Rákóczi's War of Independence

Rákóczi's War of Independence (1703–1711) was an important effort to end the rule of the Habsburgs over Hungary. The war was led by a group of noblemen and wealthy leaders, with Francis II Rákóczi at the front. Many soldiers and ordinary people also joined the fight. Though the war did not win full independence, it had lasting effects.

The fighting ended with the Treaty of Szatmár, which let Hungarian leaders protect some of their rights. The treaty also ensured that people who fought, known as the kurucs, would not face punishment for their beliefs or actions. Because of this war, Hungary kept its own laws and its parliament stayed strong, preventing it from being fully controlled by the Habsburg rulers.

Prelude

At the Treaty of Karlowitz in 1699, the Ottoman Empire gave up most of its claims to some of its Hungarian territories. Many people in Hungary were unhappy with the rule of the Habsburgs. The nobles were upset because they had to prove they owned their land and pay a big fee to keep it; otherwise, the land would be taken away. The peasants were suffering because of the tough times during long wars. In 1697, there was an uprising in Tokaj against the Habsburgs, but it was stopped. Relations kept getting worse, and some people even missed the time under Ottoman rule because things were so hard under the new rulers.

Later, with help from King Louis XIV of France, rebels led by a nobleman named Imre Thököly stood up against the Habsburgs in 1678. He took control of much of northern Hungary. In 1681, the Ottomans joined to support him, and he was named King of Upper Hungary by Sultan Mehmed IV. But after the Ottomans lost the Battle of Vienna in 1683, they stopped helping him, and he was defeated in 1685. Because of his alliance with the Ottomans, Hungary’s image in Western Europe changed. Instead of being seen as a defender of Christianity, it was now viewed as an enemy. This led to Hungary being treated as newly taken land rather than land freed from the Ottomans.

Leadership

Main article: Francis II Rákóczi

Francis II Rákóczi came from a noble family and was one of the wealthiest landowners in the Kingdom of Hungary. He was born in 1676 to Francis I Rákóczi and Ilona Zrínyi. After his father passed away, his mother married Imre Thököly. When Thököly was defeated, Zrínyi held the castle of Munkács for three years before surrendering.

After some former soldiers started an uprising in the Hegyalja region, they asked Rákóczi to lead them. However, he was not interested at first and returned to Vienna to clear his name. There, he became friends with Count Miklós Bercsényi, a very wealthy and well-educated man who was connected to many important families in Hungary.

Fight for independence

As the House of Habsburg was losing power, France sought allies to oppose Austrian control. France reached out to Francis II Rákóczi, promising support for Hungarian independence. However, Austrian authorities discovered this plan, arrested Rákóczi in 1700, and imprisoned him. With help from his wife and a prison officer, Rákóczi escaped and fled to Poland.

When Austrian forces left Hungary during the War of the Spanish Succession in 1703, local forces led by Rákóczi began an uprising. Rákóczi agreed to lead this movement for Hungarian independence. Soon, more fighters joined him, and by late 1703, his forces controlled much of eastern and northern Hungary. Despite initial successes, Rákóczi faced challenges as support from France weakened and resources ran low. Efforts to negotiate peace with the Austrian emperor were complicated by disagreements over control of Transylvania. Eventually, Rákóczi’s forces were defeated, and he fled Hungary in 1711.

Foreign soldiers and participants

Denmark-Norway

Denmark–Norway sent soldiers to help the Habsburg army. These soldiers fought in eastern Hungary and Transylvania, including in the Battle of Zsibó.

Serbs, Croats and Saxons

The Serbs, who lived in southern Hungary, fought for the Austrian side. They helped protect Austrian interests and sometimes took resources from Hungarian villages. Some Serbs, however, joined the Hungarian fighters led by Rákóczi, such as the Frontiersmen of Semlak.

Croatia also supported the Austrian side, preventing Hungarian forces from entering Croatia. The Transylvanian Saxons mostly stayed loyal to the Austrians, providing shelter and support to Austrian troops.

Romanians and Slovaks

The Slovaks generally supported Rákóczi, with Slovak commanders in the Hungarian army. Many Romanians from Transylvania also joined the Hungarian side after Transylvania gained more freedom. Additional fighters came from Wallachia and Moldavia.

Others

Polish volunteers and soldiers from Ukraine and the Lipka Tatars joined the Hungarian cause. Rákóczi often asked Poland for more help. German groups, including some who had left the Austrian army, also fought with Rákóczi, along with German mercenaries. The Hungarian army used Slovak and German commands because of the many soldiers from these groups.

The Rusyn people quickly joined the uprising in 1703. Hungarian Slovenes from areas like Muraszombat, Lendva and Szentgotthárd fought against Austrian forces after facing difficult treatment from Austrian soldiers.

A small group of Swedish soldiers who had left after battles in Poland joined Rákóczi’s army in 1710. Though they came close to winning at the Battle of Romhány, the Hungarian forces were eventually defeated by the Austrian counterattack.

Rákóczi’s army also included fighters from Bulgaria, Litvins, Crimean Tatars and Ottoman Turks.