> Magyar - Kocsi-szekér 1
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The Kocsi = "COACH" is from the town of
KOCS in HUNGARY (15th C.)
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THE "COACH" from KOCS
A few years before the discovery of America, in the year 1485, King Mathias of Hungary took Vienna from the German-Habsburg Emperor. He moved the king's capital there and established a Mail-Coach / Stagecoach between Vienna and Buda(pest). The coach was actually a wagon perfected for Mátyás in the town of Kocs, from light wood-wagons already in use for several centuries. Many considered "King Mátyás the discoverer of the 'kocsi'-coach" (János Liszti, Bishop of Veszprem +1577)
The speed (75-100 km per day vs. 25-30 in Europe*) and comfort (passengers actually slept on the route!) and distance (unbelievable daily travel) was so revolutionary that the wagon-of-Kocs soon spread to every country. The word Kocsi > coach-coccio-Kutsche plus the other discovery & word of King Mathias' rule Huszár > hussar-hussard-ussar [see >Hussar] are the 2 most widely adopted Hungarian discoveries & Hungarian words in the world!
[* In 1375, the King of Scotland's ransom was brought "with all speed" to London, at the rate of only 30 miles per day, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica. In its hey day the Royal Mail Coach traveled at ten miles per hour. Only the shortlived US stagecoaches would surpass Mátyás' Post-Coach, 3½ centuries later, with 4 to 6 horses, at 100~110 km per day.]
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The skillful all wood construction is the basic secret to the lightness, flexibility and speed of the "Kocsi"- wagon.
This "kocsi" & tag-along-horse (below), with driver in the wagon results in double horsepower, speed & distance.
THE INGENUOUS "TAG-ALONG" AUXILIARY HORSE
This side-harness, independent from the team hitch, is a unique Hungarian (from Kocs? or the King?) discovery.
Normally the 3rd side-horse just tags along and trails - until engaged at the needed situation, moment & terrain.
NB: This is not an extra horse at back of coach (cockhorse) & hitched up for steep terrain - it has it's own side-hitch!
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Auxiliary horsepower for " Overdrive " : On level easy ground the light kocsi moves fast, indeed one horse is enough. The spare horse, not hitched to the wagon or the pole and somewhat rested, overtakes the two main horses and takes over. This is "automatic overdrive". The driver however can also "manually" (= the whip) engage this for maximium speed.
Auxiliary horsepower for "4 Wheel Drive": If the ground is rough or it's raining and muddy the wagon slows down and the team gets tired. The backup horse is engaged and the 2 horses are pulling while the third is pushing; this from the rear axle/wheel. Technically this is true 4 wheel drive.
Auxiliary horsepower for "Turbo-charge": A larger hill or a steep climb presents problems. Not only does the team has to make a severe effort on the hill but often the wagon stops and the passengers have to make it on foot to the top. Not so for the coach from Kocs! The auxiliary horse now provides 50% reserve horsepower and the "turbocharged team" easily negotiates the hill.
[NB: ALL 3 is available due tag-along-horse with auxiliary rear-side harness ONLY!]
A view of a "Tag-along Auxiliary Horse", here in a 5-horse hitch with a later substitute the "chain-horse".
Old European nobles wagon
Later age(s) suspended
" coach "
PERFECTING the STANCHION: STAKE-BRACE = "LŐCS"
Drawing shows the "side hitch" of the "tag-along" 3rd horse - attached to the rear axle; giving 50% horsepower when required to rear wheels!
Also the special stake-brace: supports the sides & transfers weight to wheel axle. Also protect the wheels from twisting to the breakage point!
Found in East Europe, especially Poland, Ukraine and Hungary but unused in the west. Most extensive use and the likely origin is Hungary !
("Lőcs": Stanchion-brace, stake-brace, wagon-brace (?); German-levoca; Polish-leva, Ukrainian-levoi.)
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Picture is reconstructed original Kocsi in the Muzeum of Kocs (town of origin). Insert is a 19th C "coach" with leaf elliptical "carriage springs".
The constant jerks of a wagon tires out passengers and the horses. The swaying of a hanging carriage causes dizziness and often motion sickness. The cart is small and built for few people only. The wagon-from-Kocs minimizes or eliminates all this. The wagon-of-Kocs absorbs shocks and rules out concussions, avoids motion sickness and is faster than a cart or chariot! In fact, it was the first 'sleeping-coach'.
The word kocs~coach is in universal use to this day.
NB: The original "kocsi-wagon" was a true wagon not a carriage; it was only later that "coach" came to be applied to all types of light and fast vehicles. Especially so, to the later carriages with springs (wood or steel) and the flat steel-springs of the 19th century* i.e. all luxury vehicles.
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[* Steel springs appeared first in the 17th century. End of 18th century leather thoroughbraces were replaced with steel S- and C- springs (above the 4 wheels).
A revolutionary 19th century develeopment, elliptical steel springs (a leaf spring originally called "carriage spring") was invented by Obadiah Elliott-1804] 'Kocsi' had no steel springs!
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Flat springs tended to collapse so US manufacturers reverted. Stagecoaches were suspended on leather straps called thoroughbraces which
gave a swinging motion instead of the jolting up and down of spring suspensions (the stagecoach itself was sometimes called "thoroughbrace").
Stages would average 60~70 miles in one day. Later the Hungarian "kocsi" did use steel wheel rims; use of similar thoroughbraces is very old.
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Note that the original Hungarian kocsi was a special light wagon, an all wood construction, with a unique side-hitch!
Suspended "hanging carriages" (a rediscovery, which goes back to Roman times) already recorded in Hungary in 1267.
PDF & download: 6_9c-the-Coach-of-Kocs.pdf
Add/Reference: > HUSSARS - English / Huszárok - angol
[ vissza Mátyás Király - Kocsi-szekér 1 Vissza MAGYARSÁG....Címoldal ]
