TISZA, KALMAN [KOLOMAN] (183o-19o2), Hungarian statesman, was born at Geszt on Dec. 1o, 183o, the son of Lajos Tisza and the countess Julia Teleki, and educated at his father's castle. In 1848 he obtained a post in the ministry of instruction of the revolutionary Government. After the war he travelled abroad, afterwards (1855) becoming assistant curator of the Calvinist church at Nagyszalonta. He publicly and vehemently opposed the Austrian "Patent" of Sept. 1, 1859 and the "October Diploma" of 186o. In Aug. 186o Tisza married the countess Helen Degenfeld-Schomburg, a union which brought him into close connection with the Karolyis, the Podmaniczkys and the Odescalchis. He was unanimously elected to represent Debreczen at the 1861 diet, and vice-president of the house at its second session, and became leader of the more radical party on the death of Count Laszlo Teleki.
From 1867 onwards his influence increased steadily, despite the rupture of his party, which he reconstructed at the conference of Nagyvarad (March 17, 1868), when the famous Bihari pontok, or articles of Bihar, were subscribed, which bound the Tisza party to repeal all laws or institutions contrary to, and to pro mote all measures necessary for, the national independence. Thus the delegation system and the common ministries were marked out for attack, while every effort was to be made to procure for Hungary a separate army, a separate diplomacy and a separate financial system. It was chiefly owing to the efforts of Tisza and
his party that Austria remained neutral during the Franco-German War. In 1875 his party amalgamated with the followers of Deak into the Szabadelvii part or Free Principles Party, which took office under Bela Wenckheim (1811-1879), whom (Oct. 2) Tisza succeeded as prime minister, a post he held, with a few interrup tions, for the next 15 years. In 1879 he materially contributed to the formation of the Austro-German alliance. Not till 1888, when the national army bill was introduced, did he encounter any serious opposition, but thenceforth his position became precarious, and he resigned office on March 13, 189o. It was owing to his influence, above all things, that Hungary acquired a consolidated government and a position of predominance in the dual monarchy. It is an open secret that, on the retirement of Andrassy, he was offered the chancellorship. He refused it because, to use his own expression, "I am as wholly and solely Hungarian as the river (Theiss, Hung. Tisza) whose name I bear." See G. Gratz, Kalman Tisza (Modern Magyar Statesmen, I.) (Hung.; 1902) ; P. Busbach, The Last Five Years (Hung.; 1895).