Tisza, Kálmán [key], 1830–1902, Hungarian premier (1875–90), of an old Calvinist family. He entered politics in the Hungarian revolution of Mar., 1848. Elected (1861) to the Hungarian parliament, he led the radical group that later opposed the Ausgleich [compromise] of 1867, which created the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. He was influential in maintaining Austro-Hungarian neutrality in the Franco-Prussian War. Having become (1875) premier of Hungary, he reversed his stand on the Ausgleich and formed the Liberal party, which dominated Hungarian politics during the following decades. His close support of the policies of Julius Andrássy, the Austro-Hungarian foreign minister, enabled Tisza to make Hungary an equal partner in the Dual Monarchy. During his 15-year premiership, Tisza rehabilitated Hungarian finances, introduced compulsory education, and strengthened the economic ties with Austria. He tried to absorb the Slavic and Romanian minorities into a Magyar culture and nation.
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