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The Regent's Realm

An academic exploration of the Kingdom of Hungary (1920–1946), a period defined by authoritarian rule, territorial revisionism, and the profound impact of global conflict.

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Historical Overview

A Monarchy Without a King

The Kingdom of Hungary, often referred to retrospectively as the Regency or the Horthy era, existed from 1920 to 1946. This period was characterized by the rule of Admiral Miklós Horthy, who served as Regent, officially representing the Hungarian monarchy. However, there was no reigning king, and Horthy's administration established an authoritarian political system.

Constitutional Framework

Formally, Hungary was a constitutional monarchy. Yet, Horthy's regency concentrated significant power in his hands. He possessed the authority to dissolve the Diet (parliament) and appoint the Prime Minister, effectively creating a presidential-like system within a monarchical structure. This unique arrangement reflected the instability following World War I and the complex political landscape.

Post-War Context

Emerging from the dissolution of Austria-Hungary and subsequent revolutionary periods (including the Hungarian Soviet Republic and the White Terror), Hungary faced immense challenges. The Treaty of Trianon (1920) drastically reduced its territory and population, fueling nationalistic sentiment and a strong revisionist foreign policy aimed at reclaiming lost lands.

Formation and Restoration

Post-Revolutionary Turmoil

Following World War I, Hungary experienced a tumultuous period marked by the short-lived Hungarian Democratic Republic and the even briefer Hungarian Soviet Republic led by Béla Kun. The subsequent "White Terror," enacted by anti-communist and monarchist forces, violently purged perceived leftist elements.

The Regency Established

In the aftermath of these upheavals, on February 29, 1920, a coalition of right-wing forces restored Hungary as a constitutional monarchy. However, the Allied powers vetoed any return of the Habsburg dynasty. Consequently, Admiral Miklós Horthy was elected Regent on March 1, 1920, tasked with representing the monarchy's authority.

The Shadow of Trianon

The formal establishment of the Kingdom coincided with the signing of the Treaty of Trianon on June 4, 1920. This treaty imposed severe territorial losses, ceding significant regions to Czechoslovakia, Romania, and Yugoslavia, and creating a deep sense of national grievance that would dominate Hungarian politics for decades.

Horthy's Regency Era

Authoritarian Rule

Admiral Horthy's tenure as Regent (1920–1944) is often described as authoritarian. While maintaining the facade of a constitutional monarchy, his administration suppressed political opposition and relied heavily on conservative elites and the bureaucracy. Historians have characterized the regime as "para-fascist" due to its nationalist, anti-communist, and conservative ideology.

Consolidation of Power

The failure of King Charles IV's attempts to reclaim the throne in 1921 solidified Horthy's position. The Diet formally abolished the Habsburgs' right to the throne, leaving Hungary a kingdom without a monarch. Horthy's powers, initially intended as temporary, became entrenched, shaping the nation's political direction.

Social and Legal Policies

Early policies included the *numerus clausus* law of 1920, which restricted minority representation in universities and legalized corporal punishment. Though ostensibly applied equally, this law primarily served to mask anti-Jewish actions. Later reforms in the late 1920s shifted criteria from ethnicity to social class, but the underlying conservative and nationalist ethos persisted.

Government Structure

The Regent and the Diet

The political system featured a Regent (Horthy) as Head of State, who appointed the Prime Minister. The bicameral Diet, comprising an upper house (Fels\u0151h\u00e1z) and a lower house (K\u00e9pvisel\u0151h\u00e1z), served as the legislative body. However, the Regent's power to influence parliamentary proceedings was substantial.

Political Alignments

The government operated on an often unstable alliance between conservatives and various right-wing factions. While conservatism dominated in the 1920s under Prime Minister Istv\u00e1n Bethlen, Horthy increasingly navigated between these groups, sometimes aligning with more radical elements. Bethlen's Party of Unity consistently won elections during his tenure, partly due to electoral system manipulations.

Shifting Political Tides

The economic crisis following the Great Depression led to political instability, culminating in Bethlen's resignation. Gyula G\u00f6mb\u00f6s, a proponent of a one-party state model akin to Italy and Germany, briefly served as Prime Minister. Despite initial concessions on antisemitism, his tenure saw increasing alignment with Nazi Germany's agenda.

Economic Landscape

Post-Trianon Challenges

The territorial losses imposed by the Treaty of Trianon severely impacted Hungary's economy. The loss of agricultural lands and industrial centers created dependency on foreign trade and led to significant budget deficits, inflation, and economic decline in the early 1920s.

Stabilization and Dependence

Prime Minister Istv\u00e1n Bethlen sought stabilization through foreign loans, successfully introducing a new currency, the Pengő, in 1927. Industrial and agricultural output saw considerable growth through the 1920s. However, the onset of the Great Depression in 1929 caused a rapid collapse, increasing Hungary's economic reliance on Germany from the mid-1930s onwards.

