Hungary History
The land of present-day Hungary and the surrounding area was a Roman province called Pannonia . Since the 3rd century AD, the region was attacked by barbarians, including Germanic tribes, Attila the Hun and others, and was ruled by the Frankish king Charlemagne by the end of the 8th century. When Charlemagne’s empire was disintegrating a few decades after his death in 814, the Magyars, believed to be from central Russia , invaded the region in 896 under their leader Arpad. After their arrival, they spent the next few decades causing mayhem in central and western Europe, conducting raids wherever they roamed. Their aggression in the west was stopped finally in 955 by the Holy Roman Emperor Otto I; in the east, they were put in check by the Byzantine Empire . Meanwhile the Magyar community was gradually transformed into a kingdom. King Stephen I founded the Arpad dynasty and ruled from 997, converted into Christianity, mandated the building of churches, and created a government and tax structure. The pope recognised him formally around 1000 as the king of Hungary , thus putting the kingdom on par with the Holy Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire . In 1083. Stephen I was canonised. His successors expanded the country’s territory by absorbing Croatia , Slavonia , Transylvania and Dalmatia . Later, when a Byzantine emperor took over the throne of Hungary , he turned the country into a feudal system by giving land to nobles. This planted the seed of periodic struggles between the king and the nobles, and led to a Magna Carta (called Golden Bull) in 1222, putting restrictions on the powers of the monarch. In 1241, the country was invaded by the Mongols under Ogotai Khan (son of Genghis Khan), and was saved from annihilation only by his death in 1242. Hungary entered the golden age in the 14th and 15th centuries when it acquired Bosnia, Serbia, Moravia and Silesia, and king Louis I also became king of Poland because his father Charles I married, wisely, the sister of the king of Poland. Two of the kings in this period , including the last monarch, Corvinus, became Holy Roman Emperors. Hungary was the most prosperous country in central Europe as it became the largest producer of precious metals in Europe , its trade grew and culture flourished. However, the latter part of the period saw the Ottomans keep poking into Hungarian territories after they overcame the Byzantines in Constantinople . Several battles were fought between Hungary and the Ottomans, including the one during the siege of Belgrade in 1456, when the Hungarians drove back the Ottomans, but not for long. The 16th century saw internal strife, with the monarchs, nobles, and the peasants struggling for control. This gave the Ottomans another opening, and in 1526 they routed the Hungarian army in a battle in Mohacs . Division inside Hungary continued despite its defeat, caused by two separate factions contending for the thrown. The Ottomans used this opportunity to invade Hungary again and captured Buda and Croatia in 1541, which resulted in Hungary being split between the Hapsburgs and the Ottomans. In the partitioned Hungary , the Ottomans gave the inhabitants religion freedom, whereas the Hapsburgs persecuted the Protestants and launched drives to convert the population back to Catholicism. A series of uprisings against the Hapsburgs occurred in the 17th century, sometimes with the help of the Ottomans (such as the Ottoman siege of Vienna in 1683, which was beaten back by Polish troop). The Hapsburgs were able to put down the uprisings, defeat the Ottomans and, by 1699, retake all Hungarian land captured by the Ottomans. Hungarians’ resistance to Hapsburg rule continued in the 18th and 19th centuries. They failed in the 1710s despite French support. They again failed again following the 1848 French Revolution, which inspired nationalist movements throughout Europe and prompted Hungary to demand independence, but the Hungarian army was routed by the joint forces of the Russian and Hapsburg empires. The nationalists were emboldened again in the next twenty years when the Austrians were defeated in the 1859 war against the Italian state of Piedmont and France , and in the Austro-Prussian war of 1866. This led to concessions by the Hapsburgs, who formed the Austro-Hungarian Empire, granting self-rule to Hungary , but under one monarch for both countries. Hungary continued to fair poorly in WW I, WW II, and their aftermath. In WW I, it sided with Austria and lost, which caused heavy loss of life and loss of more than half of its territory, including Croatia and Slovakia. In WW II, it sided with Germany and Italy in the hope that they would help it regain lost territory. This time, Hungary suffered a worse fate, as it ended up being occupied by Germany , deporting or executing several hundred thousand of its Jewish and other minority citizens. It also had to face the Soviet Red Army and was subsequent occupied by the Soviets for nearly 50 years until 1991, leading to the Hungarian Uprising of 1956 and atrocities and suppression by the Soviets throughout the period. Last edited Feb 13, 09 8:36 AM. Contributors: Andrew W. |
Travel Tips for History of Hungary
Budapest, Central Hungary, Hungary
Budapest! I love this city, and I spent the whole day wandering around the city by foot!! Walking from Buda to Pest area was a nice experience because I could see closely the daily life of the people, the fresh market colored with spices, the amazing construction of the parliament building, and also the legendary river, the Danube. I admired the Magyars, that is how they called the people of Hungary, because they still preserve their culture and history.
