| Line 35: |
Line 35: |
| | | | |
| | '''Hungary''', officially the Republic of Hungary is located in [[Central Europe]]. Hungary joined the [[European Union]] on May 1, [[2004]]. The native people of Hungary are called [[Magyar]]. The capital city is [[Budapest]]. | | '''Hungary''', officially the Republic of Hungary is located in [[Central Europe]]. Hungary joined the [[European Union]] on May 1, [[2004]]. The native people of Hungary are called [[Magyar]]. The capital city is [[Budapest]]. |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | '''Hungary''' ({{lang-hu|Magyarország}}; {{IPA2|mɒɟɒrorsaːɡ}}; {{audio|hu-Magyarország.ogg|listen}}), officially in English the '''Republic of Hungary''' (''Magyar Köztársaság'' {{audio|hu-Magyar Köztársaság.ogg|listen}}, literally ''Hungarian Republic''), is a [[landlocked]] country in [[Central Europe]], bordered by [[Austria]], [[Slovakia]], [[Ukraine]], [[Romania]], [[Serbia]], [[Croatia]], and [[Slovenia]]. Its capital is [[Budapest]].
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Hungary has been a member state of the [[European Union]] since [[May 1]] [[2004]].
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ==History==
| |
| − | [[Image:Arpadfeszty.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The arrival of the Magyars at the [[Carpathian Basin]].]]
| |
| − | {{main|History of Hungary}}
| |
| − | {{seealso|Kingdom of Hungary|Hungary before the Magyars}}
| |
| − | In the time of the [[Roman Empire]], the region west of the [[Danube river]] was known as [[Pannonia]]. After the [[Western Roman Empire]] collapsed under the stress of the migration of [[Germanic tribes]] and [[Carpia]]n pressure, the [[Migration Period]] continued bringing many invaders to [[Europe]]. Among the first to arrive were the [[Huns]], who built up a powerful empire under [[Attila the Hun|Attila]]. It is presently believed that the origin of the name "Hungary" does not come from the [[Central Asia]]n nomadic invaders called the [[Huns]], but rather originated from a later, [[7th century|seventh century]] [[Bulgar]] alliance called [[On-Ogour]], which in [[Old Turkic language|Old Turkish]] meant "(the) Ten Arrows"<ref name="OSZK">[http://www.oszk.hu/kiadvany/hsr/2000/notes.htm OSZK].</ref><ref name="EB">[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-34784/Hungary Hungary], Encyclopædia Britannica.</ref>.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | After Hunnish rule faded, the [[Lombards]] and the [[Gepids]] ruled in Pannonia for about 100 years, during which the [[Slavic tribes]] began migrating into the region. In the 560s, the Slavs were supplanted by the [[Eurasian Avars|Avars]], who maintained their supremacy of the land for more than two centuries. The [[Franks]] under [[Charlemagne]] from the west and the [[Bulgars]] from the southeast managed to overthrow the Avars in the early [[9th century|ninth century]]. However, the Franks soon retreated, and the Slavonic kingdom of [[Great Moravia]] and the [[Balaton Principality]] assumed control of much of Pannonia until the end of the century. The [[Magyars]] migrated to Hungary in the late ninth century.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Magyar tradition holds that the Country of the Magyars (''Magyarország'') was founded by [[Árpád]], who led the [[Magyars]] into the [[Pannonian plain]] in 896 AD. The "Ten Arrows" mentioned above referred to ten tribes, the alliance of which was the foundation of the army of the invading Magyars.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ===Stephen I of Hungary===
| |
| − | The [[Kingdom of Hungary]] was established in 1000 by King [[Stephen I of Hungary|Saint Stephen]]. Originally named Vajk, Stephen was a direct descendant of [[Árpád]], and was baptised as a child. He married [[Giselle of Bavaria]], the daughter of [[Henry II, Duke of Bavaria]] in 996, and after the death of his father [[Géza of Hungary|Prince Géza]] in 997, he assumed the mantle of ruler and became the first Christian king of Hungary.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | [[Image:Saint Stephen Crown.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Crown of St. Stephen|crown]] of [[Stephen I of Hungary|Saint Stephen]].]]
| |
| − | St. Stephen I received his [[Crown of St. Stephen|crown]] from [[Pope Silvester II]] in 1000. As a Christian king, he established the Hungarian Church with ten dioceses and the royal administration of the country that was divided into counties ([[Comitatus (Kingdom of Hungary)|comitatus]] or ''vármegye''). Hungary became a [[patrimonial kingdom]] where the majority of the land was the private property of the ruler. In [[1083]], he was [[canonize]]d along with his son, [[Imre of Hungary]].
