oFCAllFOff^' 
 
 ^^ 
 
 ' ^». t 
 
 J, 
 
 sZ5 
 
 >. -"^ 
 
 j.\ 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 '-'/:iajAi;Mlil[V>- 
 
 . r linn* n V /-I - 
 
 iU 
 
 
 CD It 
 
 .L-Uf.l\UJv> 
 
 oj-fififn?;
 
 HUNGARY: 
 
 A Short Outline of its History. 
 
 BY 
 
 LOUIS FELBERMAN. 
 
 {Author of Hungary and its Ptople.) 
 
 Published by the 
 
 Educational Section of the Hungakian Exhibition, 
 Earl's Cocrt. London 1908-
 
 HUNGARY: 
 
 A SHORT OUTLINE Or ITS HISTORY 
 
 
 By LOUIS FELBERMAN. 
 
 HE idea is prevalent amongst a certain 
 numl)er of the British public that 
 Hungary forms part of the Austrian 
 Empire. That this is not the case will 
 at once be proved by a casual glance at 
 the history of Hungary. The Kingdoiu 
 of Hungary has always been independent 
 
 of Austria, and can boast a constitution 
 
 which it received a few years after the 
 grant of the Magna Charta in England. The only link 
 between Austria and Hungary is the Sovereign, the Emperor- 
 King, who, by virtue of dynastic rights is crowned King of 
 Hungary, likewise Emperor of Austria, which title is a mors 
 recent creation. 
 
 The Magryars. 
 
 Historians differ as to the origin of the Magvars. Some- 
 describe them as the descendants of the Huns, to whom were 
 related the Mongols, Tartars, and the Turks. Others again 
 refer to them as belonging to the Finn-Ugur branch of the 
 Ural-Altaic family. So much however is certain, that they 
 originally inhabited the district along the Ural Mountains in 
 Asia. Having been hard pressed by various kindred tribes, 
 they left their cradle-country, and, after wandering for many 
 3'ears along the banks of the Volga and the Don, and the 
 shores of the Black Sea, under seven different chiefs, they 
 settled in the neighbourhood known as Bessarabia and 
 Moldau. Here the different tribes assembled and elected 
 
 Arpad, the son of the chiefAlmos, as their only hereditary duks. 
 
 20877G0
 
 In taking their oath of allegiance to him in the Kazar 
 fashion, they agreed upon certain laAvs which would guide 
 them in their future conquests — which laws formed the basis 
 of the Constitutional Laws of Hunyarv. 
 
 After a stay of three years they left this district, invaded 
 the neighbovu'ing Russian territories, and finally crossed the 
 Carpathian Mountains in the year 895, and after much resist- 
 ance on the part of the Bulgars, Slavs, aud other races, they 
 occupied Hvmgary, which they claimed as their inheritance 
 from their ancestors, the Huns. 
 
 The Mag-yars invade Germany, France, Italy, Spain 
 and Conquer Austria. 
 
 For some years after the Conquest of Hungary the mighty 
 Byzantine and German Emiures were terrorised by the 
 Magyars, who made repeated incursions also into Germany, 
 France, Italy, and Spain, from which countries they exacted 
 heavy tribute. It was at that time also they couquei'ed 
 Austria, which they h,ld for many years After their defeat 
 at Lech, near Augsburg, in the year 955, in a battle fought 
 against Otto tlic Great and his confederates, they retired to 
 their own countrv and <;raduallv ad()i>ted Western civilisation. 
 
 St. Stephen receives a Crown with the Title of 
 Apostolic King" of Hungary. 
 
 At the close of the 10th century. Hungary became a 
 Christian nation. St. Stephen received a Crown with 
 the title of A]V)stolic King of Himgary, from Pope Sylvester 
 II.. arid after his death was canonised. 
 
 St. Stephen, who married Gisela, of Bavaria, was a very 
 Avise nder. He established a council '»f state, and consoli- 
 dated his kimrdom. At liis death, in 10.38. lonjr before 
 Austria was a Pucliv, Hunirarv Avas looked upon as a model 
 State. 
 
 Of the rulers that followed him, Ladislaus I., styled St. 
 Ladisliuis (1077-109.")). deserves to be classed as one of the 
 great Hungarian Kings. This monarch, who was a pattern 
 of Hungarian chivalry, conquered Croatia in 1091. 
 
 His nephew, Koloman (1096-1114). styled "The Book-
 
 King," owing to his great learning, introduced many useful 
 laws and reforms, and, though he had to guard the country 
 against depredation on the part of the Crusaders, he managed 
 to wrest Dahiiatia from the then mighty Venetian Republic 
 ^1105), and annexed it to Hungary. 
 
