Mihály Károlyi
Encyclopedia
Count Mihály Ádám György Miklós Károlyi de Nagykároly (4 March 1875 – 19 March 1955) was briefly Hungary
's leader in 1918-19 during a short-lived democracy
. He served as Prime Minister between 1 – 16 November 1918 and as President between 16 November 1918 – 21 March 1919.
, Austria-Hungary
in what is today Hungary. In his youth, he was a wastrel, but as he grew older, he became devoted to more serious pursuits. In 1909, he became the President of the OMGE (National Agricultural Society), the main rural organization of the nobility. Initially a supporter of the existing political and social system in Hungary, Károlyi gradually became more progressive and left-wing during his career.
In 1910, Károlyi was elected to Parliament as a 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. In 1916 Károlyi broke with his party, which had found him to be too radical, to form a new party, called the United Party of Independence and of 1848, and generally known as the Károlyi Party.
The Károlyi Party was always a weak group with no mass organization and only 20 members in Parliament, most of whom had little serious commitment to the party. Károlyi argued for peace with the Allies, looser ties between Austria and Hungary, abolishing the franchise and language requirements 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 proclaimed himself a follower of Woodrow Wilson
's Fourteen Points
.
, Károlyi married Countess Katalin Andrássy de Csik-Szent-Király et Kraszna-Horka, with whom he had three children. Károlyi's wife was a member of one of Hungary's most powerful families, and this marriage won Károlyi the protection of his influential father-in-law.
of October 1918, Károlyi became leader of 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 a role for which he was not suited. He was named Prime Minister by King-Emperor Charles IV
as a part of a desperate attempt to hold Hungary to the Habsburgs. Károlyi would have preferred to keep the monarchy and some of link to Austria
if possible. Only after Charles's withdrawal from government on 16 November 1918 did Károlyi proclaim the Hungarian Democratic Republic
, with himself as Provisional President. On 11 January 1919 the National Council formally recognized him as President.
Many citizens thought that Károlyi could get Hungary soft peace terms from the Allies. Károlyi headed the Provisional Government from 1 November 1918 until 16 November, when the Hungarian Democratic Republic was proclaimed. Károlyi ruled Hungary through a National Council ,transformed into the government that consisted of his party in alliance with the large Hungarian Social Democratic Party
and the small Civic Radical Party led by Oszkár Jászi
.
At the same time, there existed various revolutionary councils, which were dominated by the Social Democrats, which were not unlike the Soviets (Councils) that existed in Russia
in 1917. This situation of Dual Power
gave Károlyi responsibility without much power while giving the Social Democrats power without much responsibility.
During their brief periods in power, Károlyi and Jászi, who served as Nationalities Minister, tried to create an "Eastern Switzerland" by persuading the non-Magyar peoples of Hungary to stay as part of the new Hungarian Democratic Republic. This effort completely failed as the non-Magyar peoples preferred to join Romania, Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia; the long years of oppression by the Magyars had "borne fruit".
Additional trouble for the new government occurred over the question of the armistice. Austria-Hungary
had signed the lenient Armistice of villa Giusti (close to Padua
, Italy
) with the Allies on 3 November 1918. Since Hungary was now independent, some in the Cabinet argued that Hungary needed to sign a new armistice. Against his better judgement, Károlyi agreed to this idea, and had Hungary sign in November 1918, a 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 a much harsher armistice on the defeated nation than the Padua Armistice had. This was the source of much criticism of Károlyi, who had been expected - and who himself expected - the Allies to treat Hungary as a friend, not an enemy. Moreover, Károlyi's opponents argued that by needlessly seeking a second armistice, Károlyi had worsened Hungary's situation.
Furthermore, the Social Democrats who were Hungary's largest party by far, frequently undercut Károlyi and imposed their decisions on him without taking responsibility 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 it was promoting capitalism.
In another equally unfortunate move, the pacific-minded Károlyi had abolished almost all the Hungarian armed forces in November 1918. All through the winter of 1918-19, the Romanians
, 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 a Hungarian army and started to consider the idea of an alliance with Soviet Russia, through Károlyi was opposed to the idea of Communism in Hungary itself.
In addition, as Hungary had signed an armistice, not a peace treaty, the Allied blockade continued until such time as a 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 been overwhelmed with refugees from Transylvania
and Galicia.
Making things worse was the creation of Czechoslovakia
which had cut Hungary off from supplies of German coal
. Hungary which possessed 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 even worse was the economic incompetence of the government which 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 led to public criticism of Károlyi.
