József Kossics
Encyclopedia
József Kossics, also known in Slovene as Jožef Košič (around October 9, 1788 – December 26, 1867) was a Hungarian
-Slovenia
n writer, Catholic
priest, ethnologist, linguist, poet, and historian. He was of Croatia
n descent.
Kossics was born in Bogojina, Moravske Toplice
, then part of the Kingdom of Hungary
, now in Slovenia
. His father József Kossics was a teacher born in Varaždin
.
Kossics served as a priest in the first half of 19th century in Alsószölnök and later in Felsőszölnök
(1829–1867) in Vas country
. He was also a poet, linguist, historian, and ethnologist. He was a subscriber to the early Hungarian scholarly journal Tudományos gyűjtemény (Scientific Collection, 1817–1841). In 1828, his monograph on the Hungarian Slovenes
appeared in this journal, earning him respect in ethnological circles. Kossics continued to attentively follow developments in Hungarian
science and culture.
In his pursuit of promoting the special features of ethnic groups, he later became something of an activist. In 1837, he joined an appeal for a poem from every ethnic group living in the Kingdom of Hungary
to be read in the respective languages for the opening of the Hungarian National Theater
in Pest. For this purpose, Kossics himself wrote a poem in his native Slovene and added a rough Hungarian translation.
Kossics died in 1867 in Felsőszölnök
.
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
-Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
n writer, Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
priest, ethnologist, linguist, poet, and historian. He was of Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
n descent.
Kossics was born in Bogojina, Moravske Toplice
Moravske Toplice
Moravske Toplice is a town and a municipality in Slovenia, part of the Prekmurje region. It is best known as a spa town.The municipality is an important center of Lutheranism in Slovenia. Large Lutheran churches are found both in the settlement, as in other surrounding villages...
, then part of the Kingdom of Hungary
Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
, now in Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
. His father József Kossics was a teacher born in Varaždin
Varaždin
Varaždin is a city in north Croatia, north of Zagreb on the highway A4. The total population is 47,055, with 38,746 on of the city settlement itself . The centre of Varaždin county is located near the Drava river, at...
.
Kossics served as a priest in the first half of 19th century in Alsószölnök and later in Felsőszölnök
Felsoszölnök
Felsőszölnök is a village in Vas County, Hungary. It is the westernmost point of Hungary, and lies on the borders with Slovenia and Austria.-Location:...
(1829–1867) in Vas country
Vas
Vas is the name of an administrative county in present Hungary, and also in the former Kingdom of Hungary. The county is a part of the Centrope Project.-Geography:...
. He was also a poet, linguist, historian, and ethnologist. He was a subscriber to the early Hungarian scholarly journal Tudományos gyűjtemény (Scientific Collection, 1817–1841). In 1828, his monograph on the Hungarian Slovenes
Hungarian Slovenes
Hungarian Slovenes are an autochthonous ethnic and linguistic Slovene minority living in Hungary. The largest groups are the Rába Slovenes in the Rába Valley in western Hungary between the town of Szentgotthárd and the borders with Slovenia and Austria. They speak the Prekmurje dialect of Slovene...
appeared in this journal, earning him respect in ethnological circles. Kossics continued to attentively follow developments in Hungarian
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
science and culture.
In his pursuit of promoting the special features of ethnic groups, he later became something of an activist. In 1837, he joined an appeal for a poem from every ethnic group living in the Kingdom of Hungary
Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
to be read in the respective languages for the opening of the Hungarian National Theater
National Theatre (Budapest)
The National Theatre is the main theatre of Budapest, and the largest such institution in Hungary, opening originally in 1837. Its company used several locations since then, including the original building at the Kerepesi street, and the People's Theatre at the Blaha Lujza Square...
in Pest. For this purpose, Kossics himself wrote a poem in his native Slovene and added a rough Hungarian translation.
Kossics died in 1867 in Felsőszölnök
Felsoszölnök
Felsőszölnök is a village in Vas County, Hungary. It is the westernmost point of Hungary, and lies on the borders with Slovenia and Austria.-Location:...
.
See also
- Hungarian SlovenesHungarian SlovenesHungarian Slovenes are an autochthonous ethnic and linguistic Slovene minority living in Hungary. The largest groups are the Rába Slovenes in the Rába Valley in western Hungary between the town of Szentgotthárd and the borders with Slovenia and Austria. They speak the Prekmurje dialect of Slovene...
- List of Slovene writers and poets in Hungary
- PrekmurjePrekmurjePrekmurje is a geographically, linguistically, culturally and ethnically defined region settled by Slovenes and lying between the Mur River in Slovenia and the Rába Valley in the most western part of Hungary...