 Andrew II. g-rants the Golden Bull (1222), the Magrna 
 Charta of Hung^ary. 
 
 The thirteenth century opened with a glorious period for 
 Hungary, for it had Andrew H. (1205-35) for its King, an 
 enlightened and pious ruler, who was elected by the Crusaders 
 as their leader in the holy wars. He granted in the year 
 1222 the "Golden Bull,"\ charter similar to the English 
 Magna Charta which was granted by King John eight years 
 T)efore. In this charter the privileges of the people are 
 defined, and it also gives them the right to appeal to arms 
 against the Crown should it abuse its power — a right which 
 ■was only renounced in the reign of Leopold I. (1687). 
 
 The Tartar Invasion. 
 
 His .son, Bela IV. (1235-70). who succeeded him, had to 
 face an invasion of the Tartars (1241 to 1242), who. Avith an 
 army of over 1,000,000, invaded and laid waste the country, 
 but Bela, after their departure, soon raised it again from its 
 ashes, and invited German settlers into the country. 
 
 Bela IV. had also to fight the Austrians and Stjaians. 
 He defeated and killed in the battle Frederick, the last 
 •member of the House of Babenberg (1246), who then ruled 
 over Austria. He was also engaged in numerous wars with 
 Bosnia, Dalmatia, and Bulgaria. 
 
 His successor, Stephen V. (1270-1272) and his grandson 
 Xiadislaus IV. (1272-1290), were notable for their wars against 
 Ottokar II., King of Bohemia. Ladislaus IV. concluded an 
 alliance with Rudolph of Hapsl^urg, King of Germany in 
 1275, against Ottokar II., who was totally defeated. Later, 
 in 1278, Ottokar took up arms against the allies again, and 
 was killed on the battlefield. His territories were then an- 
 nexed by Rudolph of Hapsburg. Thus the Hapsburgs, who 
 now became the rulers of Austria, Styria, Carnolia, and
 
 Carinthia, have to tliauk the HuDoarians for establishino; their 
 family ]X)wer, which has now lasted over 600 years. With 
 the death of Andrew III. (1301), the successor of Ladislau& 
 rV^, the Dynasty of the House of Arpad, which had ruled 
 Hungary for over 400 years, became extinct. 
 
 During their rule from 895 to 1301 the Hungarians had 
 accomplished wonders: from a pagan race they became the 
 champions of Christianit}'- and freedom throughout the Con- 
 tinent of Euroi>e. 
 
 During the rule of the dynasty they vanquished many 
 nations, inchiding Austria, and founded a powerful and ex- 
 tensive kingdom without the aid of friends, but by their valour 
 and at the point of the sword. 
 
 The House of Anjou. 
 
 After the extinction of the male line of the House of 
 Arpad, various pretenders belonging to the female line put in 
 their claim, liut finally, in the year 1308, the crown was 
 offered to, and accepted by, Charles Robert of Anjou, of the 
 Neapolitan branch of the House of Anjou, who was a grandson 
 of Stejihen V. of Hungary. 
 
 Charles Robert proved an excellent ruler. He invited 
 some of the great Neapolitan nobles and high clergy to settle 
 in Hungary, and remodelled the state after the Italian 
 fashion, introducing also the arts and cultuie of that country 
 into Hungary. 
 
 Louis the Great of Hungary. 
 
 Cliarle.s Robert was succeeded Ijy his son Louis (134:2-82), 
 styled Ixniis the Great. As soon as he asct'uded the throne 
 he organised an exjiedition to Naples in order to avenge the 
 death of his brother Andrew, who was murdered at the instiga- 
 tion of his wife Johanna, the Queen of Na])les. He captured 
 the city, and punished the murderers of his brother, and 
 returned to Hungaiy without annexing Naples owing to the 
 •opjxtsition of the Pope. 
 
 Tx>uis the Great did evervthinqr to encourage the arts and 
 sciences. He promoted trade and commerce, and forwarded 
 the developmeTit of municipal institutions, which were des- 
 tined to play such an important part in the future of the 
 kingdom.
 
