Count Mihály Adam Georg Nikolaus Károlyi von Nagykárolyi (March 4, 1875-March 20, 1955) was briefly Hungary's leader in 1918-19 during an ill-fated spell of democracy. He served as Prime Minister between November 1-16, 1918 and as President between November 16, 1918-March 21, 1919. March 4 is the 63rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (64th in leap years). ... 1875 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... March 20 is the 79th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (80th in Leap years). ... 1955 is a common year starting on Saturday. ... The Republic of Hungary (Magyar Köztársaság) or Hungary (Magyarország) is a landlocked country in Central Europe, bordered by Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia. ... Democracy is a form of government under which the power to alter the laws and structures of government lies, ultimately, with the citizenry. ... This is a list of Prime Ministers of Hungary: Prime Ministers of Hungary, 1848-1849 Count Lajos Batthyány: 17 March - 2 October 1848 Baron Ádám Récsey: 3 October - 26 November 1848 Lajos Kossuth: 26 November 1848 - 11 August 1849 Bertalan Szemere: 11 August - 13 August 1849 Prime Ministers of Hungary... This is a list of all rulers of Hungary since Árpád. ...

Background and Early Career

The Károlyi family were an illustrious extremely wealthy, Roman Catholic aristocratic familiy that had an played important role in Hungarian life since the 17th century. He was born in Fot, Austria-Hungary in what is today Hungary. In his youth, he been an wastrel, but as he grew older, he became determined to devote himself to more serious pursuits. In 1909, he became the President of the OMGE (National Agriculutral Society), the main rural organization of the nobility. Initially, an supporter of the existing political and social system in Hungary, Károlyi gradually drifted ever more and more left-wing during his career. The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... Austria-Hungary, also known as the Dual monarchy (or: the k. ... In politics, left-wing, political left, leftism, or simply the left, are terms which refer (with no particular precision) to the segment of the political spectrum typically associated with any of several strains of socialism, social democracy, or liberalism (especially in the American sense of the word), or with opposition...

In 1910, Károlyi was elected to Parliament as an member of the opposition Party of Independence. During the First World War, Károlyi had started out as supporter of the war, but as the war continued, Károlyi had become the war's most notable critic in Parliament. On November 7, 1914 in Budapest, Károlyi married Countess Katalin Andrássy de Csik-Szent-Király et Kraszna-Horka, who had three children by. Károlyi's wife was an member of one of Hungary's most powerful families, and this marriage won Károlyi the protection of his influential father-in-law. In 1916 Károlyi broke with his party which had found him to be too radical to form an new party, called the United Party of Independence and of 1848, and generally known as the Károlyi Party. 1910 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ... See Budapest (band) for the British melancholic post-grunge band. ...

The Károlyi Party was an always an weak party with no mass organization and only 20 members in Parliament, most of whom had little serious commitement to the party. Károlyi argued for peace with the Allies, looser ties between Austria and Hungary, abolishing the franchise and language requirments that allowed only 5.8% of the male population to vote and run for office before the war, and giving women the right to vote and hold office. In particular, Károlyi's demand in 1915 that veterans should be granted the right to vote won much popular support while enraging the Prime Minister, Count Istvan Tisza. During the war, Károlyi had made covert contacts with British and French diplomats in Switzerland. In January 1918, Károlyi had proclaimed himself an follower of Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points. István Fürst Tisza von Borosjenö (1861-1918) was a Hungarian politician. ... The Swiss Confederation or Switzerland is a landlocked federal state in Europe, with neighbours Germany, France, Italy, Austria and Liechtenstein. ... Dr. Thomas Woodrow Wilson (December 28, 1856 – February 3, 1924) was the 45th state Governor of New Jersey (1911-1913) and later the 28th President of the United States (1913-1921). ... The USAs President Woodrow Wilson delivered a speech to Congress on January 8, 1918, outlining Fourteen Points for reconstructing a new Europe following World War I. While many of the points were specific, others were more general, including freedom of the seas, abolishing secret treaties, disarmament, restored sovereignty of...

Leading the People's Republic

Following the Chrysanthemum Revolution of October 1918, Károlyi found himself much to his surprise leading the nation. On October 25, 1918 Károlyi had formed an opposition National Council. His reputation as an opponent of the much-hated war had thrust Károlyi into an role which he was not suited for. He was named Prime Minister by King-Emperor Charles VI as an part of an desperate attempt to hold Hungary to the Habsburgs. Károlyi did not much care for the Habsburgs, but he would have preferred to keep the monarchy and some of link to Austria if possible. Only after Charles's abdication as King of Hungary on November 16, 1918 did Károlyi proclaim the People's Republic of Hungary with himself as Provisional President. On January 11, 1919 the National Council formally recognized him as President. The name Charles VI is used to refer to numerous persons in history: Kings: Charles VI of France Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI of Naples This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Habsburg (sometimes spelled Hapsburg, but never so in official use) was one of the major ruling houses of Europe. ... The Republic of Austria (German: Republik Österreich) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. ...

