ''Milarepa'' (1974) * ''Electra, My Love'' ( ...
, Hungarian film actor * Győző Zemplén, physicist *
Ferenc Farkas Ferenc Farkas (; 15 December 1905 – 10 October 2000) was a Hungarian composer. Biography Born into a musical family (his father played the cimbalom and his mother played the piano) in Nagykanizsa, Farkas began his musical studies in Budape ...
, composer *
Szabina Tálosi Szabina Tálosi (born 20 January 1989 in Nagykanizsa) is a Hungary, Hungarian women's soccer, football Defender (association football), defender currently playing in the Noi NB I, Hungarian First Division for Viktória FC-Szombathely, Viktória ...
, football player *
Ferenc Mező Ferenc Mező, also known as Grünfeld (March 13, 1885 – November 21, 1961), was a Hungarian poet. He was born in Pölöskefő, Zala County, and died in Budapest Budapest (, ; ) is the capital and most populous city of Hungary. I ...
, olympic gold medalist * János Rózsás, writer,
Gulag The Gulag, an acronym for , , "chief administration of the camps". The original name given to the system of camps controlled by the GPU was the Main Administration of Corrective Labor Camps (, )., name=, group= was the government agency in ...
survivor and later expert * Johann Schnitzler, Austrian Jewish
laryngologist The larynx (), commonly called the voice box, is an organ in the top of the neck involved in breathing, producing sound and protecting the trachea against food aspiration. The opening of larynx into pharynx known as the laryngeal inlet is about ...
*
Gyula Wlassics Baron Gyula Wlassics de Zalánkemén (17 March 1852 – 30 March 1937) was a Hungarian politician, who served as Minister of Religion and Education between 1895 and 1903. Description In December 1895 Wlassics passed a law that allowed women, ...
, Hungarian Minister of Religion and Education between 1895 and 1903


Gallery

Image:Nagykanizsa3.jpg, Lake Csonakazo (boating) Image:Felsővárosi római katolikus templom, légi, Nagykanizsa1.jpg, Deak Square Image:Nagykanizsa Vasember ház.jpg, The Iron Man, the sign of the former ironmonger's shop on the wall of the House of the Iron Man Image:17 hosszusagikor.jpg, The 17th eastern longitude monument erected by the Town Supporting Association Image:Nagykanizsa Inkey kápolna.jpg, The baroque Inkey chapel Image:Spomenik u Nagykanizsi.jpg, Monument to the Greater Hungary


Twin towns – sister cities

Nagykanizsa is twinned with: *
Acre The acre is a unit of land area used in the imperial Imperial is that which relates to an empire, emperor, or imperialism. Imperial or The Imperial may also refer to: Places United States * Imperial, California * Imperial, Missouri * Imp ...
, Israel *
Bihać Bihać ( cyrl, Бихаћ) is a city and the administrative centre of Una-Sana Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is situated on the banks of river Una in northwestern Bosnia and Herzegovina ...
, Bosnia and Herzegovina *
Čakovec Čakovec (; hu, Csáktornya; la, Aquama; german: Tschakathurn) is a city in northern Croatia, located around north of Zagreb, the Croatian capital. Čakovec is both the county seat and the largest city of Međimurje County, the northernmost, s ...
, Croatia *
Covasna Covasna (, hu, Kovászna, , german: Kowasna) is a town in Covasna County, Transylvania, Romania, at an altitude of . It is known for its natural mineral waters and mofettas. The town administers one village, Chiuruș ( hu, Csomakőrös). The ...
, Romania *
Gleisdorf Gleisdorf is a town in the district of Weiz in the Austrian state of Styria. Geography Gleisdorf lies about 25 km east of Graz in the valley of the Raab Sister cities * Winterbach im Remstal (near Stuttgart, since 1961) * Nagykanizsa (Hunga ...
, Austria *
Kanjiža Kanjiža ( sr-Cyrl, Кањижа, pronounced ) formerly Stara Kanjiža ( sr-cyrl, Стара Кањижа; yi, קניזשא; hu, Magyarkanizsa, formerly ''Kanizsa'') is a town and municipality located in the North Banat District of the autonomou ...
, Serbia *
Kazanlak Kazanlak ( bg, Казанлък , Thracian and Greek Σευθόπολις (''Seuthopolis''), tr, Kazanlık) is a Bulgarian town in Stara Zagora Province, located in the middle of the plain of the same name, at the foot of the Balkan mountain ...
, Bulgaria * Puchheim, Germany *
Salo Salo or Salò may refer to: Places Finland *Salo, Finland, a town in Western Finland **Salo sub-region, a subdivision of Finland Proper and one of the Sub-regions of Finland since 2009 *An old name of Saloinen, a former municipality in Ostroboth ...
, Finland *
Shijiazhuang Shijiazhuang (; ; Mandarin: ), formerly known as Shimen and romanized as Shihkiachwang, is the capital and most populous city of China’s North China's Hebei Province. Administratively a prefecture-level city, it is about southwest of Beijin ...
, China *
Tolyatti Tolyatti ( rus, Толья́тти, p=tɐlʲˈjætʲ(ː)ɪ), also known as Togliatti, formerly known as Stavropol (1737–1964), is a types of inhabited localities in Russia, city in Samara Oblast, Russia. It is the largest city in Russia which doe ...
, Russia


Bibliography

* Claire Norton, "The Remembrance of the Sieges of Kanije in the Construction of Late Ottoman and Modern Turkish Nationalist Identities," ''Parergon'', 21,1 (2004), 133–154.


References

;Notes


External links

* in Hungarian * {{Authority control
Nagykanizsa Nagykanizsa (; hr, Velika Kaniža/Velika Kanjiža, or just ''Kaniža/Kanjiža''; german: Großkirchen, Groß-Kanizsa; it, Canissa; sl, Velika Kaniža; tr, Kanije), known colloquially as Kanizsa, is a medium-sized city in Zala County in southw ...
Populated places in Zala County Historic Jewish communities Cities with county rights of Hungary