 The reign of lyouis the Great. Tvhich lasted for 40 years,. 
 •was a most brilliant one in Hungary. He recaptured 
 Dalmatia from the Venetians, conquered Moldavia, and 
 J3iilgaria, and the rest of the Balkan States — Servia, Bosnia, 
 find the Wallachia had to submit to the supremacy of 
 Hun gar V. 
 
 e 
 
 Louis was elected King of Poland in the year 1370. 
 Having no son, he was succeeded in the year 1382 by his 
 daughter Maria, who ruled conjointly with her husband Sigis- 
 mond, a son of the Emperor Charles IV. Sigismond was also 
 elected Roman Emperor (1411) and King of Bohemia (1419), 
 whilst the throne of Poland Louis secured to his second 
 daughter Hedwiga by her marriage with Uladislaus Jagiello, 
 Duke of Lithuania, the founder of the illustrious Dynasty of 
 the Jagiellos in Poland which lasted till ]o72. 
 
 Internal Troubles. 
 
 The ix)werful State established by Louis the Great im- 
 mediately after his death was' exposed to internal troubles 
 and uprisings. The Turks assumed a menacing attitude iu 
 the Balkans, and Sigismond's forces, though at first victorious, 
 were ultimately defeated at Nikopoli (Bulgaria). This led 
 to a rebellion, and Sigismond had to pawn some of his Pro- 
 vinces so as to be able to oppose the forces of Uladislaus, 
 liusband of Hedwiga, who invaded Hungary. In this state o^ 
 •confusion the Turks established a firmer footing on the borders 
 of Hungary, the Venetians recaptured Dalmatia, the Hussiteg 
 rose in arms in Bohemia and in Hunoan' to aveno-e the death 
 of their leader, John Huss, causing great destruction. After 
 a long and inglorious reign he died in the year 14:37, being 
 succeeded by his son-in-law, Albert II., Duke of Austria, who 
 died after two years' reign. Uladislaus, the King of Poland, 
 then invaded the countrv and was elected King. The widowed 
 Queen, taking with her the crown and her newly born child 
 Ladislaus Posthumus. fled the coimtiy, taking refuge with 
 her kinsman, the Emperor Frederick HI., to whom she 
 pledged the Hungarian Crown. In the meantime the country 
 was in a most confused and ho]ieless state, and the attitudd- 
 ■of the Turks became more menacing.
 
 D 
 
 John Hunyady. 
 
 Fortunately for Hungary a great star appeared suddenly 
 on the horizon in the person of John Hunyady, who proved to 
 be the greatest hero of the middle ages. Hunyady formed a 
 small array of horsemen at his own expense and boldly faced 
 the enormous numbers of Turkish troops. He defeated and 
 humiliated three successive Sultans, pursuing them through 
 Walachian, Servian and Bulgarian territories, and spreading 
 terror among them. In the twelve glorious battles which he 
 fought two only were lost, one being the battle of Varna (14:44:)^ 
 where King Uladislaus made a false move and lost his life. 
 Hunyady Avas then chosen captain-general pending the coming 
 of age of the young King Ladislaus, and successfully held 
 the Turks at bay. The last battle that he fought was the 
 glorious victory of Belgrade, in commemoration of which a 
 papal Bull was issued, ordaining the tolling of the church 
 bells at noon for all time to come throughout the length and 
 breadth of Cliristendom. His death, which took place a few 
 weeks later in the ye^r 1456, was mourned by the whole of 
 Europe. 
 
 King- Matthias (1458-90). 
 
 The reign of Ladislaus was only of short duration, and 
 after his death Matthias, the son of John Hunyady, was elected 
 King of Hungary, and proved to be the wi>sest and most just 
 of Hiuigarian rulers. He took Servia and Bosnia under his 
 pn tection, and organised the first Huszar regiment, which 
 became a pattern for the whole world. Matthias expelled the 
 Turks from the frontier towns and pursued them into Servia 
 and Bosnia, where they were defeated, and Sultan Bajazet had 
 to sue for and conclude peace with him for eight years. Matt- 
 hias then directed his troops against the Emperor Frederick 
 ni., who had devastated Hungary, whilst the Magyars were 
 engaged with the Turks. Matthias invaded Austria, captured 
 Vienna, which he made his capital, and drove the Emperor 
 Frederick HI. out of his Austrian dominions, of which he 
 only regained possession after the death of King Matthias. 
 
 Defeat of the Hung-arians at Mohacs (1526). 
 
 Matthias died in 1490, and was succeeded by Uladislaus 
 II. of Bohemia of the house of the Jagiellos. Under this
 
 monarch and his son Louis II., the power of Hungary rapidly 
 declined, and the Turks invaded the country again with 
 200,000 men under Suleiman. At the battle of Mohacs, in 
 1526, the Hungarians were totally defeated and King Louis 
 II., whilst retreating from the battlefield, was thrown from 
 his horse and perished in the swampy marshes w^bich sur- 
 rounded the battlefield. The Turks followed up their victory 
 and devastated the country all along the Danube right up to 
 Buda, after which they withdrew with large spoils. 
 