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Initially, Hungarian history and politics developed in close association with that of [[Poland]] and [[Bohemia]], driven by the interventions of various Popes and Emperors of the [[Holy Roman Empire]]. Between 1241–1242, under [[King Béla IV]], Hungary was devastated, suffering great loss of life at the hands of the [[Mongol]] ([[Tatar]]) armies of [[Batu Khan]] who defeated the Hungarians at the [[Battle of Muhi]]. Despite the victory, the Mongols did not occupy Hungary, but withdrew shortly after upon the news of the death of [[Ögedei Khan]], leaving behind a country in ruins. The famous "Bent Cross" atop the crown has become a symbol of Hungary. Originally the cross was upright but was bent when the crown was stolen in the eleventh century.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ===Árpáds===
| |
| − | Gradually, under the rule of the dynasty of the [[Árpáds]] and even before it (since the ninth century), Hungary joined the greater West European [[civilization]]s. Ruled by the [[Angevins]] since [[1308]], the Kingdom of Hungary slowly lost control over territories later called [[Wallachia]] ([[1330]]) and [[Moldavia]] ([[1359]]).
| |
| − |
| |
| − | [[János Hunyadi]], the Regent of Hungary, fought defensive wars against the invading [[Ottoman Empire]]. The custom of sounding the [[noon bell]] is closely related to an important battle against the Ottomans that took place on [[June 29]], [[1456]], at [[Siege of Belgrade|Nándorfehérvár]].
| |
| − |
| |
| − | János's son, King [[Matthias Corvinus of Hungary|Matthias Corvinus]], ruled the Kingdom of Hungary from [[1458]] to [[1490]]. He strengthened Hungary and its government: under his rule, Hungary became an important artistic and [[Cultural center|cultural centre]] of Europe during the [[Renaissance]]. Matthias, whose wife was [[Italy|Italian]], imported artisans from Italy and France. Likewise, [[Culture of Hungary|Hungarian culture]] influenced others--for example, the [[Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth]]. King [[Matthias Corvinus of Hungary|Matthias Corvinus]] was also successful in many battles against the [[Ottoman Empire]].
| |
| − |
| |
| − | {{History of Hungary}}
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ===Ottomans===
| |
| − | The forthcoming two centuries were dominated by constant warfare against the [[Ottoman Empire]]. The Ottomans gained a decisive victory over the Hungarian army at the [[battle of Mohács]] in [[1526]]. The next decades were characterised by political chaos; the divided Hungarian nobility elected two kings simultaneously, [[Ferdinand Habsburg]] (1526-1540) and [[János Szapolyai]] (1526-1540), whose armed conflicts weakened the country further. After the conquest of [[Buda]] by the Ottomans in 1541, the Kingdom of Hungary came to be divided into three parts: one third of Hungary fell under Ottoman rule; one third (in the West) remained under [[Habsburg]] rule [[Kings of Hungary]]); and the third part, in the east (originally supporting János Szapolyai), remained independent (the Principality of [[Transylvania]]) and subsequently become a semi-independent, vassal state of the Ottoman Empire. It was only more than 150 years later, at the end of the [[17th century|seventeenth century]], that Austria and its Christian allies regained the territories of the Kingdom from the Ottoman Empire.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ===Austro-Hungarian empire===
| |
| − | [[Image:Francisc rakoczi.jpg|thumb|left|230px|[[Ferenc II Rákóczi]], painted by [[Ádám Mányoki]].]]
