Introduction
Szeged is situated near the southern border of Hungary, just to the south of the mouth of the Maros river, and both banks of the Tisza river. It is the capital of Csongrád county and plays an important role in the South-Eastern region of the country. In 2006 the European Prize (the highest distinction that can be bestowed on a European Town or local authority for its actions) has been awarded to Szeged.
Origin of the name
It is usually called the City of Sunshine due to the high numbers of sunshine hours annually. It is also interesting, how linguists and historians explain where the name ’Szeged’ comes from. There are many different explanations, one of them says that that it comes from the Hungarian word ‘szeg’ which means ‘corner’ in English.
The same question can be asked about the Tisza, which is the second largest river in the country. According to experts, during the iron age (700-600 BC.) Agathursos and Signunna tribes settled in the region and in their language ‘tijah’ meant ‘river’.
Historical owerview
The history of the area goes back high in the past as the first inhabitants were mammoth hunters who lived there around 24000 BC. Since then, the Tisza lured people to this region.
Szeged was a very important strategic point for the Romans as well, lying between the two provinces, Pannonia and Transylvania. They called it Partiscum. It is also thought that Attila the Hun had his seat somewhere in the region. The Hungarian tribes conquered the area in 896 and established their Christian state a hundred years later. The city retained its importance due to its geographic location and by being a riverside trading post.
The first mention of Szeged in a public document was in 1183 by King Béla III. Not much later, in 1246 it was given the rank of free royal town.
Under the threat of the Turkish Empire, during many decades it was one of the centres of defense, but finally it was occupied in 1543. Surprisingly, it was improving under the Ottoman reign, becoming the administrative centre of the annexed area. Unfortunately, the city was demolished in the war which aimed to oust the Turkish out of the country (the city was freed in 1686). The next 150 years brought growth and prosperity.
During the Reform Period industrial works and banks were established and the railway system reached the city. The citizens of Szeged played an important role in the Revolution and War of Independence in 1848-49. In July 1849 it was the last seat of the revolutionary government. After that in 1879 it was destroyed by the great flood, but then it was rebuilt to be more beautiful than ever.
After the first World War, Hungary lost the 2/3 of its territory, and Szeged took over roles that formerly belonged to the lost cities. For example, in 1921 the University of Kolozsvár moved to the city. This event also had a great effect on the educational system, so that Szeged became one of the University centres of the Hungary.
Additional iformation
—Mark Pick's shop (the wolrd-famous Pick salami) was opened in 1869.
—The Open-Air Festivals were organized for the first time in 1931.
—One of the famous people who was born in Szeged is Albert Szent-Györgyi (1893-1986), who was a Nobel-prize laureate in1937.
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