 The Hapsburgf Dynasty. 
 
 The Hungarian throne having become vacant after the 
 disastrous defeat at Mohacs, one party elected John Szapolyai, 
 a Hungarian noble and Waywode of Transylvania, as King 
 of Hungary, but Queen Maria, the widow of King Louis H. 
 advocated the cause of her brother, the Archduke Ferdinand 
 of Austria (who was married to Anna of Hungary, sister of 
 the late King Louis IL) Ferdinand was duh' elected at the 
 National Assembly held at Pozsony (Pressburg), and was 
 subseqtiently crowned in accordance with the Hungarian 
 Constitutional Laws at Szekesfehervar, where the Kings of 
 Hungary from the days of St. Stephen were wont to be 
 crowned. 
 
 Ferdinand, on the death of Louis H., became also King 
 of Bohemia and with it became possessed of Moravia. He 
 succeeded in the year 15.56 his brother Emperor Charles 
 V. in the Imperial dignity. The election as King 
 of the Ai'chduke Ferdinand caused internal troubles 
 — the Sultan, vsupporting the cause of John 
 Szapolyai, invaded Hungary in 1529 with a large 
 army, capturing Buda and pursuing Ferdinand's forces as far 
 as Vienna. In the year 1538 it was agreed by a special treaty 
 at Nagy Yarad that the coimtry should be divided among 
 the two contesting rulers, both bearing the title of King, and 
 at the death of Szapolyai, the country should revert to Arch- 
 duke Ferdinand or to his heirs. Transylvania was made in- 
 dependent and was to be ruled by John Szapolyai and after his 
 death by his successors. This brought peace to the country 
 for some time, but after the death of Szapolyai (1540) the 
 people in Lower Hungary declared in favour of his infant son, 
 Sigismund. in Avhich claim he was supported by the Sultan, 
 who again invaded the coimtiy and held a large portion of
 
 8 
 
 the same in trust for Sigismiind, and Ferdinand had to pay 
 heavy yearly tribute to the Suhan for the rest of the country. 
 Maximilian, who succeeded his father the Emperor Ferdinand 
 (in 15G4), found his rights conteste-d by Sigismund, and it Avas 
 only after a treaty in 1570 between the two rival kings and 
 the death of Sigismund in 1571 that the Emperor Maximilian 
 became the acknowledged ruler of the entire country except 
 Transylvania, where Stephen Bathory was elected' Prince. 
 From that period the Sovereigns of Hungary were identical 
 with those of Austria and the other dominions of the House 
 of Hapsburg. Hungary, however, in electing the Hapsburg 
 dynasty as its rulers had never lost its right of being a con- 
 stitutional country, and was, and is now, ruled in accordance 
 with its own laAvs, regardless of the other dominions of its 
 
 King 
 
 National Heroes. 
 
 As soon as order was restored it was hoped that the 
 Turks would be exjielled from the country, but in this the 
 Magyars were bitterly mistaken, and for a "period of over 150 
 years the Ijulk of the nation was constantly engaged with 
 the Turks in the defence of their country. During this 
 period the Hungarians ])erforint'd heroic deeds and feats of 
 bravery worthy of Hellas and Sparta. At Koszeg (1532) 
 ]\riklos Jurisics, with only 700 men, principally peasants from 
 the district, liarred the ])rogress of Sultan Suleiman on his way 
 to Vienna with an army of L'00,000 inen. "With a small force 
 of 2,000 men Ijosonczy (whos© wife sold her jewels in order to 
 furnish the means) defended for a long time Temesvdr (1652) 
 against 50.000 assailants. At Dregely in the same year 
 
 George Szondy, with a handful of men resisted for a long time 
 the numerous forces of the Turks, and seeing that no further 
 resistance wa.s possible, rather than surrender he made pre- 
 paration for his funeral on the cai>ture of the fort. At Eger, 
 Stephen I)ob6 (1552) with 2,000 men, consisting chiefly of 
 peasants, aided by patriotic women, defeated a Turkish force 
 of 100,000 men. The very name of Szigetvar sends a thrill 
 of patriotism through the lieart of every'true Hungarian, for 
 here in 15G6 the great hero Miklos Zrinvi, held out most 
 heroically with a small liody of 2.500 men against a mighty 
 force of 00.000 of Suleiman's men, fighting desperately till 
 his number was reduced to 300 men. and seeing there was
 
 liO chance of further resistance he and his comrades arrayed 
 Ihemselv&s in holiday attire and with drawn swords opened 
 the gates and then blew up the fort, preferring to die in this 
 way rather than surrender. For over a century and a half 
 the Hungarians' immortalised themselves in the numerous 
 battles fought against the Turks, and hero u^wn hero 
 followed eacli other with lightning rapidity. Amongst these 
 w^ere Sigismund Bathory, who in 1595 defeated the Turks at 
 Oiurgevo. In the year' 166-3 Mikhns Zrinyi proved a worthy 
 desceiidant of his ancestor of the same name, the heroic 
 defender of Szigetvar. 
 
