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 Geza, 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 Holy Roman Emperor Otto III and/or Pope Sylvester II.

Over time Hungary expanded...

• east into Transylvania and Moldavia

• north into Bohemia and Moravia

• 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.

Division between Austrian Empire and Principality of Transylvania

Following the death of Louis II and the Ottoman conquest of Budapest, the kingdom of Hungary and Croatia was contested between the Habsburg Ferdinand I and the Szapolyai John I.

For the succession from Ferdinand I, see the Austrian Empire.

For the succession from John I, see the Principality of Transylvania.

The Regency

Following World War 1 peace negotiations, Hungary was partitioned from Austria and rapidly cycled through regimes. The First Hungarian Republic, Hungarian Soviet Republic, and the Hungarian Republic all existed between November 1918 and February 1920.

On February 29, the newly-elected parliament re-established monarchy. The fascist Horthy was named regent for Charles IV (better known as Charles I of Austria), though Charles would never be allowed to claim the throne. The Regency continued until 1944.

The kingdom was permanently ended through World War 2.

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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