Hungary became independent in May of 1864, following a revolt against the Austrians, the second of the century. One of the leading Hungarian nationalists and leader of the last revolt, and exiled to the United States in the 1840s, Kossuth Lajos, came back to the country to help with the establishment of the government. Despite his own tendencies and opinions, the people were clear: they wanted a king, but one of their own - and their choice was him. Grudgingly, he accepted the role, in a constitutional form, like in Britain. His descendants have held power since.