 Strug-g-le ag-ainst Relig-ious Persecutions. 
 
 But, sad to .say, not only did the Hungarians have to 
 fight the Turks, but they had 'on repeated occasions to defend 
 their country against their own Kings, who in Hungary as 
 in Germany persecuted the Protestants and deprived the 
 country of 'its constitutional rights. This was especially the 
 case during the reign of Eudolph I. (1576-1608), and in this 
 movement the Hungarians were led by Stephen Bocskay. 
 The latter defeated Rudolph's forces, which led to the con- 
 clusion of peace in 1606, whereby the liberties of the Pro- 
 testants were guaranteed. 
 
 The persecutions, however, were renewed during the reign 
 of Ferdinand TI. (1619), the hero of the Thirty Years' War. 
 A champion was then found in Gabriel Bethlen, Prince of 
 Transylvania, who attacked the King's forces, and obliged 
 him to conclude a treaty of peace first in 1622, and then in 
 1626, whereby the privileges of the Protestants were 
 absolutely guaranteed. 
 
 During the reign of Ferdinand HI. (1637-57) these per- 
 secutions Avere again renewed, and this time George Rakoczy 
 I., Prince of Transylvania, came to the rescue of his Hungarian 
 brethren. He attacked Ferdinand's forces and gained vic- 
 tories (1644). George Rakoczy made an alliance with the 
 €rown of Sweden against Ferdinand, Avho in consequence was 
 forced to conclude a treaty of peace (1645 and 1647). 
 
 The persecution of the Protestants continued again, and 
 ■even with greater violence, during the reign of Leopold I.
 
 10 
 
 (1637-] 705), v.ho also curtailed the privileges of the Hun- 
 garian nation. The Emperor Leopold I., in order to be able 
 to turn all his forces against the Magyars and Protestants^ 
 concluded a humiliating treaty with the Turks, by which they 
 practically ruled over certain parts of Hungary, whilst the 
 rest of the country Leojwld treated as a mere province, matters 
 being decided in Vienna without consulting the Hungarians. 
 The Magyars could no longer tolerate this abuse of their 
 rights, and organised a plan for the dethronement of their 
 King. The leaders were Peter Zrinyi, Count Frangepan, 
 Palatin Xadasdi, and Francis Rakoczy I. The plot was dis- 
 covered and all the ringleaders wci'e executed (1671). An. 
 exception was made in the case of Francis Rakoczy I., wliose 
 mother bought his freedom for 400.000 florins. 
 
 Fearful per.secutions followed, which led to a second 
 revolt under Emeric Thokoli, who obtained possession of the 
 greater part of Hungary, and conclude<l an alliance with the 
 Sultan, who sent a large army to bombard Vienna. 
 
 Recapture of Buda from the Turks. 
 
 For seven weeks loO.OOO Turks l)esiegetl Vienna (1683)^ 
 which was in the most critical srtate, but at last John 
 Szobieszky, King of Poland, came to the rescue of Prince 
 Charlas Ix)rraine, who conducted the defence of the city, and 
 drove the Turks away from the gates of Vienna, and they were 
 compelled to retire to Buda. Thokoli in the meantime was 
 fighting against the King's forces in the interior of Hungary 
 and defied the Austrian troops for a long time, whilst hi.s wife, 
 known to history by the name of Ilona Zrinyi, most her(»ically 
 defended the fort of Munkacs. In the end, however, their 
 adherents became .smaller, for after the defeat of the Turks at 
 Vienna the Hungarians thou'jht that the time had arrived 
 wlien the Turks covdd be expelled from Hungary, and peace 
 would be given to the country. Tliey therefore joined the 
 Kin<j's flag and attacked the Turks at Ruda. The Hungarians 
 were reinforced by (Germans, French, English, and Spanish 
 soldiers, and after nine weeks' struggle, in which theu- wives 
 and children took part, the Turk.s had to surrender Ruda, 
 and for the first time since 145 years the Hungarian flag wn* 
 hoisted over the historic Castle of Buda.
 
 ]1 
 The Turks expelled from Himg-ary. 
 