Currency Reforms

The initial currency was the Hungarian Korona, which suffered from hyperinflation post-WWI. In 1927, the Pengő was introduced as part of stabilization efforts, reflecting a period of relative economic recovery before the global downturn significantly altered the economic trajectory.

Foreign Policy & Revisionism

Revisionism as a Core Tenet

A central objective of Hungary's foreign policy was the revision of the Treaty of Trianon. The perceived injustice of the treaty, which resulted in the loss of over 70% of its historical territory and millions of ethnic Hungarians, fueled a persistent desire to regain these lands.

Alignment with Axis Powers

Hungary gradually aligned itself with Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany, both of which opposed the post-WWI European border settlements. Treaties of friendship were signed, notably with Italy in 1927. Figures like Gyula G\u00f6mb\u00f6s actively sought to foster a trilateral relationship, acting as an intermediary between Germany and Italy.

Territorial Gains

Through diplomatic maneuvering and alignment with the Axis powers, Hungary achieved significant territorial revisions prior to World War II. The First Vienna Award (1938) returned southern Czechoslovakia, and following the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, Hungary annexed Carpatho-Ukraine. The Second Vienna Award (1940) assigned Northern Transylvania back to Hungary from Romania.

World War II Involvement

Axis Alliance and Occupation

Hungary joined the Axis powers, participating in the invasion of Yugoslavia in 1941 and annexing territories like Bačka. The nation declared war on the Soviet Union in June 1941, supporting the German invasion of the USSR. The Hungarian Second Army suffered catastrophic losses at the Battle of Stalingrad.

German Occupation and Puppet Regime

As Soviet forces advanced in 1944, Hungary's attempts to negotiate an armistice with the Allies were discovered by Germany. This led to the German invasion (Operation Margarethe) on March 19, 1944. Horthy was deposed, and a Nazi-backed puppet government led by Ferenc Szálasi and the Arrow Cross Party was installed, intensifying antisemitic persecution and the Holocaust in Hungary.

The Siege of Budapest

The final phase of the war saw the Red Army reach Budapest, initiating a brutal siege that lasted from late 1944 to February 1945. The Szálasi regime collapsed, and a Soviet-backed provisional government under Béla Miklós began to emerge, signaling the end of the Kingdom's effective sovereignty.

Dissolution and Transition

Soviet Influence and Abolition

Under Soviet occupation, the fate of the Kingdom was sealed. A High National Council was appointed as a collective head of state, overseeing the transition. The monarchy was formally abolished on February 1, 1946.

Birth of the Second Republic

Following the abolition of the monarchy, the Second Hungarian Republic was proclaimed in 1946. This marked the end of the Kingdom of Hungary (1920–1946) and paved the way for the establishment of the communist Hungarian People's Republic in 1949.

Historical Assessment

Fascist or Authoritarian?

Scholarly debate continues regarding the classification of Horthy's regime. While exhibiting authoritarian characteristics, nationalist ideology, and antisemitic policies, its precise relationship to European fascism remains a subject of historical analysis. Factors like economic dependence on Germany and participation in the Holocaust are critical considerations.

Legacy of Trianon

The enduring legacy of the Treaty of Trianon profoundly shaped Hungary's interwar period. The persistent revisionist agenda influenced foreign policy decisions, ultimately contributing to Hungary's entanglement in World War II alongside the Axis powers, with devastating consequences.

Academic Perspectives

Historians like Richard Griffiths argue that Hungary's increasing economic dependence on Germany, its antisemitic legislation, and its role in the extermination of Jewish populations firmly place the regime within the broader context of international fascism. The period remains a complex case study in European interwar politics.

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References

References

  1.  Claimed by former King Charles IV of Hungary in 1921, who died the following year.
  2.  Miklós Horthy used the title "Regent".
  3.  https://www.google.com/books/edition/European_Dictatorships_1918_1945/D32PCwAAQBAJ?&pg=PA324
  4.  https://epa.oszk.hu/01300/01368/00011/pdf/1996_7_029-044.pdf
  5.  Seamus Dunn, T.G. Fraser. Europe and Ethnicity: The First World War and Contemporary Ethnic Conflict. Routledge, 1996. P97.
  6.  István Deák, "Hungary" in Hans Roger and Egon Weber,eds., The European right: A historical profile (1963) p 364-407 quoting p. 364.
  7.  See: Numerus Clausus
  8.  Stanley G. Payne, A History of Fascism, 1914–1945, Routledge, 1996, page 420
A full list of references for this article are available at the Kingdom of Hungary (1920–1946) Wikipedia page

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