| Regent of Hungary | |
|---|---|
| Magyarország kormányzója | |
.svg) | |
| Style | His Serene Highness |
| Type | Head of state Commander-in-chief |
| Member of | Crown Council |
| Residence | Buda Castle |
| Appointer | Royal Diet National Assembly |
| Term length | No fixed term |
| Formation | 6 June 1446 (historic) 1 March 1920 |
| First holder | John Hunyadi |
| Final holder | Miklós Horthy |
| Abolished | 15 October 1944 |
| Deputy | Vice-Regent |
Theregent of Hungary (Hungarian:Magyarország kormányzója) was a position established in 1446 and renewed in 1920. It was held by AdmiralMiklós Horthy until 1944. Under theConstitution of Hungary there were tworegents, one a regent of the ruling house, called theNádor, and another called "Kormányzó" (which can mean "governor"). As theEntente had banned the legitimate Nádor (kept by a member of theHouse of Habsburg) from taking his place, the choice fell on electing a governor-regent: Admiral Horthy was chosen. Thus, he was regent of the post-World War I state called theKingdom of Hungary and served as thehead of state in the absence of a monarch, while aprime minister served ashead of government. Horthy was styled "His Serene Highness the Regent of the Kingdom of Hungary" (Ő Főméltósága a Magyar Királyság Kormányzója).
On the untimely death ofAlbert in 1439,John Hunyadi was of the opinion that Hungary was best served by a warrior king and lent his support to the candidature of youngKing of PolandWładysław III of Varna in 1440, and thus came into collision with the powerfulmagnateUlrich II of Celje, the chief proponent of Albert's widowElisabeth of Bohemia (1409–1442) and her infant son,Ladislaus Posthumus of Bohemia and Hungary. Featuring prominently in the brief ensuing civil war, Władysław III's side was thus reinforced by Hunyadi's noticeable military abilities, and was rewarded by Władysław with the captaincy of the fortress ofBelgrade, a latter dignity that he shared withMiklós Újlaki.
At thediet which met in February 1445 aprovisional government consisting of fiveCaptains General was formed, with Hunyadi receivingTransylvania and four counties bordering on theTisza, called thePartium orKörösvidék, to rule. As the anarchy resulting from the division became unmanageable, Hunyadi was electedregent of Hungary (Regni Gubernator) on 5 June 1446 in the name ofLadislaus V and given the powers of a regent. His first act as regent was to proceed against the German kingFrederick III, who refused to release Ladislaus V. After ravagingStyria,Carinthia, andCarniola and threateningVienna, Hunyadi's difficulties elsewhere compelled him to make a truce with Frederick for two years.
On 20 January 1458,Matthias (son of John Hunyadi) was elected king by theParliament. This was the first time in the medieval Hungarian kingdom that a member of the nobility, without dynastic ancestry and relationship, mounted the royal throne. Such an election upset the usual course of dynastic succession in the age. In the Czech and Hungarian states they heralded a new judiciary era in Europe, characterized by the absolute supremacy of the Parliament, (dietal system) and a tendency to centralization. During his reign, Matthias reduced the power of the feudal lords, and ruled instead with a cadre of talented and highly educated individuals, chosen for their abilities rather than their social status. The Diet appointedMihály Szilágyi, the new king's uncle as regent, because of Matthias' young age. Throughout 1458 the struggle between the young king and the magnates, reinforced by Matthias's own uncle and guardian Szilágyi, was acute. But Matthias, who began by deposing Garai and dismissing Szilágyi, and then proceeded to levy a tax, without the consent of the Diet, in order to hire mercenaries, easily prevailed.
During theHungarian Revolution of 1848 the new EmperorFrancis Joseph revoked all the concessions granted in March and outlawed Kossuth and the Hungarian government - set up lawfully on the basis of theApril Laws. In April 1849, when the Hungarians had won many successes, after sounding the army,Lajos Kossuth issued the celebratedHungarian Declaration of Independence, in which he declared that "the house of Habsburg-Lorraine, perjured in the sight of God and man, had forfeited the Hungarian throne." Establishing theHungarian State, the declaration was a step characteristic of his love for extreme and dramatic action, but it added to the dissensions between him and those who wished only for autonomy under the old dynasty, and his enemies did not scruple to accuse him of aiming for Kingship. The dethronement also made any compromise with the Habsburgs practically impossible. Lajos Kossuth became head of state as Governor-President of Hungary.
Upon the dissolution and break-up ofAustria-Hungary afterWorld War I, theHungarian Democratic Republic and then theHungarian Soviet Republic were briefly proclaimed in 1918 and 1919, respectively. The short-lived communist government ofBéla Kun launched what was known as the "Red Terror", involving Hungary in an ill-fatedwar with Romania. In 1920, the country fell into a period of civil conflict, with Hungariananti-communists andmonarchists violently purging the nation of communists, leftist intellectuals, and others whom they felt threatened by, especially Jews. This period was known as the "White Terror". In 1920, after the pullout of the last of theRomanian occupation forces, the Kingdom of Hungary was restored.