 In 1687 there was a giaud procession at Buda solemnising 
 the re-capture of that town from the Turks. Prince Charles 
 pursued the enemy into the interior of the country, and at 
 Mohacs, the place where 161 years before the Turks destroyed 
 th© Hungarian army, they were thoroughly defeated by the 
 Hungarians'. The Turks were pursued and attacked at Bel- 
 grade, Bosnia was re-taken, and gradually the greater part of 
 Servia was conquered. Tlie Cliristian armies were every- 
 where victorious till 1690. Later on the Turks assisted 
 Tliokoli in his revolt, but they were defeated and Thokoli had 
 to take refuge in Turkey. 
 
 This victory led to the re-annexation of Transylvania to 
 the Cro^\^-l of Hungary. Hardly, however, had the Turks left 
 the country when the Hungarians Avere subjected to most 
 cruel treatment and hundreds of the best known Hungarians 
 were arrested on the slightest possible pretence or suspicion 
 for conspiracy against the Crown, and were summarily exe- 
 cuted. Leopold convened a national assembly at Pozsony 
 (Pressliurg) for the recognition of the Hapsburg dynasty as 
 the rightful rulers of Hungary, and at the same time the 
 assembly renounced the rights of the nation to appeal to 
 arms against the CroAvn, in the terms of the Golden Bull, 
 granted in 1222. 
 
 Revolt headed by Francis Rakoezy II. 
 
 This) cruel treatment led to another revolt, of which 
 Francis Eakoczy H. (son of Ilona Zrinj-i, the heroine, and 
 step-son of Thokoli) was the leader, who spread the revolt 
 throughout the coimtry, taking one fort after another, and 
 even bombarding Vienna. Kakoczy occupied the whole of 
 Upper Hunoaiy right to Transylvania, of which principality 
 he was chosen Prince. The Emperor Leopold, alarmed at the 
 success of Eakoczy, sued for peace but nothing came of it, and 
 when he died (1705) the country was in a hopeless- state, and 
 though the credit is due to him of having expelled the Tiu'ks 
 from Hungary, yet owing to the persecution of the Magyars 
 and Protestants during his reign both woidd have gladly Avel- 
 comed the Turks back again. 
 
 Joseph (1705-11). 
 
 Immediately upon his accession to the throne- 
 Tlie Emperor Joseph offered to re-establish the Hun-
 
 1^ 
 
 garian Const itutional Laws and to respect the Protestant 
 iaith, and sought the intervention of the British Ambassador 
 to approach Rakoczy for the conckision of peace. By the 
 treatj^ of Szatmar the Constitutional Rights of Hungary and 
 the freedom to Protestants were guaranteed, and an amnesty 
 was proclaimed also to all political offenders. Rakoczy did 
 not object to the conclusion of the treaty so that peace might 
 be given to the country he so dearly loved, but as the terms 
 of the treaty did not quite satisfy him, rather than submit 
 thereto and accept the amnesty offered to him, he left Hungary 
 for ever, accomjianied by a few of his faithful adherents, going 
 first to Poland, then to the Court of Louis XIV. of France, 
 and finally siettled in Turkey, where he died at Rodosto. The 
 ashes of this great hero and his faithful companions were 
 brought back to Hungary in the year 1006 by the consent of 
 His Majesty King Francis Joseph L 
 
 The Pragmatic Sanction. 
 
 In the reign of Charles HI. (1711-1740), -who had no male 
 descendants, the Pragmatic Sanction was introduced, decree- 
 ing the hereditary rights of the female descendants to the 
 throne. Tlie Pragmatic Sanction also guaranteed to Hungary 
 the right to be ruled in accordance with its own Constitution, 
 regardless of the other states of the Hapsburg Dynasty. 
 
 The Hungarians come to the Rescue of 
 Maria Theresia. 
 
 Maria Theresia (1740-1780), succeeded to the throne and 
 became ruler of the Austrian Empire. Hungary, the German 
 Netherland, TuscaJiy, and Lombardy. Her rights, however, 
 were disputed by the Elector of Bavaria and the Kino-s of Prus- 
 sia, Spain, France, Sardinia, an<l Poland, who invaded all her 
 dominions, except Himgary. The young Queen, who some 
 months before gave birth to a son, retired to the ancient 
 Hungarian cajutal Pozsony (Pressburg), and here she con- 
 vened the National Assembly, and holding her child in her 
 arms pleaded for the chivalrous protection of the Hungarians. 
 The ^fatrvars, moved bv the sad situation of the Oueen. forgot 
 all the injustice done to them in the past, and the members 
 of the assembly with drawn swords in their hands, uttered
 
 13 
 
 the historic exclamation, •' Vitam et sang-uinem pro rege nostro 
 Maria Theresia!" "Wo live and die for our King." (She 
 was considered as a King in accordance with Hungarian laws). 
 Very soon a strong Hungarian army faced the united French 
 and Bavarian forces, driving them out from Bohemia and 
 Bavaria and pursuing them across the Rhine as far as Alsace. 
 Another detachment attacked Frederick the Great, defeating 
 him in Bohemia, after which the Hungarian troops roved into 
 Prussia and occupied Berlin. The result was that all the 
 Queen's enemies had to sue for peace. 
 
