Hungarian Monarchs

A history of Hungarian monarchs.

Note that Hungarian names are written as [Family name] [Given name].

Kingdom of Hungary

Following the death of Grand Prince Géza, there was a succession war between his son St. Stephen I and Koppany. Stephen I won through the support of foreign powers, especially Swabian and/or Slovak knights and the Church. The Kingdom of Hungary was established by Otto III and/or Pope Sylvester II.

Over time Hungary expanded...

• east into Transylvania and Moldavia

• north into Bohemia, Moravia, and Ruthenian Carpathia

• west to the Dalmatian coast; from 1091 until 1095, and again after 1102, the kingdoms of Hungary and Croatia were held in union

• south into Bosnia and Syrmia

St. Stephen I established bishoprics (especially the archdiocese of Esztergom) and an administrative system of counties. The kingdom would be organized by voivodeships (especially of Transylvania and Syrmia) and banates (especially of Croatia and Dalmatia, Slavonia, Macso, and Bosnia).

Hungary was pulled into the Byzantine influence in the 12th century, and then into the Holy Roman Empire's influence following the rise of the Ottoman Empire.

Royal Hungary

The Ottomans began an invasion of Hungary in 1521, and by 1526 had captured Budapest.

Following the death of Louis II, his brother-in-law Ferdinand I was named king by the Hungarian and Croat nobility. He and his descendants would claim all of Hungary but administer only the western half, called Royal Hungary.

Hungary would remain a part of the Austrian Empire until World War 1, although it enjoyed an elevation above other imperial realms. The Hungarian nobility maintained a national image and wielded significant influence.

Principality of Transylvania

The Ottomans began an invasion of Hungary in 1521, and by 1526 had captured Budapest.

Following the death of Louis II, John I claimed the kingdom. His voivodeship of Transylvania gained recognition as a principality, often operated as an Ottoman client state, but ultimately in 1699 was ceded to the Habsburgs. They administered the principality directly through governors rather than allowing Hungary to exercise power over the realm.

In 1765, Maria Theresa raised Transylvania to a grand principality, effectively separating it from Hungary.

During the revolutions of 1848, Hungarian nationalists demanded a reunion of Hungary and Transylvania (among other things). Following the suppression of the revolution, this was executed as a concession. Furthermore, as part of the Austro-Hungarian Compromise, direct Hungarian rule over Transylvania resumed.

The Treaty of Trianon permanently ceded Transylvania to Romania.

Lands of the Crown of Saint Stephen

The Austro-Hungarian Compromise established the equality of Austria and Hungary within the same empire. Generally the division is referred to as Cisleithania and Transleithania (referring to their position around the Leitha), but more formally the Hungarian kingdom became known as the Lands of the Crown of Saint Stephen (Szent Korona Országai).

The Regency

The Treaty of Trianon permanently ceded Transylvania to Romania; and ceded the entirety of Croatia, Slavonia, and Dalmatia to Serbia.

Following World War 1, Hungary cycled through several non-monarchical states.

On February 29, 1920, the newly-elected parliament re-established monarchy. Horthy was named regent for Charles IV, though Charles would never be allowed to claim the throne. The Regency continued until 1944.

Through a combination of foreign influences (i.e., German imposition of the puppet Sztójay government; Soviet occupation following defeat in World War 2), the kingdom was permanently ended.

Dynasties

Arpad

One of the founding Hungarian tribes, the Kingdom of Hungary was created around the Arpad dynasty.

In 1041, Peter Orsoleo was overthrown by Samuel. He reclaimed the kingdom three years later.

Aba

Samuel, who had married into the family of St. Stephen I, was a powerful ispan. He briefly overthrew Peter Orsoleo but was himself overthrown after three years.

Premyslid

After Andrew III died, the local nobility elected Wenceslaus over Charles I. See also the Bohemian Premyslid dynasty.

Wenceslaus abdicated in favor of Otto.

Wittelsbach

More generally known as Otto III of Bavaria. In June 1307 he was captured and imprisoned by Ladislaus Kan, voivode of Transylvania and de facto was the oligarch of an autonomous Transylvania. Otto escaped later that year, and renounced his claim to the throne in the following year.

Angevin

The Capetian House of Anjou is a continuation of the Arpad dynasty by Mary, the sister of Ladislaus IV.

The crown was contested between Charles II, Mary, and Sigismund. See also the Luxembourg dynasty.

Mary and Sigismund left no heirs, enabling the Albertinian line of the Habsburgs to inherit.

Habsburg

Mary left no heirs to the Angevin dynasty. The kingdoms passed to Albert II, the son-in-law of Sigismund.

Ladislaus V was born months after the death of Albert II. Local nobility instead elected Wladyslaw I as king, but his death in 1444 cleared the way for Ladislaus V to finally inherit. He had a series of regents, chiefly his mother Elizabeth and John Hunyadi.

Ladislaus V died without an heir.

Jagiellon

Wladyslaw I was elected king in 1440 over Ladislaus V. See also the Polish Jagiellon dynasty.

Wladyslaw II was elected king following the death of Matthias I. See also the Bohemian Jagiellon dynasty.

Wladyslaw I died shortly after his election, enabling the return of Ladislaus V.

Louis II was killed in the Ottoman conquest of Hungary.

Hunyadi

The Hunyadi dynasty technically only has one member. John Hunyadi was leading statesman and regent, and his son Matthias I largely came to power due to his father's reputation.

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