Growing up in Iowa, all I knew of Kossuth County was its unusual size: essentially double the size of other counties in the state, it’s the reason Iowa has 99 and not 100 counties. I know nothing of the county, doubtful I’ve driven through it, didn’t wonder how it got its name. Until recently.
Lajos Kossuth was a political reformer who led the Hungarian Revolution of 1848 to break the ties between Hungary and Austria (essentially the Hapsburg dynasty) by refusing to acknowledge the abdication of Emperor Ferdinand. Emperor Franz Josef reached an agreement for Russia to invade Hungary and restore Hapsburg rule, forcing Kossuth to flee, first to Turkey before being invited to take refuge in the United States. Warmly welcomed for his liberal, democratic views, he was seen as an idol for freeing Europe from the many autocracies of the time.
Unfortunately, his efforts did not result in Hungary’s freedom though ultimately led to the Ausgleich and the Austria-Hungarian Dual Monarchy.
So Kossuth County was named for a revolutionary looking to establish more democratic ideals throughout Europe, ironic as the United States apparently is embracing those autocratic ideas that Kossuth himself abhorred. Wonder if anyone has suggested renaming the county.
Image Credits
- “Kossuth County Iowa Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Lu Verne Highlighted” by Arkyan is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. (cropped)
- “Photo of Kossuth” By Unknown author – http://www.bparchiv.hu/magyar/kiadvany/bpn/46/111.jpg, Public Domain.