 Maria Theresia was grateful to the Hungarians, and im- 
 proved the condition of the peasantry and devoted herself to 
 the welfare of the country. 
 
 Joseph H. (1780-90) was an excellent ruler. He 
 ameliorated the condition of the peasants and established 
 many schools for the education of the peasantry and 
 encouraged industries, navigation, agriculture, and cattle- 
 breeding. He was, however, not popular, owing to 
 his having refused to be crowned King of Hungary, and 
 acting without consulting Parliament, though he owed his 
 crown to the bravery of the Hungarians. Before his death, 
 however, he re-established Hungarian rights, and sent the 
 cro^m of St. Stephen from Vienna to Buda. 
 
 During the short reign of his son Leopold II. (1790-92), 
 the Hungarians gained the upper hand, and re-established 
 their constitutional rights in the memoi'able Diet of 1790-91. 
 
 Francis I. 
 
 Francis I. (1792-1835), sat on the throne at the time when 
 the French revolutionary spirit spread all over Europe, in- 
 cluding Hungary. Then came the NaiX)leonic period, and the 
 Austrians lost their Italian possessions, together with Istria, 
 Dalmatia, Tyrol, and were engaged in the series of wars 
 with Napoleon so well known to the student of history 
 of that epoch. Napoleon I. issued a manifesto to the Hun- 
 garians (1809), inviting them to declare themselves indepen- 
 dent and elect a king of their own, but the Hungarians 
 remained loyal to the Hapsburg dynasty. At the concluslr.n 
 of peace, however, the Austiians proved to be ungrateful to
 
 14 
 
 the Hungarians, and i^ersuaded the Emperor Francis 
 for the curtaihnent of the privileges of the Hungarian 
 nation. All matters had to be decided at Vienna. The 
 schools ^Yere in decadence and the Hungarian language was iMt 
 taught ; and all books had to be submitted to tbo Austrian 
 censor, and the Hungarian Parliament had not been sum- 
 moned for fourteen years. 
 
 Fortunately a great man in the person of Count Stephen 
 Szechenyi appeared on the horizon. He founded the Academy 
 of Sciences and took the education and the general (develop- 
 ment of the country into his own hands, thus destroying the 
 evil effects created hv the Austrian advisers of the Kine;. 
 
 Ferdinand V. (1835-48). who succeeded Francis I., in- 
 troduced many reforms, founded many schools, and made the 
 Hungarian language the official language of the country, but 
 the nation demanded the re-establishn^ent of constitutional 
 freedom and equality of all classes. In their demands tlie 
 nation was led first by Baron Wesselenyi and then by Louis 
 Kossuth, who, with his masterful oratory, won to his cause 
 the entire country and all classes demanded Constitutional 
 Freedom. In 1847 Parliament was opened by Ferdinand V. 
 in person in Hungarian language, and he made a promisiU;^ 
 speech, but those in power Avere not in favour of granting 
 the national demaaids. 
 
 Events of 1848. 
 
 The Revolution which broke out in France and caused ihe 
 downfall of the Orleans dpiasty, spread also to Hmigary, 
 where the Liberal party, under the leadership of Louis Kossuth, 
 decided to claim a free Press, responsible Ministry, 
 the annual assem])ly of Parliament, and the equality of 
 all classes and creeds. Puljlic ojithusiasm was at its highest 
 pitch, crowds of students and ma»sses of peo))le marching in 
 the streets, reciting the patriotic and stirring poems of 
 Petoti, and singing revolutionary airs. The Imperial 
 troops were then in Italy and Austria had no availalde forces 
 to suppress tlie national rising. King Ferdinand liad no 
 alternative but to accept the resolution of the Hungarian 
 Assembly and apjxiinted a responsible Hmigarian ^Mini'^try, 
 consisting of Count Louis Batthy;'un-i, Count Szechenyi, Louis 
 Kossuth, Francis Deak, L. Meszaros, G. Klauzal, B. Szemere,
 
 15 
 
 -with Prince Paul Esterhazy as Minister of Foreign Affairs. 
 Tlie Viennese, however, continually plotted against the Hun- 
 garians, and incited the Ban of Croatia to revolt against 
 Hungary, and also the Serbs in the Biuuit. As a result, 
 the Hungarian Parliament was summoned and voted 200,000 
 soldiers for the national defences. People flocked from all 
 parts, offering their services for the cause of the country. 
 The Imperial troops having now returned from Italy ,_ the King 
 was induced to revoke his previous concessions, which led to 
 .a general rising. 
 