| |
| − | After the final retreat of the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottomans]], struggle began between the Hungarian nation and the [[Habsburg]] kings for the protection of noblemen' rights (thus guarding the autonomy of Hungary). The fight against Austrian [[absolutism]] resulted in an unsuccessful revolt for popular freedom between 1703 and 1711, led by a Transylvanian nobleman, [[Ferenc II Rákóczi]]. The [[Revolutions of 1848 in Hungary|revolution]] and war of 1848–1849 eliminated [[serfdom]] and secured [[civil rights]]. The Austrians were finally able to prevail, but only with Russian help.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Thanks to the victories against Austria by the French-Italian coalition (the [[Battle of Solferino]], 1859) and Prussia ([[Battle of Königgrätz]], 1866), Hungary would eventually, in 1867, manage to become a theoretically equal half of the [[Austro-Hungarian Empire]] (see [[Ausgleich]]). Having achieved this, the Hungarian government made an effort to nationally unify the kingdom by [[Magyarisation]] of the various other nationalities. This lasted until the end of [[World War I]], when the Austro-Hungarian empire collapsed.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | On [[November 16]], [[1918]], an independent Hungarian Republic was proclaimed. This was Hungary's first republic.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ===Interwar era===
| |
| − | Following [[World War I]], [[Romania]] took control over [[Transylvania]] and eastern Hungary, [[Czechoslovakia]] took control over the northern parts of the Kingdom of Hungary (also known as [[Upper Hungary]]), and a joint [[Serbia]]n and [[French Army|French army]] took control over the southern parts. These territories had a majority population of the respective occupying nations, however each had significant Hungarian population as well. The post-War Entente backed the subsequent annexations of these territories.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | In [[March]] [[1919]], the Communists took power in Hungary. In April, [[Béla Kun]] proclaimed the [[Hungarian Soviet Republic]]. But Kun's government, like its immediate predecessor, proved to be short-lived. This was despite some initial military successes against the Czechoslovakian Army.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | On [[13 June]][[1919]], the Versailles Peace Conference ordered Hungary to evacuate the northern territories and Romania to leave [[Tiszántúl]]. Hungary fulfilled its part of the order by [[30 June]] [[1919]]. But the [[Romanian army]] refused to leave [[Tiszántúl]].
| |
| − |
| |
| − | The ensuing war between Hungary and Romania led to the defeat of the Hungarian [[Red Army]]. By [[August]] [[1919]], more than half of present-day Hungary, including Budapest, was occupied by Romania. The Romanian occupation lasted until [[November]] [[1919]] when the [[Romanian army]] departed.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Rightist Hungarian military forces, led by the former Austro-Hungarian Admiral [[Miklós Horthy]], entered Budapest in the wake of the Romanian army's departure and filled the vacuum of [[state power]]. In [[January]] [[1920]], elections were held for a unicameral assembly. Admiral Horthy was elected Regent, thereby formally restoring the monarchy to Hungary. However, there would be no more "Kings of Hungary" despite attempts by the former Habsburg ruler to return to his former seat of power. Horthy ruled as Regent until 16 October 1944. Hungary remained a parliamentary democracy. But, after 1932, autocratic tendencies gradually returned as a result of Nazi influence and the [[Great Depression]].
| |
| − |
| |
| − | [[Image:Kingdom of Hungary counties.svg|thumb|250px|Map of the counties in the Lands of the Crown of St. Stephen (the Kingdom of Hungary proper and Croatia-Slavonia) around 1880.]]
| |
| − | On [[June 4]], [[1920]], the [[Treaty of Trianon]] was signed, establishing Hungary's new borders. Compared with the pre-war Kingdom, post-Trianon Hungary had 71% less territory and 66% less population. About one-third of the Magyar population became minorities in neighbouring countries. Hungary also lost its only [[Port|sea port]] at Fiume (today [[Rijeka]]). Therefore, [[Politics of Hungary|Hungarian politics]] and culture of the [[interwar period]] was dominated by [[irredentism]] ( the restoration of historical "[[Greater Hungary (political concept)|Greater Hungary]]").
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ===World War II===
| |
| − | {{main|Hungary during the Second World War}}
| |
| − | The country became allied with [[Nazi Germany]] in the [[1930s]]. The Hungarians allied themselves with the Germans in the hope that the territorial loss by the [[Treaty of Trianon]] could be reversed. Initially the alliance with Germany paid off. Some lost territories were returned to Hungary in the two [[Vienna Awards]]. In [[1941]], Hungary belatedly assisted the Germans with the [[invasion of Yugoslavia]]. Hungary then occupied the [[Backa]]. On [[22 June]] [[1941]], the Germans invaded the Soviet Union ([[Operation Barbarossa]]). The Hungarians soon followed the Germans and entered [[World War II]] as a member of the [[Axis]]. In late [[1941]], the Hungarian troops on the Eastern Front experienced success at the [[Battle of Uman]]. By [[1943]], after the [[Hungarian Second Army]] suffered extremely heavy losses at the [[Battle of Stalingrad]], the Hungarian government sought to negotiate a surrender with the Allies. On [[19 