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". 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"".
On 20 March 1919 the French presented the Vix 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 Béla Kun
and announced Károlyi's resignation, proclaiming the Hungarian Soviet Republic
. At that point, Károlyi resigned and retired from active politics.
In July 1919, Károlyi went into exile in France
and during World War Two, in Britain. Throughout the Horthy era
, Károlyi was in a state of official disgrace in his homeland.
In 1924, while Károlyi's wife was in the United States she came down with typhoid fever. Károlyi applied for a visa to come to the United States to visit her, but the State Department imposed a gag order, preventing him from giving any political speeches, as the State Department believed him to be a Communist. A year later, Countess Károlyi was denied a visa to visit the United States, but Secretary Kellogg of the State Department refused to explain on what grounds her visa denial was made. Morris Ernst
acted as Károlyi's lawyer for these issues.
In 1946, Károlyi, who by that time had become a socialist, returned to Hungary
and from 1947-49 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 in exile; Egy egész világ ellen ("Against the Entire World") in 1925 and Memoirs: Faith without Illusion in 1954.
He died in Vence
, France.
Hungarian Democratic Republic
The Hungarian People's Republic was an independent republic proclaimed after the collapse of Austria-Hungary in 1918...
's leader in 1918-19 during a short-lived democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
. He served as Prime Minister between 1 – 16 November 1918 and as President between 16 November 1918 – 21 March 1919.
Background and early career
The Károlyi family were an illustrious, extremely wealthy, Roman Catholic aristocratic family who had played an important role in Hungarian life since the 17th century. Mihály was born in FótFót
Fót is a town in Pest county, Budapest metropolitan area, Hungary.-Location:Fót is about north of the edge of Budapest. The North Hungarian foothills lie to the west. The nearest settlement to the west is Dunakeszi, to the northeast are Csomád and Veresegyház, to the east is Mogyoród and Budapest...
, Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
in what is today Hungary. In his youth, he was a wastrel, but as he grew older, he became devoted to more serious pursuits. In 1909, he became the President of the OMGE (National Agricultural Society), the main rural organization of the nobility. Initially a supporter of the existing political and social system in Hungary, Károlyi gradually became more progressive and left-wing during his career.
In 1910, Károlyi was elected to Parliament as a 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. In 1916 Károlyi broke with his party, which had found him to be too radical, to form a new party, called the United Party of Independence and of 1848, and generally known as the Károlyi Party.
The Károlyi Party was always a weak group with no mass organization and only 20 members in Parliament, most of whom had little serious commitment to the party. Károlyi argued for peace with the Allies, looser ties between Austria and Hungary, abolishing the franchise and language requirements 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
István Tisza
Count István Tisza de Borosjenő et Szeged was a Hungarian politician, prime minister, and member of Hungarian Academy of Sciences....
. During the war, Károlyi had made covert contacts with British and French diplomats in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. In January 1918, Károlyi proclaimed himself a follower of Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
's Fourteen Points
Fourteen Points
The Fourteen Points was a speech given by United States President Woodrow Wilson to a joint session of Congress on January 8, 1918. The address was intended to assure the country that the Great War was being fought for a moral cause and for postwar peace in Europe...
.
Marriage and family
On 7 November 1914 in BudapestBudapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, Károlyi married Countess Katalin Andrássy de Csik-Szent-Király et Kraszna-Horka, with whom he had three children. Károlyi's wife was a member of one of Hungary's most powerful families, and this marriage won Károlyi the protection of his influential father-in-law.
Leading the Democratic Republic
Following the Aster RevolutionAster Revolution
The Aster Revolution or Chrysanthemum Revolution was a revolution in Hungary led by leftist liberal count Mihály Károlyi, who founded the Hungarian Democratic Republic....
of October 1918, Károlyi became leader of 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 a role for which he was not suited. He was named Prime Minister by King-Emperor Charles IV
Karl I of Austria
Charles I of Austria or Charles IV of Hungary was the last ruler of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He was the last Emperor of Austria, the last King of Hungary, the last King of Bohemia and Croatia and the last King of Galicia and Lodomeria and the last monarch of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine...
as a part of a desperate attempt to hold Hungary to the Habsburgs. Károlyi would have preferred to keep the monarchy and some of link to Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
if possible. Only after Charles's withdrawal from government on 16 November 1918 did Károlyi proclaim the Hungarian Democratic Republic
Hungarian Democratic Republic
The Hungarian People's Republic was an independent republic proclaimed after the collapse of Austria-Hungary in 1918...
