Date Events
EARLY HISTORY
ca. A.D. 100-600
Magyar tribes, a pagan Finno-Ugric people, begin
migration from Urals south onto Russian steppes and
continue west, to area between Don and lower Dnepr
rivers, where they fall under the sway of the Bulgar-
Turkish people.
ca. A.D. 600-900
Magyars fall under the control of the Khazars but are
later freed from Khazar rule in the ninth century. Magyars
join Byzantine armies to fight the Bulgars in 895. Magyars
migrate farther west into the Danube-Tisza Basin, 895 or
896. Árpád is chosen as chieftain; his male descendants
become hereditary heirs of this kingdom, which became
known as Hungary.
MEDIEVAL PERIOD
Árpád Dynasty
ca. 900-1301
Magyars besiege Europe and the Byzantine Empire but are
defeated by Czech and German armies in 955. Chieftain Géza
(972-97) is baptized into Roman Catholic Church. Géza's
son, Stephen I (997-1038), is recognized by Pope Sylvester
II as king of Hungary, ensuring independence from
Byzantium and the Holy Roman Empire. Latin alphabet is
devised for Hungarian language. Magyars occupy of
Transylvania. László I (1077-95) occupies Slavonia in
1090, and Kálmán I (1095-1116) takes the title of king of
Croatia in 1103. Under Béla III (1173-96), Hungary becomes
one of the leading powers in southeastern Europe. Nobles
force Andrew II (1205-35) to sign Golden Bull (1222)
limiting crown's power. Mongols rout Hungarian army at
Mohi in (1241). Mongols withdraw in 1242. Árpád line
expires in 1301.
RENAISSANCE AND REFORMATION 1301-1699
Charles Robert (1308-42) wins prolonged succession
struggle. Dynastic marriages link Hungary to Naples and
Poland. Louis I (1343-82) reconfirms Golden Bull. First
university is founded in 1367. Hungary's fortunes begin to
decline under Sigismund (1387-1437). Social turmoil erupts
because of higher taxes and pressures from the magnates on
the lesser nobles. Wars against Ottoman Turks are waged in
reigns of Albrecht V (1437-39) and Ulászló I (1439-44).
János Hunyadi rules Hungary as regent for infant king,
László V. Hunyadi defeats the Turks in Transylvania in
1442 and in Serbia in 1443, is defeated at Varna in 1444,
and defeats the Turks again in 1456 near Belgrade. Nobles
crown Hunyadi's son Mátyás Corvinus (1458-90) king. Mátyás
enacts numerous reforms. After the death of Mátyás, an
oligarchy of magnates takes control, and the country
remains in a state of anarchy until 1526, when the Turks
defeat Hungary at Mohács. Hungary is partitioned between
the Turks and the Habsburgs in 1541. Habsburgs invade
Transylvania in 1591. Habsburgs rout a Turkish army in
1664 at St. Gotthard in Hungary. Hungarians rebel agsinst
Habsburg rule in 1681. Turks attack Habsburgs but are
routed near Vienna in 1683. Western campaign drives Turks
from Hungary, and Turks lose almost all Hungarian
possessions in Peace of Karlowitz (1699), which ended
partition.
HUNGARY UNDER THE HABSBURGS, 1700-1867
Vienna assumes control of Hungary's foreign affairs,
defense, and tariffs, and it treats Transylvania as
separate from Hungary. Peasant rebellion in 1703 provokes
an eight-year uprising led by Ferenc Rákóczi against
Habsburg rule. Treaty of Szatmár (1711) ends rebellion.
Under Pragmatic Sanction (1723), Habsburg monarch agrees
to rule Hungary as a king subject to restraints of
Hungary's constitution and laws. Under Charles VI (1711-
40) and Maria Theresa (1740-80), the economy declines.