 In the meantime a Kevolution broke out in Vienna and 
 Ferdinand had to abdicate in favour of Francis Joseph I. 
 As soon as order was restored in Vienna, the Austrian poured 
 into Hungary with enormous troops under Prince Windisch- 
 griitz, who occupied Buda. The Hungarian Government re- 
 tired to Debreczen, in the lowlands, and organised large 
 forces for the defence of the country. History records how 
 lieroically the Magyars fought and how shamefully and dis- 
 astrously the Austrians were beaten on all sides. The 
 Hungarians all along desired to remain loyal to the Crown, 
 considering their young sovereign to be an instrument in the 
 hands of his Viennese advisers, but finally the nation, incited 
 by the arrogance of the Austrian Government, who declared 
 invalid the Hungarian Constitution, after the first successes 
 of Windischgratz, convened an Assembly at Debreczen, where 
 the independence of the country was proclaimed. 
 
 The Austrians now appealed for help to Russia, who in- 
 vaded Hungary with large forces, and though at firsts they 
 were beaten, ultimately, after several months of desperate 
 iiohting, the Huno-arians surrendered to them at Vilagos, 
 which ended the War of Independence. 
 
 Cruel and hard days followed, the country was treated 
 like a province and a state of siege existed from 1848 to 
 1857, the Hungarian language having been abolished from all 
 schools and Government offices. 
 
 In 1857 His Majest^' proclaimed an amnesty against 
 political offenders, and year l^y year more concessions were 
 made. Already in 1861 the Emperor-King desired to restore 
 the Constitution to Hungary, and negotiations on that subject 
 were carried on by the intervention of the famous Hungarian 
 patriot Francis Deak, but matters were not finally settled 
 when the war broke out between Austria and Prussia and 
 also Italy, which delayed the negotiations.
 
 16 
 
 In 1867 a compact was made with His Majesty Francis. 
 Joseph I., by which the Hungarian Constitution was restored 
 and i^erfect freedom and independence guaranteed to Hun 
 gary as to the administration of its national affairs by its 
 own Legislature in accordance with the Hungarian Constitu- 
 tional Laws and regardless of the interests of Austria. At the 
 same time a treaty was conchided between the two States 
 whereby the army and foreign affairs are to be administered 
 conjointly. 
 
 Francis Joseph I. Apostolic King of Hung-ary. 
 
 On the iSth June, L'^67, H[s Majesty Francis Joseph I., 
 accompanied by his Queen, entered the Hungarian capital, 
 Budapest, and were cro^^^led as King and Queen of Hungary. 
 His Majesty all along has proved the wisest and best of rulers 
 and the greatest and staunchest friend the Hungarians have 
 possessed since the days of Maria Theresia, and though un- 
 fortunately at times certain friction has taken place over 
 maters regulated in the Compact of 1867, yet his heart has 
 always been with his Hungarian subjects, whom he loves as 
 dearly as they revere his person.
 
 7* O 
 
 -n <-» 
 
 %a3AJNn]WV^ 
 
 . ^lUBRARYGc. 
 
 i s 
 
 , ^OF-CAlifO% 
 
 ? ^. 
 
 ^^Aavnan-3;^ 
 
 ^OfCAilfOff^ 
 
 ERS-//) 
 
 ^f 
 
 >- 
 
 
 
 
 
 CAlfi 
 
 
 
 lr\r mm r 
 
 I ir«£: 
 
 5 l:. 
 
 rj 
 
 "'jyjninnit 
 
 » ii: 
 
 m 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^tUtiKAK> 
 
 PMIB^ 
 
 
 'dOJnVD-iv 
 
 i 
 
 n 
 
 J^DW^ 
 
 igd^i 
 
 dOJIlVD-i'. 
 
 
 )i 
 
 ■%133(IVSOV 
 
 '^ 
 
 fc ^ 
 
 11^. I^-'^ 
 
 ^^AHVHSn-^V^ 
 
 .V
 
 3 1158 01304 1453 
 
 UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACIH 
 
 AA 000 683 412 i
 
 '■■t-J