Count István Károlyi was a prominent Hungarian politician and landowner in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He played a significant role in the political landscape of Hungary during a time of social and economic change. Károlyi was known for his advocacy of agrarian reforms and his efforts to improve the living conditions of peasants. He is perhaps best remembered as the father of Mihály Károlyi, who became the first Prime Minister of the Hungarian Republic after World War I. The Károlyi family was influential in Hungarian society, and their legacy continues to be studied in the context of Hungary's political history.