Hungarian Democratization
A history of Hungarian democratization.
Note that Hungarian names are written as [Family name] [Given name].
Contents
Revolutions of 1848
In 1848, the kingdom of Hungary was held by the Austrian Empire. Kossuth had already distinguished himself as the preeminent noble and statesman of Hungary.
As the revolutions of 1848 spread into Buda, Ferdinand attempted to ease tensions by granting self-governance. He appointed Batthyány as the first prime minister of Hungary.
Within Hungary, Serbs nationalists organized and declared the Serbian Vojvodina as a loyal and direct vassal to the Habsburg empire. Tensions escalated into the Serb Revolution; Ferdinand intervened to grant Franz Philipp von Lamberg command over all Hungarian forces. He was attacked upon arrival and the Hungarian government was ordered to dissolve.
The rebellion spread to Vienna when a military transport bound for Buda was attacked; the Vienna Uprising solidified the Austrian approach to the revolutions.
Ferdinand abdicated in December and Franz Joseph I became emperor, but the Hungarian diet refused to recognize him. (Hungarian succession law disallows abdication and regents require diet appointment.)
Windischgrätz led the first invasion of Hungary but was repelled. Franz Joseph requested aid from Nicolas I, and the joint military of Austria and Russia crushed the revolution. The Imposed March Constitution retained absolute power in the empire.
Austria-Hungary
Franz Joseph I began to federalize the empire in 1860. The October Patent reformed the appointed reichsrat (imperial council) into a partially-elected legislature. Provincial diets were granted more autonomy.
The February Patent in 1861 superceded this. The reichsrat was again reformed, now into a bicameral elected legislature. The Herrenhaus (House of Lords) was composed of imperial archdukes, certain nobility, archbishops, and life peers. The Abgeordnetenhaus (House of Deputies) was composed of 343 members elected by provincial diets, of which Hungary was allocated 120 seats.
The Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867 established the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
World War 1
Franz Joseph I led Hungary into World War 1.
In the aftermath of the war, the nations of the Austro-Hungarian Empire scrambled for territory and independence. Recognition of Masaryk as Czechoslovak head of state accelerated the legitimacy crisis. Charles IV attempted to compromise by establing National Councils and pushing the Volkermanifest, effectively a federating of the empire, but this further acceleratee the crisis.
In October 1918, the Hungarian provincial diets entered a rapid collapse. Wekerle annulled the Austro-Hungarian Compromise and resigned. Charles hesitated to appoint a new prime minister, leaving Hungary without a government for two weeks.
Horthy led Hungary into the Axis; he participated in the invasions of Finland, Yugoslavia, and the USSR. However, there is a subtle difference between Horthy's fascism and Germany's. Both the KMP and the Arrow Cross Party were banned. His governments, especially that of Bárdossy, did participate in some anti-Semitic policies (e.g., deportation, internment, massacre). But some, especially that of Kállay, refused to collaborate (e.g., designed legislation banning any government from deporting Jews).
Horthy and Kállay in fact negotiated a surrender to the USSR. In March 1944, Hitler learned of that plan and drew Horthy out of Hungary for negotiations. Simultaneously, he ordered the invasion and occupation of Hungary. The puppet Sztójay government was established and deportations resumed.
Horthy continued secret negotiations until he was arrested, taken to Nuremberg, and forced to resign in October. At this point, Szálasi became both prime minister and de facto head of state.
First Hungarian Republic
Károlyi led the Hungarian National Council. In late October 1918, amid riots and after two weeks without a government, Charles IV named János Hadik as prime minister.
Soldiers mutinied and replaced their caps with asters. Within a day, Hadik resigned and Charles was forced to recognize Karolyi instead. Tisza was assassinated the same day. This coup would become known as the Aster Revolution.
Karolyi declared the independent Hungarian People's Republic in November and began to serve as acting president.
Hungarian Soviet Republic
The KMP seized power in March 1919 and established the Hungarian Soviet Republic. Sándor Garbai was named prime minister, but the de facto head of state was Kun as he maintained contact with the Kremlin.
A randomly-violent Red Terror began and suppressed all political opposition.
The republic fell when Romanian soldiers took Budapest in August 1919.
Regency
Horthy established a National Army military government centered on Siófok. He also started a White Terror that targetted leftists and Jews.
By November 1919, the National Army took Budapest. The nobility re-established a monarchy and named Horthy as regent for Charles IV. Charles ever reclaiming the throne was recognized as an impossibility, both because Horthy held true power and because the Little Entente saw any Habsburg monarch as a threat.
Occupation
Second Hungarian Republic
Hungarian People's Republic
Revolution of 1956