Furthermore, there was an widespread belief that Károlyi could get Hungary soft peace terms from the Allies. Károlyi headed the Provisional Government between November 1-16, 1918. On November 16, 1918 the Hungarian People's Republic was proclaimed. Károlyi ruled Hungary through an National Council now transfomred into the government that consisted of his party in alliance with the large Social Democrat Party and the small Radical Party led by Oszkar Jaszi. At the same time, there existed various revolutionary councils not unlike the Soviets (Councils) that existed in Russia in 1917 and which were dominated by the Social Democrats. This situation of Dual Power gave Károlyi responsiblity without much power while giving the Social Democrats power without much responsiblity. During his brief period in power, Károlyi and Jaszi who served as Nationalities Minister tried to create an "Eastern Switzerland" by persuading the non-Maygar peoples of Hungary to stay as part of the new Hungarian's People Republic. This effort completley failed as the non-Maygar peoples preferred to join Rumania, Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia; the long years of oppression by the Maygars had borne fruit. Social democracy is a political ideology emerging in the late 19th and early 20th centuries from supporters of Marxism who believed that the transition to a socialist society could be achieved through democratic evolutionary rather than revolutionary means. ...

Additional trouble for the new government occurred over the question of the armistice. Austria-Hungary had signed an lenient armistice in Padua, Italy with Allies on November 3, 1918. Since Hungary was now independent, some in the Cabinet argued that Hungary needed to sign an new armistice. Against his better judgement, Károlyi agreed to this idea, and had Hungary signed in November 1918, an new armistice with the Allies in Belgrade with the Allied Commander in the Balkans, the French Marshal Louis Franchet d'Esperey. Marshal Franchet d'Esperey treated the Hungarians with open contempt and imposed an much harsher armistice on the defeated nation then the Padua armistice had. This was the source of much criticism of Károlyi, who been expected and who himself expected the Allies to treat Hungary as an friend, not an enemy. Moreover, Károlyi's opponets argued that by needlessly seeking an second armistice, Károlyi had worsened Hungary's situation. Austria-Hungary, also known as the Dual monarchy (or: the k. ... Location within Italy Tronco Maestro Riviera: a pedestrian walk along a section of the inland waterway or naviglio interno of Padua The city of Padua (Lat. ... The Italian Republic or Italy (Italian: Repubblica Italiana or Italia) is a country in southern Europe. ... Belgrade (Serbian, Београд, Beograd  listen), is the capital (2003–) of Serbia and Montenegro and Yugoslavia (1918–2003). ... Louis Félix Marie François Franchet dEspèrey ( 25 May 1856 – 3 July 1942) was a French general during the First World War. ...

Furthermore, the Social Democrats who Hungary's largest party by far, frequently undercut Károlyi and imposed their decisions on him without taking responsbility for their actions. Károlyi wished to transfer almost all of the rural land to the peasants. To create an example, he gave all of his own vast family estates to his tenants. But this was the only land transfer that took place; the Social Democrats blocked any measures that might give control of the land to the peasantry under grounds that was promoting capitalism. In another equally unfortunate move, the pacific-minded Károlyi had abolished almost all of Hungarian armed forces in November 1918. All through the winter of 1918-19, the Rumanians, the Yugoslavs and the Czechoslovaks often broke the armistice in order to seize more territory for themselves. After January 1919, Károlyi ordered the build-up of Hungarian army and started to considered the idea of a alliance with Soviet Russia, through Károlyi was opposed to the idea of Communism in Hungary itself. Romania (formerly spelled Rumania or Roumania) is a country in southeastern Europe. ... The Yugoslavs were a relatively short-lived nationality that was created at the time of Yugoslavia. ...

In addition, as Hungary had signed an armistice, not an peace treaty, the Allied blockade continued until such time as an peace treaty was signed. Hungary had suffered from food shortages throughout the war and deaths from starvation had become common from 1917 onwards. Furthermore, the country had overwhelmed with refuges from Transylvania and Galicia. Making things worse was the creation of Czechoslovakia which had cut Hungary off from supplies of German coal. Hungary which possesed little coal depended upon German coal imports. Without coal, most had to live without heat in the winter of 1918-19, and the railroad network had gradually ceased to function. The collapse of railroads in their turn caused the collapse of industry and hence mass unemployment. Making things was the economic incompetence of the government who printed more and more money leading to massive inflation and even more impoverishment. Károlyi's failure to improve living conditions or persuade the Allies to lift the blockade, which again lead to public much criticism of Károlyi. Transylvania ( Romanian: Transilvania or Ardeal, Hungarian: Erdély, German: Siebenbürgen, Serbian: Transilvanija, Turkish: Erdel, Slovak: Sedmohradsko or Transylvania, Polish: Siedmiogród) is a historic region that forms the western and the central parts of Romania. ... There are two well-known places called Galicia: Galicia in Western Europe, an Atlantic Ocean region in Spain. ... Czechoslovakia (Czech: Československo, Slovak: Česko-Slovensko/before 1990 Československo) was a country in Central Europe that existed from 1918 until 1992 (except for the World War II period). ... Coal Coal is a fossil fuel extracted from the ground either by underground mining, open-pit mining or strip mining. ... Unemployment rates in the United States. ... Inflation rates of five core members of the G8 from 1950 to 1994. ...

