The history of Hungary is the fabric on which the identity of a plural country rich in its diversity has developed. At the heart of continental Europe, its geography is itself the crucible which allowed the development of a strong nation, symbol of the link between Western Europe, the Mediterranean world and the East.
The history of Hungary
Here is a dive into the history of Hungary, from its origins to the present day.
From the origins of the kingdom to the Ottoman conquest
We can say that the history of Hungary begins with Árpád. It is under command that the Magyar tribes unite against Otto I, leader of the Holy Roman Empire. Despite the defeat, the tribes ensure the domination of the Danube plain and settle permanently in the territory. The coronation of Stephen 1st marks the official creation of the kingdom of Hungary in the year 1000. His successors will try to enlarge the territory but they will come up against the great local powers like Byzantium or again, the Holy Roman Empire.
From the 1200s, the history of Hungary begins a difficult period with the successive invasions of the Mongols and the Tartars. One hundred years later, a new prosperous period opens with the reign of Louis the Great. Bohemia and Bosnia are then integrated under the empire. In the fifteenth century, Hungary was a powerful state which succeeded in containing the advance of the Ottomans, along with its Romanian and Serbian allies. It was during this period that the splendor of the court of Buda increases in intensity before the Battle of Mohács in 1526 saw the Ottoman Empire impose its yoke on the kingdom.
Holloko Castle in Hungary
From Austrian rule to the Republic
Having preferred vassalage to the Turks rather than to the Austrians, the kingdom of Hungary provoked the ire of the Habsburgs who succeed in reducing to the skin of grief the territory managed by the local nobility. The insurrections continue but without succeeding in driving the Austrians out of the territory. From 1715, the country was officially an Austrian province. But the strong national feeling obliges the occupiers to recognize the specificity of the history of Hungary and the local customs in 1792. From 1848, three revolutionaries, Ferenc Kölcsey, Ferenc Deák and Lajos Kossuth proclaim the unification of Hungary, integrating Croatia and Transylvania into the territory.
The Habsburgs then appealed to the Tsar of Russia to put down the movement but the military defeats of the Austrian Empire forced them to ease tensions, leading to the official creation of Austria-Hungary in 1867. The Hungarian kingdom then decides to apply a pro-Magyar policy which will lead to internal conflicts. After the defeat of the First World War, the history of Hungary changes. The country is dismembered and the riots of 1918 in Budapest gave birth to the proclamation of the Hungarian Democratic Republic on November 6, 1918.
The statue of Ferenc Deák in Budapest
Hungary and modern Europe
After Béla Kun's failed attempt to establish a communist regime in Hungary, the country plunges into the heart of a paradoxical period. On the one hand, it is emancipated from its Austrian neighbor but on the other, it loses a large part of its territory, many of its resources and even its access to the sea. Admiral Miklós Horthy sees himself as a leader at the same time modern and conservative but his narrow vision will push him into Hitler's arms in 1940. Realizing his error , the admiral will want to backtrack and change the history of Hungary by announcing the neutrality of his country in 1944, but the Nazi armies will take advantage of this turnaround to justify the occupation of the country.
Very quickly, they were driven out by the Soviets who proclaimed the establishment of a communist regime in 1949. On October 23, 1956, Hungary rises against the occupier who represses demonstrations in blood, killing over 3 people including charismatic leader Imre Nagy. The blow is severe for the opposition which will have to wait until 000 and the dismantling of the Iron Curtain to regain its breath. After the fall of the Soviet Union, the history of Hungary takes a new turn because the country quickly joined NATO before joining the European Union in 2004. Since 2010 and the victory of his party, Fidesz, Viktor Orbán is the new strongman of the country to whom he has given a strong conservative impetus.
The culture of Hungary
Here is what makes Hungary such a country with such a special culture and which makes every Hungarian proud.
A terroir rich in its variations
The history of Hungary is punctuated by multiple extensions and losses of territories. In the heart of central Europe, this country therefore hosts a constellation of peoples and cultures. Magyar traditions represent the bulk of the state's heritage, but a great diversity of minorities have participated in the development of the country's culture. Serbs, Romanians, Bulgarians, Poles and Slovenes are all involved in the formation of the identity of Hungary and this in all aspects of life.
A country proud of its diversity
Most of the Hungarians are Catholic. Nevertheless, there is a significant minority of Calvinists as well as Jews and Orthodox to a lesser extent. The gastronomy is representative of this local variation of points of common interest. The famous Goulash, for example, is prepared in different ways according to the traditions of each region. It is also necessary to quote the viticulture which is part of the national pride. Finally, sport and relaxation are essential in the history of Hungary. From football to fencing, including tennis and cycling, all athletes meet at the thermal baths after exercise, another national emblem.
Spas
The geography of Hungary
Hungary is a country mainly made up of plains. The climax, down Blue, is measured at only 1 meters above sea level but most of the country does not exceed 014 meters.
A geography that made the history of Hungary
It is this relative flatness which gave birth to the very particular history of Hungary, led to the various invasions of tribes and facilitated the multiple invasions of these powerful neighbors. There are still some mid-mountain ranges, including the Alpokaja, its natural border with Austria. Finally, how can we not talk about the Danube and its tributaries. With nearly 500 km of navigable waterways, the mighty river has allowed the establishment, survival and sometimes even the defense of these peoples who have a love for it tinged with deep respect.
The Danube
A continental climate and a Mediterranean influence
The history of Hungary can also be observed through the prism of its climate. Located at the heart of several climatic influences, Hungary is first and foremost a continental country that produces hot summers and harsh winters. But its climate is also tempered by oceanic air masses from the Atlantic. In the Carpathian basin, one also feels the Siberian influences of the North but also the masses of warm air rising from the Mediterranean. The climate is therefore in the image of the country, of character and multi-causal.
Lake Balaton
The history of Hungary is fascinating because it demonstrates how the geography of a country influences national identity. Every part of Hungarian culture is a reflection of his multiethnic profile and we can see all the difficulties but also all the benefits of the promiscuity of peoples. From gastronomy to social uses, including architecture and sport, you will have a lot to see in Hungary, so if you are looking for a change of scenery, don't hesitate any longer, this country is for you!