March]] [[1944]], as a result of this duplicity, German troops quietly occupied Hungary in what was known as [[Operation Margarethe]]. But, by now it was clear that the Hungarians were Germany's "unwilling satellite". On [[15 October]] [[1944]], the pro-West Horthy again ran afoul of the Germans. This time the Germans launched [[Operation Panzerfaust]] and Horthy was replaced by a puppet government under the pro-German Prime Minister [[Ferenc Szálasi]]. Szálasi and his pro-Nazi [[Arrow Cross Party]] remained loyal to the Germans until the end of the war. In late [[1944]], Hungarian troops on the Eastern Front again experienced success at the [[Battle of Debrecen]]. But this was followed immediately by the Soviet invasion of Hungary and the [[Battle of Budapest]]. On [[28 December]] [[1944]], a "provisional government" was formed in Hungary under acting Prime Minister [[Béla Miklós]]. While the Miklós government immediately ousted Prime Minister [[Ferenc Szálasi]]'s government, the Germans and pro-German Hungarians loyal to Szálasi fought on in Hungary. On [[20 January]] [[1945]], representatives of the Hungarian "provisional government" went to Moscow and agreed to complete Hungarian capitulation. Again, the Germans and pro-German Hungarians loyal to Szálasi fought on in Hungary. On [[13 February]] [[1945]], the Hungarian capital city surrendered unconditionally. On [[8 May]] [[1945]], [[World War II]] in Europe officially ended.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ===Holocaust===
| |
| − | Hungary was the first modern nation to pass distinctly [[History of the Jews in Hungary#20th century: persecution and destruction|anti-Semitic laws]]. The [[Numerus clausus|"numerus clausus"]] laws of the early 1920s restricted Jewish access to higher education. In the late 1930s, more specifically anti-Semitic laws followed. Though massacres of Jews by Hungarian forces took place during the early part of the Second World War, Hungary initially resisted large scale deportation of its [[Jewish population]]. Ultimately, however, during the German occupation in May-June [[1944]], the [[Arrow Cross Party]] and Hungarian police deported nearly 440,000 Jews, mostly to [[Auschwitz concentration camp|Auschwitz]].<ref name="USHMM">[http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/index.php?ModuleId=10005458 United States Holocaust Memorial Museum; Holocaust Encyclopedia]</ref> Over 400,000 Hungarian Jews were murdered during the [[Holocaust]], as well as tens of thousands of [[Roma people]]. Hundreds of Hungarian people were also executed by the [[Arrow Cross Party]] for sheltering Jews, among them Sister [[Sára Salkaházi]]. Foreign heads of states and diplomats who helped save many lives included Cardinal Roncalli, later Pope [[John XXIII]], [[Raoul Wallenberg]], and [[Carl Lutz]]. Italian businessman [[Giorgio Perlasca]] posed as a Spanish diplomat in order to issue forged visas and establish safe houses, including one for Jewish children. When Soviet forces liberated Budapest in February 1945, more than 100,000 Jews remained.<ref name=USHMM/>
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ===Soviet era===
| |
| − | [[Image:Mock&Horn.jpg|left|thumb|240px|The fall of the [[Iron Curtain]], [[1989]]: the [[foreign minister]]s of [[Austria]] and Hungary, [[Alois Mock]] and [[Gyula Horn]], ceremoniously cut through the border defences separating their countries.]]
| |
| − | Following the fall of Nazi Germany, Hungary became a communist satellite state of the Soviet Union. This followed a brief interval of democracy from 1946 to 1947 when the Hungarians proclaimed their second republic. After 1948, Communist leader [[Mátyás Rákosi]] established Stalinist rule in the country. The rule of the Rákosi government was nearly unbearable for Hungary's war-torn citizens. This led to the [[1956 Hungarian Revolution]] and Hungary's temporary withdrawal from the [[Warsaw Pact]]. The Soviets retaliated massively with military force, sending in over 150,000 troops and 2,500 tanks<ref>Findley, Carter V., and John Rothney. Twentieth Century World. sixth ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2006. 278.</ref>. Nearly a quarter of a million people left the country during the brief time that the borders were open in 1956. From the 1960s through the late 1980s, Hungary was often satirically referred to as "[[the happiest barrack]]" within the [[Eastern bloc]]. This was under the autocratic rule of its controversial communist leader, [[János Kádár]].
| |
| − |
| |
| − | {{-}}
| |
| − | ===Third Hungarian Republic===
| |
| − | In the late [[1980s]], Hungary led the movement to dissolve the Warsaw Pact and shifted toward multi-candidate democracy. This means that even though there were several candiates, the communist party, [[MSZMP]], was not out for dispute. However, independent candidates were elected as protest against the party. At this time, there were increasing presures for reform within the party. They also moved towards a [[Market economy|market-oriented economy]]. On [[October 23]] [[1989]], [[Mátyás Szűrös]] declared the [[Third Hungarian Republic]] and became interim President. Hungary's first [[free election]]s were held in 1990. Following the [[History of the Soviet Union (1985-1991)|collapse of the Soviet Union]] in [[1991]], Hungary developed closer ties with [[Western Europe]] as well as with other Central European countries. It became a member of the [[Visegrad Group]] in [[1991]], joined [[NATO]] in 1999, and became a member of the [[European Union]] on [[May 1]], [[2004]].