Károlyi was an well-meaning, but ineffective left-learning liberal who was hopeless as Hungary's leader. Baron Lajos Hatvany described Károlyi's leadership well when he noted "From the discussions no decisions arose and from the decisions no actions. A cabinet? No, it was a debating club""¹. . In the same vein, the British writer Harold Nicolson who had known Károlyi during his exile in Britain when reviewing Károlyi's memoirs in 1957 noted that:"he had many qualities, but unfortunately lacked those for which a man is taken seriously by serious people""². Károlyi was an kindly man who was weak, vain, superficial, impractical and vacillating. It is not hard to escape the conclusion that it not been for Károlyi's surname few would have paid him any mind. Sir Harold Nicolson (November 21, 1886-May 1, 1968) was a British diplomat, author and politician. ...

On March 20, 1919 the French presented the Vyx Note ordering Hungarian troops further back into Hungary; it was widely assumed that the military lines would be the new frontiers. The Social Democrats merged their party with the Communists led by Bela Kun and announced Károlyi's resigantation. At that point, Károlyi resigned and retired from active politics. In July 1919 went into exile in France and during World War Two, in Britain. Throughout the Horthy era, Károlyi was in state of offical disgrace in his homeland. In 1946, Károlyi who by this time became an socialist returned to Hungary and from 1947-49 he served as the Hungarian Ambassador to France. In 1949, he resigned in protest over the show trial and execution of László Rajk. He wrote two volumes of memoirs n exile; Egy Egesz Vilag Ellen (Against the Entire World) in 1925 and Memoirs: Faith without Illusion in 1954. He died in Vence, France. la Kun B la Kun (February 20, 1886 - 1939?) was a Hungarian Communist who ruled Hungary for a brief time in 1919. ... The French Republic or France (French: République française or France) is a country whose metropolitan territory is located in western Europe, and which is further made up of a collection of overseas islands and territories located in other continents. ... The word Britain is used to refer to the United Kingdom (UK) the island of Great Britain, which consists of the countries of England, Scotland, and Wales sometimes the Roman province called Britain or Britannia The word British generally means belonging to or associated with Britain in one of the... Admiral Horthy inspecting the German fleet with Adolf Hitler Miklós Horthy de Nagybánya (Vitéz Nagybányai Horthy Miklós in Hungarian) (June 18, 1868–February 9, 1957) was a Hungarian Admiral and statesman and served as the Regent of Hungary from March 1, 1920 until October 15, 1944. ... The color red and particularly the red flag are traditional symbols of Socialism. ...

Károlyi's Cabinet

• Minister of Agriculture: Barna Buza

• Minister of Commerce: Erns Garami

• Minister of Defense: Béla Linder (October 31, 1918 to November 9, 1918; Albert Bartha (9 November 1918 to 12 December 1918; Mihály Graf Károlyi (December 12, 1918 to December 29, 1918; Sándor Graf Festetics (December 29, 1918 to January 19, 1919)

• Minister of Finance: Mihály Károlyi ( October 31, 1918 to November 25, 1918; Pál Szende (November 25, 1918 to January 19, 1919)

• Minister of Food: Ferenc Nagy

• Minister of the Interior: Tivadar Graf Batthyány (October 31, 1918 to December 12, 1918; Vince Nagy (December 12, 1918 to January 19, 1919)

• Minister of Justice: Barna Buza (October 31, 1918 to November 3, 1918; Dénes Berinkey (November 3, 1918 to January 19, 1919)

• King's Personal Minister: Tivadar Graf Batthyány (October 31, 1918 to November 1, 1918)

• Minister of Religion and Education: Márton Lovászy (October 31, 1918 to December 23, 1918)

• Minister of Welfare and Labour: Zsigmond Kunfi (December 12, 1918 to January 19, 1919)

• Minister Without Portfolio: Oszkár Jászi ( October 31, 1918 to November 1, 1918); Zsigmond Kunfi (October 31, 1918 to November 12, 1918); Béla Linder (November 9, 1918 to December 12, 1918)