On 1 March 1920, the National Assembly of Hungary re-established theKingdom of Hungary, but chose not to recall the deposedHabsburg ruler of theAustro-Hungarian Empire (EmperorCharles I of Austria who was King Charles (Karoly) IV of Hungary) from exile as the return of a Habsburg on the Hungarian throne was unacceptable to theEntente powers (Archduke Joseph August, a Habsburg, had been rejected by them as a regent after assuming the position for a few weeks in 1919).[1] Instead, with National Army officers controlling the parliament building, the assembly voted to install the former Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Fleet (Austro-Hungarian Navy), and current Minister of War and Commander of the National Army, Admiral Horthy ashead of state; he defeated CountAlbert Apponyi by a vote of 131 to 7 and became the new Regent of Hungary.
BishopOttokár Prohászka then led a small delegation to meet Horthy, announcing, “Hungary’s Parliament has elected you Regent! Would it please you to accept the office of Regent of Hungary?” To their astonishment, Horthy declined unless his powers were expanded. As Horthy stalled, the politicians folded, and granted him "the general prerogatives of the King, with the exception of the right to name titles of nobility and of the patronage of the Church." Those prerogatives included the power to appoint and dismiss prime ministers, to convene and dissolve parliament, and to command the armed forces. With those sweeping powers guaranteed, Horthy took the oath of office.[2] (King Charles did try to regain his throne twice; seeCharles IV of Hungary's attempts to retake the throne for more details.)
The Hungarian state was legally a kingdom, but it had no king, as theAllies of World War I would not have tolerated any return of the Habsburgs. The country retained itsparliamentary system following the dissolution ofAustria-Hungary, with aprime minister appointed as head of government. As head of state, Horthy retained significant influence through his constitutional powers and the loyalty of his ministers to the crown.[3] Although his involvement in drafting legislation was minuscule, he nevertheless had the ability to ensure that laws passed by the Hungarian parliament conformed to his political preferences.
DuringWorld War II Hungary was aligned withNazi Germany. As the war turned against the Germans the Hungarian government began to dissociate itself from the war effort and the Germans became concerned they might desert theAxis powers. In March 1944, Germans occupied Hungary duringOperation Margarethe to keep them in the war.[4] Horthy was allowed to remain in his position, but he was forced to remove his prime minister and appoint one that would appease the Germans.
AfterRomania withdrew from the Axis and accepted an armistice with theSoviet Union in August 1944, Horthy decided to secretly negotiate with the Soviets. On 15 October 1944, Horthy announced in a national radio broadcast that Hungary had signed an armistice with the Soviets. The Germans responded withOperation Panzerfaust. This included arresting both Horthy and his son Miklós. Horthy was forced to sign a statement that renounced the armistice and turned over control of the government toFerenc Szálasi asMagyar királyi miniszterelnök (Royal Hungarian Prime Minister). Szálasi was the leader of the pro-NaziArrow Cross Party.[5] Horthy later explained his capitulation: "I neither resigned nor appointed Szálasi Premier, I merely exchanged my signature for my son’s life. A signature wrung from a man at machine-gun point can have little legality."[6]
Szálasi led theGovernment of National Unity from 15 October 1944 to 28 March 1945. The Hungarian parliament approved the formation of a Council of Regency (Kormányzótanács). On 4 November 1944, Szálasi was sworn in as the "National Leader" (Nemzetvezető), so he became the head of state in addition to being the head of government asPrime Minister of Hungary.[7] While the Horthy regency had come to an end the Hungarian monarchy was not abolished by the Szálasi regime. The need for a regent, or a regency, ended when the Kingdom of Hungary was replaced by theSecond Hungarian Republic on 1 February 1946.
| No. | Portrait | Regent | Title | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Monarch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | .jpg) | prince John Hunyadi (1407–1456) | Regent-Governor | 6 June 1446 | 30 January 1453 | 6 years, 238 days | Ladislaus V |
| 2 | | count Michael Szilágyi (1400–1460) | Regent | 20 January 1458 | August 1459 | 1 year, 212 days | Matthias I |
| No. | Portrait | Regent | Title | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Monarch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 |  | Lajos Kossuth (1802–1894) | Head of state (Governor-President) | 14 April 1849 | 11 August 1849 | 119 days | Vacant |
| – |  | General Artúr Görgei (1818–1916) Acting | interim head of state (Military Dictator) | 11 August 1849 | 13 August 1849 | 2 days | Vacant |
| No. | Portrait | Regent | Title | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Monarch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | .jpg) | Generalfeldmarschall Archduke Joseph August (1872–1962) | Head of state (Governor) | 6 August 1919 | 23 August 1919 | 16 days | Vacant |
| 5 | .jpg) | Flottenkommandantvitéz Miklós Horthy (1868–1957) | Head of state (Regent) | 1 March 1920 | 16 October 1944 | 24 years, 229 days | Vacant |
| No. | Portrait | Deputy | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Regent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Vitéz István Horthy (1904–1942) | 19 February 1942 | 20 August 1942 † | 182 days | Miklós Horthy |
