Szolnok: Hungary

Szolnok: Hungary
Szolnok is the capital of the county of Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok, central Hungary. The area has been inhabited since ancient times. Before the Conquest of Hungary it was inhabited by Scythians, Celts, Avars. The Hungarians settled in the area in the 10th century.
The town was first mentioned in 1075. At that time it was the capital of the comitatus Szolnok. It was named after the steward of its castle. During the Mongol invasion the town became deserted, King Béla IV moved new settlers there, but it remained a small village for a long time.
In 1550–1551, when the Ottoman Empire threatened with invading the country, the castle was fortified and a town wall was built. The Ottomans sieged the castle which was surrendered to them in on September 4, 1552.
The Ottomans built a mosque, a public bath and a minaret in the town. Most of the buildings have been destroyed since then. The only Turkish codex made in Hungary was copied in Szolnok.
The town was freed from Ottoman rule in 1685, but it was completely destroyed during the revolution led by Prince Rákóczi in the early 18th century. The comitatus of Outer Szolnok was temporarily annexed to Comitatus Heves.
The town started to prosper again in the 18th century. The controlling of the river Tisza and the steamship traffic increased the town’s importance. From 1847 Szolnok is connected to Pest by railway.
The citizens of Szolnok took part in the revolution against Habsburg rule in 1848-49. In the Battle of Szolnok the Austrians were defeated by the armies of General Damjanich.
After the Ausgleich the population and importance of Szolnok grew. In 1876 Szolnok became capital of the comitatus again. In 1879 it already had 16.000 residents.
The town suffered a lot during World War I and World War II. Most of the residents fleed, the Soviet army found only a few people in the town.
During the Socialist era Szolnok began to prosper again. Factories were built, and the turistic importance grew when the thermal bath was opened.
Szolnok was granted the rank of city with county rights on November 13, 1990.