• Minister Without Portfolio for Croatia-Slavonia and Dalmatia: Zsigmond Kunfi (November 6, 1918 to January 19, 1919)

• Minister Without Portfolio for Nationalities: Oszkár Jászi (November 1, 1918 to January 19, 1919)

October 31 is the 304th day of the year (305th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 61 days remaining, as the final day of October. ... 1918 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... November 9 is the 313th day of the year (314th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 52 days remaining. ... 1918 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... December 12 is the 346th day (347th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1918 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... December 29 is the 363rd day of the year (364th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 2 days remaining. ... 1918 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... December 29 is the 363rd day of the year (364th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 2 days remaining. ... 1918 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 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October 31 is the 304th day of the year (305th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 61 days remaining, as the final day of October. ... 1918 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... December 12 is the 346th day (347th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1918 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... December 12 is the 346th day (347th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1918 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... January 19 is the 19th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1919 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... October 31 is the 304th day of the year (305th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 61 days remaining, as the final day of October. ... 1918 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 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October 31 is the 304th day of the year (305th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 61 days remaining, as the final day of October. ... 1918 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... December 23 is the 357th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (358th in leap years). ... 1918 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... December 12 is the 346th day (347th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1918 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... January 19 is the 19th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1919 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... October 31 is the 304th day of the year (305th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 61 days remaining, as the final day of October. ... 1918 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... November 1 is the 305th day of the year (306th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 60 days remaining. ... 1918 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... October 31 is the 304th day of the year (305th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 61 days remaining, as the final day of October. ... 1918 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... November 12 is the 316th day of the year (317th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 49 days remaining. ... 1918 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... November 9 is the 313th day of the year (314th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 52 days remaining. ... 1918 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... December 12 is the 346th day (347th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1918 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... November 6 is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 55 days remaining. ... 1918 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... January 19 is the 19th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1919 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... November 1 is the 305th day of the year (306th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 60 days remaining. ... 1918 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... January 19 is the 19th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1919 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

Endnotes

1 Vermes, Gabor "The October Revolution In Hungary" from Hungary in Revolution edited by Ivan Volgyes Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1971 page 49.

2 Menczer, Bela "Bela Kun and the Hungarian Revolution of 1919" pages 299-309 Volume XIX, Issue #5, May 1969, History Today Inc: London page 301.

Reference

• Deak, Istvan "The Decline and Fall of Habsburg Hungary, 1914-18" pages 10-30 from Hungary in Revolution edited by Ivan Volgyes Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1971.

• Menczer, Bela "Bela Kun and the Hungarian Revolution of 1919" pages 299-309 from History Today Volume XIX, Issue #5, May 1969, History Today Inc: London

• Pastor, Peter, Hungary between Wilson and Lenin: the Hungarian revolution of 1918-1919 and the Big Three, Boulder : East European Quarterly ; New York : distributed by Columbia University Press, 1976.

• Szilassy, Sándor Revolutionary Hungary, 1918-1921, Astor Park. Fla., Danubian Press 1971.

• Vermes, Gabor "The October Revolution In Hungary" pages 31-60 from Hungary in Revolution edited by Ivan Volgyes Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1971.

External Links

• Mihály Graf Károlyi von Nagykárolyi (http://www.geocities.com/veldes1/karolyi.html)

October 31 is the 304th day of the year (305th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 61 days remaining, as the final day of October. ... 1918 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... March 20 is the 79th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (80th in Leap years). ... 1919 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Karl I, a. ... March 4 is the 63rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (64th in leap years). ... 1875 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Austria-Hungary, also known as the Dual monarchy (or: the k. ... March 20 is the 79th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (80th in Leap years). ... 1955 is a common year starting on Saturday. ... The French Republic or France (French: République française or France) is a country whose metropolitan territory is located in western Europe, and which is further made up of a collection of overseas islands and territories located in other continents. ... Marriage is a relationship that plays a key role in the definition of many families. ... A profession is a specialized work function within society, generally performed by a professional. ... A political party is a political organization that subscribes to a certain ideology and seeks to attain political power within a government. ...

János Count Hadik de Futak (1863-1933) was a Hungarian politician who served as prime minister for a day in 1918, at the end of World War I. Categories: Politician stubs | Prime Ministers of Hungary | 1863 births | 1933 deaths ... This is a list of Prime Ministers of Hungary: Prime Ministers of Hungary, 1848-1849 Count Lajos Batthyány: 17 March - 2 October 1848 Baron Ádám Récsey: 3 October - 26 November 1848 Lajos Kossuth: 26 November 1848 - 11 August 1849 Bertalan Szemere: 11 August - 13 August 1849 Prime Ministers of Hungary... Karl I, a. ... This is a list of all rulers of Hungary since Árpád. ...