, with himself as Provisional President. On 11 January 1919 the National Council formally recognized him as President.
Many citizens thought that Károlyi could get Hungary soft peace terms from the Allies. Károlyi headed the Provisional Government from 1 November 1918 until 16 November, when the Hungarian Democratic Republic was proclaimed. Károlyi ruled Hungary through a National Council ,transformed into the government that consisted of his party in alliance with the large Hungarian Social Democratic Party
Hungarian Social Democratic Party
The Hungarian Social Democratic Party is a political party in Hungary. Both the MSZDP and SZDP lay claim to the same heritage: the Social Democratic Party which was part of a governing coalition in Hungary between 1945 and 1948, and a short period in 1956, which itself was renamed from the...
and the small Civic Radical Party led by Oszkár Jászi
Oszkár Jászi
Oszkár Jászi , known in English as Oscar Jászi, was a Hungarian social scientist, historian, and politician and founder of the Grand Orient rhyte Freemason Lodge of Budapest: the Martinovics Lodge- Early years :...
.
At the same time, there existed various revolutionary councils, which were dominated by the Social Democrats, which were not unlike the Soviets (Councils) that existed in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
in 1917. This situation of Dual Power
Dual power
Dual power is a concept that has taken on a broad meaning in the hands of anarchists and Libertarian socialists who use it to refer to the concept of gradual revolution through the creation of "alternative-institutions" and "counter-institutions" in place of and in opposition to state and corporate...
gave Károlyi responsibility without much power while giving the Social Democrats power without much responsibility.
During their brief periods in power, Károlyi and Jászi, who served as Nationalities Minister, tried to create an "Eastern Switzerland" by persuading the non-Magyar peoples of Hungary to stay as part of the new Hungarian Democratic Republic. This effort completely failed as the non-Magyar peoples preferred to join Romania, Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia; the long years of oppression by the Magyars had "borne fruit".
Additional trouble for the new government occurred over the question of the armistice. Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
had signed the lenient Armistice of villa Giusti (close to Padua
Padua
Padua is a city and comune in the Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Padua and the economic and communications hub of the area. Padua's population is 212,500 . The city is sometimes included, with Venice and Treviso, in the Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area, having...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
) with the Allies on 3 November 1918. Since Hungary was now independent, some in the Cabinet argued that Hungary needed to sign a new armistice. Against his better judgement, Károlyi agreed to this idea, and had Hungary sign in November 1918, a new armistice with the Allies in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
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 a much harsher armistice on the defeated nation than the Padua Armistice had. This was the source of much criticism of Károlyi, who had been expected - and who himself expected - the Allies to treat Hungary as a friend, not an enemy. Moreover, Károlyi's opponents argued that by needlessly seeking a second armistice, Károlyi had worsened Hungary's situation.
Furthermore, the Social Democrats who were Hungary's largest party by far, frequently undercut Károlyi and imposed their decisions on him without taking responsibility 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 it was promoting capitalism.
In another equally unfortunate move, the pacific-minded Károlyi had abolished almost all the Hungarian armed forces in November 1918. All through the winter of 1918-19, the Romanians
Romanians
The Romanians are an ethnic group native to Romania, who speak Romanian; they are the majority inhabitants of Romania....
, the Yugoslavs
Yugoslavs
Yugoslavs is a national designation used by a minority of South Slavs across the countries of the former Yugoslavia and in the diaspora...
and the Czechoslovaks often broke the armistice in order to seize more territory for themselves. After January 1919, Károlyi ordered the build-up of a Hungarian army and started to consider the idea of an alliance with Soviet Russia, through Károlyi was opposed to the idea of Communism in Hungary itself.
In addition, as Hungary had signed an armistice, not a peace treaty, the Allied blockade continued until such time as a 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 been overwhelmed with refugees from Transylvania
Transylvania
Transylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical...
and Galicia.
Making things worse was the creation of Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
which had cut Hungary off from supplies of German coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
. Hungary which possessed 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
Unemployment
Unemployment , as defined by the International Labour Organization, occurs when people are without jobs and they have actively sought work within the past four weeks...
.
Making things even worse was the economic incompetence of the government which printed more and more money, leading to massive inflation
Inflation
In economics, inflation is a rise in the general level of prices of goods and services in an economy over a period of time.When the general price level rises, each unit of currency buys fewer goods and services. Consequently, inflation also reflects an erosion in the purchasing power of money – a...
and even more impoverishment. Károlyi's failure to improve living conditions or persuade the Allies to lift the blockade led to public criticism of Károlyi.