Joseph II (1780-90), an enlightened despot, attempts
various changes, but the nobles resist and thus inspire a
renaissance of Hungarian culture. Leopold I (1790-92)
softens Habsburg policy. Under Francis I (1792-1835),
Hungary stagnates. Toward the end of Francis's rule,
liberal reformers István Széchenyi and Lajos Kossuth
emerge; they increasingly press their demands under
Ferdinand V (1835-48). In March 1848, a revolution against
the absolute monarchy breaks out in Vienna and quickly
spreads to Budapest. The Hungarians declare independence
in April 1849, but with the help of Russian troops the
Habsburgs reimpose control. Franz Joseph (1848-1916)
revokes the Hungarian constitution and assumes absolute
power. Austria is defeated by Sardinia and France in 1859
and by Prussia in 1866, resulting in the Compromise of
1867, which creates the Dual Monarchy of Austria-Hungary,
also known as the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
DUAL MONARCHY 1867-1918
Under the Dual Monarchy, the Habsburg emperor reigns as
king of Hungary. A Hungarian government administers
domestic affairs, while Vienna manages foreign policy,
defense, and finance. Croatia gains autonomy from Hungary
over its domestic affairs in 1868. Kálmán Tisza serves as
prime minister 1875-90. Economic modernization begins,
accompanied by rise of a middle class. István Tisza serves
as prime minister 1903-05 and 1912-17. The June 28, 1914,
assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand precipitates
World War I (1914-18). Bourgeois-democratic revolution in
Budapest, October 31, 1918. Mihály Károlyi, a liberal,
assumes power. Hungary loses territory to Yugoslavia,
Romania, Austria, and Czechoslovakia. A coalition of
Social Democrats and communists takes power. Hungarian
Soviet Republic is proclaimed under Béla Kun, March 21,
1919. Romanian forces occupy Budapest. Anticommunist
government seizes control and imposes "white terror."
TRIANON HUNGARY, 1920-45
Admiral Miklós Horthy is named regent of Hungary, March
21, 1920. Under Treaty of Trianon (June 4, 1920), Hungary
loses more than two-thirds of its prewar territory, 60
percent of its prewar population, and most of its natural-
resource base. Count István Bethlen serves as prime
minister 1921-31. Hungary joins League of Nations in 1922.
Bethlen promotes industrial development, but economic
progress is halted by Great Depression, 1929. Gyula
Gömbös, a right-wing dictator, is in power 1932-36. Gömbös
forges close ties with Germany and Italy. Right-wing
governments are in power under Kálmán Darányi (1936-38)
and Béla Imrédy (1938-39). Pál Teleki serves as prime
minister 1939-41. Hungary joins Hitler's invasion of the
Soviet Union in June 1941 and declares war against the
Western Allies in December 1941. László Bárdossy prime
minister 1941-42, followed by Miklós Kállay, 1942-43. Nazi
Germany occupies Hungary in April 1943. Pro-Nazi Döme
Sztójay serves as prime minister, April 1943-August 1944,
followed by Géza Lakatos August-October 1944. Leader of
fascist Arrow Cross Party, Ferenc Szálasi, serves as prime
minister October 1944-April 1945. Soviet troops drive all
German troops out of Hungary by April 4, 1945.
POSTWAR HUNGARY, 1945-
Allied Control Commission, with Soviet, American, and
British representatives, holds sovereignty in Hungary,
with Soviet chairman in absolute control. Second, expanded
Provisional National Assembly chosen in which communists
enjoy absolute majority, April 1945. Left-leaning
coalition governments rule Hungary 1945-47. Treaty of
Paris (February 10, 1947) ended World War II for Hungary.
Social Democratic Party merges with Hungarian Communist
Party in June 1948 to form Hungarian Workers' Party.
Soviet-style Constitution is ratified and, Hungarian
People's Republic is proclaimed, August 1949. Stalinist
political, economic, and social system are imposed, 1949-
53. Imre Nagy becomes prime minister and implements New
Course in economy, 1953. Nagy loses power in 1955.
Disaffection mounts in 1955-56, culminating in Revolution
of 1956 in October. János Kádár is installed in power by
Soviet invaders; Hungarian Workers' Party is renamed
Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party (HSWP). Harsh
repression is followed by pragmatic attempts at reform,
1956-66. New Economic Mechanism (economic reform) is put
in place, 1968-72. Opposition to reform mounts, and
economy is recentralized, 1971-78. Further economic
reforms take place, 1979-80. New electoral law is passed
in 1983. Hungary begins to establish semiindepent foreign
policy in 1984. Semicompetitive National Assembly and
local council elections are held in 1985. Thirteenth Party
Congress of the HSWP meets in 1985. Kádár loses party
leadership to Károly Grósz at Third Party Conference, May
1988. Laws are passed allowing multiparty system, 1988-89.
Data as of September 1989