Damon Mcknight
Hungary's journey to independence from Austria was a long and tumultuous one. The kingdom of Hungary, which existed between 1526 and 1867, was a state outside the Holy Roman Empire but within the lands of the Habsburg monarchy, which later became the Austrian Empire in 1804. In 1848, a new generation of Hungarians emerged with a radical movement that demanded nationhood and a special constitutional status within the monarchy. This led to the Hungarian Revolution of 1848, which was crushed by the Austrian military with Russian assistance. Despite this setback, Hungary continued to strive for independence, and in 1867, the Austro-Hungarian Compromise granted Hungary significant autonomy and control over its internal affairs, marking a turning point in the country's quest for independence from Austria.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of independence declaration | 17 October 1918 |
| Date of independent government formation | 1 November 1918 |
| Date of independence recognition by Austria | 10 September 1919 |
| Date of US recognition of independence | 1921 |
| First attempt at independence | 13 April 1849 |
| First war of independence | 1848/1849 |
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What You'll Learn
The Hungarian War of Independence 1848/49
Hungary became independent from Austria in 1918, following the breakup of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the end of World War I. However, this was not the first time that Hungary had sought independence from the Austrian Empire.
In the lead-up to the revolution, a new generation of Hungarian "patriotic" circles emerged, demanding a special constitutional status within the Monarchy. This movement, led by idealistic young intellectuals, poets, and writers, sought to shape Hungary's destiny and challenge the established order. Their efforts resulted in significant concessions from Vienna in 1844, including the recognition of Hungarian as an administrative and judicial language.
However, tensions escalated in 1848 when the Kingdom of Hungary called for greater self-government and, ultimately, independence. The Hungarian people, known as Magyars, formed a majority only in the central areas of the country, surrounded by other nationalities. The Austrian monarchy manipulated the Croatians, Serbians, and Romanians, making conflicting promises to different groups, which led to numerous violent incidents. Despite this, the Hungarians found support among various ethnic groups, including Slovaks, Germans, Rusyns, and Hungarian Slovenes, as well as volunteers from Poland, Austria, and Italy.
The Hungarian Revolutionary Parliament enacted the first laws on ethnic and minority rights in Europe in July 1849. Lajos Kossuth, the elected regent, led a revolutionary army of 170,000 troops, known as the "Honvéd" or territorial army. They marched on Vienna to support the October rebellion against the Habsburgs but were repulsed by Croatian troops. The revolution in Vienna was crushed, but the war of independence continued.
The Hungarian struggle for independence ended after the Austrian army's victories in Italy, which weakened the Hungarian position. Emperor Franz Joseph appealed to Russia for assistance, and with the might of the Russian army, the Hungarian war of independence came to an end on August 13, 1849, with the capitulation of the revolutionary army.
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The Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867
The Compromise of 1867 restored the Kingdom of Hungary's territorial integrity and its old historic constitution. It granted Hungary full internal autonomy and control over its internal affairs, including the right to a separate parliament and government in Budapest. In return, Hungary agreed that the empire should remain a single great state for purposes of war, foreign affairs, and financing them, thus maintaining its dynastic prestige abroad. The Austrian half of the empire, known as Cisleithania, was based in Vienna, while the Hungarian half, or Transleithania, was based in Budapest. The citizens on each half were treated as foreigners in the other half.
The Austro-Hungarian Compromise was negotiated by Hungarian statesman Ferenc Deák, who initially supported the 1848 Revolution but later advocated for a modified union under the Habsburgs. Deák believed that Hungary had the right to full internal independence, but he also recognised the importance of a unified foreign policy and defence under the Pragmatic Sanction of 1723. The Compromise was unpopular among many Hungarians, who saw it as a betrayal of their interests and the achievements of the 1848 Revolution.
The Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy lasted until the end of World War I when the Hungarian parliament declared independence from Austria on October 17, 1918. Hungary's independence was formally recognised by the Treaty of St.-Germain on September 10, 1919, and its postwar boundaries were defined by the Treaty of Trianon on June 4, 1920.
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The Treaty of St.-Germain
Hungary became independent from Austria following the Treaty of St.-Germain, which was signed on September 10, 1919, by the victorious Allies of World War I and the Republic of German-Austria. The treaty officially ended World War I for the successor states of the former Austro-Hungarian monarchy.
The treaty also included provisions for the liquidation of the Austro-Hungarian Bank and significant territorial losses for Cisleithanian Austria, amounting to over 60% of the prewar Austrian Empire's territory. The Austrian Silesia province was split between Czech Silesia and Polish Cieszyn Silesia and incorporated into the Silesian Voivodeship. The southern half of the former Tyrolean crown land up to the Brenner Pass, including South Tyrol and the Trentino province, was given to Italy. The Austrian Littoral, Gorizia, Gradisca, the Imperial Free City of Trieste, and Istria were also ceded to Italy.
The treaty also contained military clauses, which limited Austria's long-service volunteer army to 30,000 men and broke up the Austro-Hungarian navy, distributing it among the Allies. Arms factories were also banned, and Austria was obligated to pay reparations for war damage, to be determined by a special commission of the Allied states.
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The Treaty of Trianon
The treaty was dictated by the Allies, who presented Hungary with the terms for peace, which they could only accept or reject in full. The treaty was signed under protest by the Hungarian delegation, and agitation for its revision began immediately. The treaty not only redrew Hungary's borders but also laid down rules for the restoration of economic relations between Hungary and its neighbours.
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The End of World War I
Hungary's path toward independence began with the Ausgleich (Compromise) of 1867, which granted Hungary substantial autonomy over its internal affairs and control over its non-Magyar ethnic groups within the Austro-Hungarian Empire. However, tensions and competing interests between Hungarians and other ethnic groups, particularly the Croats, Slovaks, and Serbs, persisted. These tensions escalated during World War I, as the Austro-Hungarian armed forces struggled with supply shortages, low morale, and high casualty rates, ultimately losing their ability to act independently of Germany.
As the Central Powers faced imminent defeat, the Hungarian parliament seized the opportunity to declare independence from Austria on October 17, 1918. An independent Hungarian government was formed on November 1, and an armistice was concluded with the Allies on November 3. A separate Military Convention between the Allies and Hungary was signed on November 13, leading to the withdrawal and demobilization of Hungarian armed forces.
The Treaty of St.-Germain, signed on September 10, 1919, officially recognized Hungary's independence from Austria. However, it wasn't until 1921 that the United States ended its state of war against the former Austro-Hungarian Empire and recognized Hungary's independence. The Treaty of Trianon, signed on June 4, 1920, further defined Hungary's postwar boundaries, resulting in significant territorial and population losses for the newly independent nation.
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Frequently asked questions
Hungary gained independence from Austria on October 17, 1918, with an independent government formed on November 1.
The Treaty of St.-Germain, signed on September 10, 1919.
The Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867, also known as the Ausgleich, granted Hungary significant internal autonomy and control over its non-Magyar ethnic groups. It restored territorial integrity to Hungary and limited the monarch's powers in internal affairs.
Yes, the Hungarian Revolution of 1848 was an attempt to gain independence from the Austrian Empire. It was ultimately crushed by the Austrian military with Russian assistance, ending on August 13, 1849.
With the impending defeat of the Central Powers in World War I, the Hungarian parliament declared independence from Austria. The Treaty of St.-Germain in 1919 officially recognized Hungary's independence, and the Treaty of Trianon in 1920 defined its postwar boundaries, resulting in significant territorial and population losses.