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". In the same vein, the British writer Harold Nicolson
Harold Nicolson
Sir Harold George Nicolson KCVO CMG was an English diplomat, author, diarist and politician. He was the husband of writer Vita Sackville-West, their unusual relationship being described in their son's book, Portrait of a Marriage.-Early life:Nicolson was born in Tehran, Persia, the younger son of...
, 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"".
On 20 March 1919 the French presented the Vix 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 Béla Kun
Béla Kun
Béla Kun , born Béla Kohn, was a Hungarian Communist politician and a Bolshevik Revolutionary who led the Hungarian Soviet Republic in 1919.- Early life :...
and announced Károlyi's resignation, proclaiming the Hungarian Soviet Republic
Hungarian Soviet Republic
The Hungarian Soviet Republic or Soviet Republic of Hungary was a short-lived Communist state established in Hungary in the aftermath of World War I....
. At that point, Károlyi resigned and retired from active politics.
Later life
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and during World War Two, in Britain. Throughout the Horthy era
Kingdom of Hungary (1920–1946)
The Kingdom of Hungary also known as the Regency, existed from 1920 to 1946 and was a de facto country under Regent Miklós Horthy. Horthy officially represented the abdicated Hungarian monarchy of Charles IV, Apostolic King of Hungary...
, Károlyi was in a state of official disgrace in his homeland.
In 1924, while Károlyi's wife was in the United States she came down with typhoid fever. Károlyi applied for a visa to come to the United States to visit her, but the State Department imposed a gag order, preventing him from giving any political speeches, as the State Department believed him to be a Communist. A year later, Countess Károlyi was denied a visa to visit the United States, but Secretary Kellogg of the State Department refused to explain on what grounds her visa denial was made. Morris Ernst
Morris Ernst
Morris Leopold Ernst was an American lawyer and co-founder of the American Civil Liberties Union.He was born in Uniontown, Alabama on Aug. 23, 1888, to a Czech-born father and German mother. He lived in various locations around New York City from the age of 2...
acted as Károlyi's lawyer for these issues.
In 1946, Károlyi, who by that time had become a socialist, returned to Hungary
Second Hungarian Republic
The Second Hungarian Republic was a parliamentary republic briefly established after the dissolution of the Kingdom of Hungary in 1 February 1946.-History:The Soviet Red Army occupied Hungary from September 1944 until April 1945...
and from 1947-49 served as the Hungarian Ambassador to France. In 1949, he resigned in protest over the show trial and execution of László Rajk
László Rajk
László Rajk was a Hungarian Communist; politician, former Minister of Interior and former Minister of Foreign Affairs...
.
He wrote two volumes of memoirs in exile; Egy egész világ ellen ("Against the Entire World") in 1925 and Memoirs: Faith without Illusion in 1954.
He died in Vence
Vence
Vence is a commune set in the hills of the Alpes Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France between Nice and Antibes.-Population:-Sights:...
, France.
Károlyi's cabinet
- Minister of Agriculture: Barna BuzaBarna BuzaBarna Buza was a Hungarian politician and jurist, who served as Minister of Agriculture from 1918 to 1919 and as interim Minister of Justice for few days in 1918....
- Minister of Commerce: Ernő GaramiErnő GaramiErnő Garami was a Hungarian mechanic who became a social democratic politician and editor, who served as Minister of Justice in 1919.-References:*...
- Minister of Defense: Béla LinderBéla LinderBéla Linder , Hungarian colonel of artillery, Secretary of War of Mihály Károlyi government, minister without portfolio of Dénes Berinkey government, military attaché of Hungarian Soviet Republic based in Vienna, finally the mayor of Pécs during the period of Serb occupation.-Secretary of War for...
(31 October 1918 to 9 November 1918; Albert BarthaAlbert BarthaAlbert Bartha de Nagyborosnyó was a Hungarian military officer and politician, who served as Minister of Defence twice: in 1918 and, almost thirty years later, between 1946 and 1947.-Works:...
(9 November 1918 to 12 December 1918; Mihály Károlyi (12 December 1918 to 29 December 1918; Sándor Festetics (29 December 1918 to 19 January 1919)
- Minister of Finance: Mihály Károlyi (31 October 1918 to 25 November 1918; Pál SzendePál SzendePál Szende was a Hungarian politician, who served as Minister of Finance between 1918 and 1919. From 1904 he worked as a lawyer. He participated in the radical political movement along with Oszkár Jászi. After the establishment of the Hungarian Soviet Republic he lived in Vienna...