It seems that they are serious in tourism business. When I was there in 2004, I arrived in Budapest train station, there at the entrance was a group of a people that were ready to drive me to my hostel, and it was for free. First I was suspicious but then other tourists were joining us.
Budapest is also the best place for shopping. Everything is cheap, and you can fine locals as well as branded items.
It seems that they are serious in tourism business. When I was there in 2004, I arrived in Budapest train station, there at the entrance was a group of a people that were ready to drive me to my hostel, and it was for free. First I was suspicious but then other tourists were joining us.
Budapest is also the best place for shopping. Everything is cheap, and you can fine locals as well as branded items.
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Esztergom, Transdanubia Region, Hungary
I recommend to visit this beautiful and old city which played an important role in Hungary's history. Its centre and cathedral are impressive and you have the possibility to walk through the Mária Valéria bridge (over the Danube) to Párkány, Slovakia.
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Budapest, Central Hungary, Hungary
Shopping, history, nature, health/wealth - Budapest has it all. Stay on the most cheap and hip side of the river, Pest.
Take at least 3 whole days here. The city is well known for its health care and spa resorts.
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Harkany, Transdanubia Region, Hungary
Harkany Spa
The spa and open-air bath of Harkány has around 180 year-old history. We have written documents on the health-improving medicinal water of Harkány since 1823. The excellent natural environment, the health-providing quality of the water and the superb surroundings made Harkány a well-known spa. The spa was instituted by the Batthyány family which was developed rapidly in that age. Harkány as a "family bathing place" is waiting for all guests, all the year round. The spa, Wellness Bath and open-air bath of Harkány is operated by the Harkányi Gyógyfürdő Rt. A 1.350.000 square meters park, covered resting places, 3 medicinal and 5 swimming water pools and a great water slide are waiting for the visitors.
Address: 7815. Harkány, Kossuth Lajos 7.
The spa and open-air bath of Harkány has around 180 year-old history. We have written documents on the health-improving medicinal water of Harkány since 1823. The excellent natural environment, the health-providing quality of the water and the superb surroundings made Harkány a well-known spa. The spa was instituted by the Batthyány family which was developed rapidly in that age. Harkány as a "family bathing place" is waiting for all guests, all the year round. The spa, Wellness Bath and open-air bath of Harkány is operated by the Harkányi Gyógyfürdő Rt. A 1.350.000 square meters park, covered resting places, 3 medicinal and 5 swimming water pools and a great water slide are waiting for the visitors.
Address: 7815. Harkány, Kossuth Lajos 7.
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Budapest, Central Hungary, Hungary
House of Terror - Museum
Having survived two terror regimes, it was felt that the time had come for Hungary to erect a fitting memorial to the victims, and at the same time to present a picture of what life was like for Hungarians in those times. http://www.traveltohungary.com/english/sights/sight.php?id=58#null
I don`t need to say too much about this place, but if you don`t know much history of Budapest and the Starlin days, this Museum is worth the visit. I found it very strange inside and creepy. There are some rooms which make you feel quite sick in the stomach. You have to go to know what I am talking about.
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