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ==Politics==
| |
| − | [[Image:Hungarian Parlament.jpg|thumb|250px|right|The [[Hungarian Parliament Building]] in Budapest.]]
| |
| − | {{main|Politics of Hungary}}
| |
| − | The [[President of Hungary|President of the Republic]], elected by the [[Parliament]] every five years, has a largely ceremonial role, choosing the dates of the parliamentary elections.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | The prime minister selects [[Cabinet (government)|Cabinet]] ministers and has the [[exclusive right]] to dismiss them. Each Cabinet nominee appears before one or more parliamentary committees in open hearings and must be formally approved by the President.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | A [[unicameral]], 386-member [[National Assembly of Hungary|National Assembly]] (the ''Országgyűlés'') is the highest organ of state authority and initiates and approves legislation sponsored by the Prime Minister. National Parliamentary elections are held every four years; the next are due to be held in 2010.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | An 11-member Constitutional Court has power to challenge legislation on grounds of unconstitutionality.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ==Counties and regions==
| |
| − | [[Image:HU NUTS 3.png|thumb|left|300px|Counties of Hungary in 2007]]
| |
| − | [[Image:HU NUTS 2.png|thumb|left|300px|Regions of Hungary]]
| |
| − | {{main|Counties of Hungary|Regions of Hungary}}
| |
| − | : ''See also [[Administrative divisions of the Kingdom of Hungary|List of historic counties of Hungary]]''
| |
| − | Administratively, Hungary is divided into [[Counties of Hungary|nineteen counties]]. The [[Capitals of Hungary|capital city]] (''főváros''), [[Budapest]], is independent of any county government. The counties and the capital are the twenty [[Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics|NUTS]] third-level units of Hungary.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Since 1996, these twenty administrative units have been grouped into seven [[Regions of Hungary|regions]] for statistical and development purposes. These seven regions constitute NUTS' second-level units of Hungary.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | There are also twenty-three towns with county rights (singular ''megyei jogú város''), sometimes known as "urban counties" in English (although there is no such term in Hungarian). The local authorities of these towns have extended powers, but these towns belong to the territory of the respective county instead of being independent territorial units.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | <table border="0"><tr><th>Counties (County Capital)</th><th>Regions</th></tr>
| |
| − | <tr><td>
| |
| − |
| |
| − | * [[Bács-Kiskun]] ([[Kecskemét]])
| |
| − | * [[Baranya]] ([[Pécs]])
| |
| − | * [[Békés (county)|Békés]] ([[Békéscsaba]])
| |
| − | * [[Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén]] ([[Miskolc]])
| |
| − | * [[Csongrád (county)|Csongrád]] ([[Szeged]])
| |
| − | * [[Fejér]] ([[Székesfehérvár]])
| |
| − | * [[Győr-Moson-Sopron]] ([[Győr]])
| |
| − | * [[Hajdú-Bihar]] ([[Debrecen]])
| |
| − | * [[Heves (county)|Heves]] ([[Eger]])
| |
| − | * [[Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok]] ([[Szolnok]])
| |
| − | * [[Komárom-Esztergom]] ([[Tatabánya]])
| |
| − | * [[Nógrád (county)|Nógrád]] ([[Salgótarján]])
| |
| − | * [[Pest (county)|Pest]] ([[Budapest]])
| |
| − | * [[Somogy]] ([[Kaposvár]])
| |
| − | * [[Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg]] ([[Nyíregyháza]])
| |
| − | * [[Tolna (county)|Tolna]] ([[Szekszárd]])
| |
| − | * [[Vas]] ([[Szombathely]])
| |
| − | * [[Veszprém (county)|Veszprém]] ([[Veszprém]])
| |
| − | * [[Zala]] ([[Zalaegerszeg]])
| |
| − | * [[Budapest]], capital city
| |
| − |
| |
| − | </td><td valign="top">
| |
| − |
| |
| − | * [[Western Transdanubia]]
| |
| − | * [[Southern Transdanubia]]
| |
| − | * [[Central Transdanubia]]
| |
| − | * [[Central Hungary]]
| |
| − | * [[Northern Hungary]]
| |
| − | * [[Northern Great Plain]]
| |
| − | * [[Southern Great Plain]]
| |
| − |
| |
| − | </td>
| |
| − | </td></tr></table>
| |