(25 November 1918 to 19 January 1919)
- Minister of Food: Ferenc NagyFerenc NagyFerenc Nagy was a Hungarian politician of the Smallholders Party. He was a Speaker of the National Assembly of Hungary from 29 November 1945 to 5 February 1946 and a member of the High National Council from 7 December 1945 to 2 February 1946.Later he served as Prime Minister of Hungary from 4...
- Minister of the Interior: Tivadar BatthyányTivadar BatthyányCount Tivadar Batthyány de Németújvár son of Count Zsigmond Batthyány de Német-Ujvar, and Johanna Nepomucena Justina Maria Goberta Erdödy....
(31 October 1918 to 12 December 1918; Vince NagyVince NagyVince Nagy de Losonc was a Hungarian politician, who served as Interior Minister between 1918 and 1919 during the Hungarian Democratic Republic. After the establishment of the Hungarian Soviet Republic he returned to Szatmárnémeti, where the occupying Romanian Army imprisoned him for 9 months....
(12 December 1918 to 19 January 1919)
- Minister of Justice: Barna BuzaBarna BuzaBarna Buza was a Hungarian politician and jurist, who served as Minister of Agriculture from 1918 to 1919 and as interim Minister of Justice for few days in 1918....
(31 October 1918 to 3 November 1918; Dénes BerinkeyDénes BerinkeyDénes Berinkey was a Hungarian jurist and politician who served as prime minister in the regime of Mihály Károlyi for two months in 1919. On March 20, 1919 the French presented the Vix Note ordering Hungarian troops further back into Hungary; it was widely assumed that the military lines would be...
(3 November 1918 to 19 January 1919)
- King's Personal Minister: Tivadar BatthyányTivadar BatthyányCount Tivadar Batthyány de Németújvár son of Count Zsigmond Batthyány de Német-Ujvar, and Johanna Nepomucena Justina Maria Goberta Erdödy....
(31 October 1918 to 1 November 1918)
- Minister of Religion and Education: Márton LovászyMárton LovászyMárton Lovászy was a Hungarian politician, who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1919. He was one of the leaders of the Independent Party during the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. He did not support the First World War and the alliance with the German Empire...
(31 October 1918 to 23 December 1918)
- Minister of Welfare and Labour: Zsigmond KunfiZsigmond KunfiZsigmond Kunfi was a Hungarian politician who served as Minister without portfolio of Croatian Affairs and as Minister of Labour and Welfare between 1918 and 1919. His views was near to Karl Kautsky's. Kunfi was member of the Hungarian National Council from 1918...
(12 December 1918 to 19 January 1919)
- Minister Without Portfolio: Oszkár JásziOszkár JásziOszkár Jászi , known in English as Oscar Jászi, was a Hungarian social scientist, historian, and politician and founder of the Grand Orient rhyte Freemason Lodge of Budapest: the Martinovics Lodge- Early years :...
(31 October 1918 to 1 November 1918); Zsigmond KunfiZsigmond KunfiZsigmond Kunfi was a Hungarian politician who served as Minister without portfolio of Croatian Affairs and as Minister of Labour and Welfare between 1918 and 1919. His views was near to Karl Kautsky's. Kunfi was member of the Hungarian National Council from 1918...
(31 October 1918 to 12 November 1918); Béla LinderBéla LinderBéla Linder , Hungarian colonel of artillery, Secretary of War of Mihály Károlyi government, minister without portfolio of Dénes Berinkey government, military attaché of Hungarian Soviet Republic based in Vienna, finally the mayor of Pécs during the period of Serb occupation.-Secretary of War for...
(9 November 1918 to 12 December 1918)
- Minister Without Portfolio for Croatia-Slavonia and Dalmatia: Zsigmond KunfiZsigmond KunfiZsigmond Kunfi was a Hungarian politician who served as Minister without portfolio of Croatian Affairs and as Minister of Labour and Welfare between 1918 and 1919. His views was near to Karl Kautsky's. Kunfi was member of the Hungarian National Council from 1918...
(6 November 1918 to 19 January 1919)
- Minister Without Portfolio for Nationalities: Oszkár JásziOszkár JásziOszkár Jászi , known in English as Oscar Jászi, was a Hungarian social scientist, historian, and politician and founder of the Grand Orient rhyte Freemason Lodge of Budapest: the Martinovics Lodge- Early years :...
(1 November 1918 to 19 January 1919)