Hungary » History

In 1944 a new Hungarian government was formed in Debrecen. In February 1946 a republic was proclaimed and a year later in February 1947, the representatives of the Hungarian government signed the Paris Peace Treaty, which successfully restored the 1938 Trianon borders.

The first free elections were held straight away after the war, in 1945. By 1947 there were only two parties left to oppose the Communists who were enjoying support from Moscow. Under the leadership of Matyas Rakosi in 1949-1956, a Soviet type Constitution was passed by Parliament and a one-party system came into being. On October 23, 1956 a popular rising, which gradually turned into a revolution, broke out against the hated leadership and regime. It was crushed by Soviet troops and in 1958 the leader of the 1956 revolutionary government, Imre Nagy and several of his associates were executed.

In the years of leadership in 1956 to 1988, after a period of revenge for the revolution, the government was consolidated, it became clear that socialism was not reformable and the country and its people were in need of change. On June 16, 1989 a huge crowd gathered to witness a fitting reburial for the martyrs of the 1956 revolution. On October 23, 1989 Hungary was renamed Republic of Hungary. In the spring of 1990, after 45 years of a single party rule free elections were held. Hungary regained its active leadership role in the Central Eastern European region. In 1999, Hungary became a member of NATO.

Hungary successfully completed its succession negotiations with the European Union at the end of 2002 and became a member of this organization on May 1, 2004.

Longer Historical Perspective

Magyars arrived in the Carpathian Basin in one of the last influence of the Great Migrations. The ethnic group from which the Magyars originated lived at first with Finno-Ugric, then with Ugric peoples at the foot of the Ural Mountains, where around 500 BC. The Magyars became a separate ethnic group. The Magyar means "man" dates from this period. They were organized as a confederation of seven Magyar and three allied Khazar tribes; the name Hungary, Hungarian is most probably derived from the Turkish term Onogur meaning 'Ten Arrows'. After the conquest of Hungary in 900, it seemed that Magyars would not be able to adapt themselves quickly enough to settle in Europe. The princes of the House of Arpad soon recognized the danger these periods of plundering raids held for the Hungarians.

Prince Geza began the great task of connecting his country with the growth of Europe and his son; King Stephen (1000-1038) preserved the process by having his people change to Christianity. The Kingdom of Hungary adopted the social model and the system of values, which had been developed in Western Europe and the nation. In the 14th century Hungary was considered as an important market in European trade. At the same time it was one of the steadiest countries in Europe.

The Mongols (1241-1242) swept through Europe in the last wave of the Great Migrations. This was the first serious tragedy for Hungary. From the 15th century they threatened Hungarian territory and for centuries Hungary fought battles with the Turks. In 1526 at the Battle of Mohacs the independent Hungarian State was destroyed and in 1541 the royal seat of Buda fell.

The country was split into three parts, the territory under Habsburg rule, the part conquered by the Turks and the Princedom of Transylvania. The 150 years of Turkish work severely shortened the country's development and caused severe loss of both material goods and human life. The Turks were driven out (in 1686) and after that Hungary was ruled under Habsburg. Foreign settlers were moved into the country to swell up the declining population and this meant that the previous ethnic unity of the country was disrupted.

In the March 15, 1848 revolution, the Hungarians accepted most of the revolutionaries demands, including the freedom of the serfs, equality before the law, freedom of the press and an independent Hungarian government. In September 1848 the imperial Austrian government launched an armed attack on Hungary in order to crush the revolution. The independent Hungarian army succeeded in holding off the attack and only surrendered when the Austrians sought help from the imperial Russian troops. The years of oppression were followed in 1867 by a Compromise, as a result of which the legislation and government of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy were separated.