Uprising in Nagykanizsa

The Uprising in Nagykanizsa was a revolt during the Hungarian War of Independence of 1848-1849 on 3 October 1848, of the population of this town, helped by the Hungarian national and militias led by József Vidos, the vice-ispán of Vas, against the Croatian occupation army led by Lieutenant Colonel Albert Nugent. The Croatian army occupied the city of Nagykanizsa and Zala county as a result of Ban Josip Jelačić's campaign against Hungary, which started on 11 September 1848. During the Croatian occupation, Albert Nugent's occupation troops tried to use Nagykanizsa as an important station in the supply line of the main Croatian army operating towards the Hungarian capitals, Buda and Pest. But as a result of the very intensive and well-organized guerilla warfare of the people of the county and the national guards led by József Vidos, the Croatians had more and more difficulties in maintaining the supply chain. And on 3 October the people of Nagykanizsa rose up, and chase away the Croatian troops from the town, forcing Nugent to retreat his troops south of the Mura River, and back to Croatia. Vidos's national guards, who arrived too late on 3 October to help the population of Nagykanizsa in achieving their victory, nevertheless took part in the chasing of the Croatians south of the Mura River.