Hungary

Hungary Magyarország(Hungarian)
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem:"Himnusz"(Hungarian) "Hymn"
Location ofHungary(dark green) – on theEuropean continent(green & dark grey) – in theEuropean Union(green) — [Legend]
Capital and largest city	Budapest 47°26′N19°15′E
Official language	Hungarian
Ethnic groups (2011)	80.7%Hungarians 14.7% not declared 3.1%Roma 1.3%Germans
Religion	76%Christianity 21%No religion 3% Other religions
Demonym(s)	Hungarians
Government	Unitaryparliamentary constitutional republic
• President	Tamás Sulyok
• Prime Minister	Viktor Orbán
• Speaker of the National Assembly of Hungary	László Kövér
Legislature	Országgyűlés(National Assembly)
Foundation
• Principality of Hungary	895
• Battle of Pressburg	4–6 July 907
•Christian Kingdom	25 December 1000
• Golden Bull of 1222	24 April 1222
•Battle of Mohács	29 August 1526
• Battle of Buda	2 September 1686
• Hungarian Revolution of 1848	15 March 1848
•Austro-Hungarian Empire	20 March 1867
•Treaty of Trianon	4 June 1920
• Third Republic	23 October 1989
• Joined theEuropean Union	1 May 2004
Area
• Total	93,030km2(35,920 sq mi) (108th)
• Water (%)	0.74%
Population
• 2017 estimate	9,797,561(92nd)
• Density	105.3/km2(272.7/sq mi) (103rd)
GDP(PPP)	2017 estimate
• Total	$283.592 billion(57th)
• Per capita	$28,909(45th)
GDP(nominal)	2017 estimate
• Total	$132.034 billion(58th)
• Per capita	$13,459(54th)
Gini(2014)	27.9 low·16th
HDI(2015)	0.836 very high·43rd
Currency	Hungarian forint (HUF)
Time zone	UTC+1(CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2(CEST)
Date format	yyyy/mm/dd
Driving side	right
Calling code	+36
ISO 3166 code	HU
Internet TLD	.hua
Also.euas part of the European Union.

Hungary(Hungarian:Magyarország[ˈmɒɟɒrorsaːɡ](listen)) is alandlocked countryin the south-eastern region ofCentral Europe,bordering theBalkans.Its capital city isBudapest.Hungary is bordered bySlovakia,Ukraine,Romania,Serbia,Croatia,SloveniaandAustria.The country’s official language is theHungarian language.It has been a member of theEuropean Union(EU) since 2004. In Hungarian, the country is calledMagyarország(literally, "Hungarian country" ), orMagyar Köztársaság(Hungarian Republic). This is named after the Magyar tribes who came to Hungary in the late9th century.

History

Medieval Hungary, 896-1526

The arrival of theMagyars(Hungarians) in theCarpathian Basin.

The Magyars established Hungary in 896, after they had arrived there from their previous,Eastern Europeanterritories. PrinceÁrpádwas their leader at the time; he also established the first royal house of the country, the Árpád-house. In1000,after the first king,Saint Stephenhad been crowned, the country became aKingdom.

In1241,theMongol Empireinvaded the country, causing the Hungarian king Béla IV to flee and approximately 500,000 Hungarians were killed, along with with heavy damage. In1301,the Árpád-house died out. Later on, kings from various houses ruled over Hungary. The greatest of them is Matthias Corvinus, famous for takingAustrianterrirories like Vienna, etc. and protecting the country againstOttomanaggression. However, some decades after he had died (1490), the Ottoman SultanSuleiman the Magnificentdefeated the Hungarian king in the Battle of Mohács (1526). The Kingdom was cut up into three parts: the western and northern areas remained Hungary, the southern region fell under Ottoman rule, and the eastern part became an Ottoman vassal as the Principality ofTransylvania.

Between 1526 and 1867

The Kingdom of Hungary became aHabsburgdependency, because an agreement made inViennain1515said that the Habsburg family would take over the territory of theJagellionfamily inBohemiaand Hungary if the line of kings should die out. In1686,the Ottomans were forced to leave, and the country was reunified. Many nationalities were living in the country at this time. Along with Hungarians, there were also the ancestors of modernSlovaks,Serbs,RomaniansandGermans(known asDanube Swabians).

In1703,Francis II Rákóczi, a Hungarian nobleman organized a revolution against the Habsburgs, as the Hungarians were not satisfied with them. However, his revolution failed in1711,and he had to go intoexile.The next most important event is the "Hungarian Revolution of 1848",when the inhabitants of the country mutinied again. Fighting ended in1849,with Habsburg success. The leaders of the revolution were executed.

Austria-Hungary, 1867-1918

The country tried to find the way towards consolidation: in1867,the two most important Habsburg territories, Austria and Hungary signed a treaty, and they established theAustro-HungarianMonarchy. The new situation was feasible for both sides: the agreement brought massive economic growth.

Between 1918 and 1946

In 1918 after the defeat inWorld War I,theKingdomwas abolished, and a republic was established, as people had enough of war. This republic was short-lived, and soon the Communists seized power (1919). Their rule was irresponsible and many people, including the peasants and theintelligentsia,were tortured. The communists had to abandon the country asRomaniantroops invaded.

In late 1919, the Hungarian forces, led by Admiral Miklós Horthy, finally occupied the capital,Budapest.In response to the communist terror, they launched the "White Terror", in which they persecuted the communists and their supporters. The kingdom was re-established but there was no king. Horthy was elected as theregentof the country, as the assembly decided not to recall the Habsburgs.

Hungary lost the war. According to theTreaty of Trianon(1920), Hungary lost two thirds of its territory. In the majority of these territories, non-Hungarians were the majority; however, many Hungarians also found themselves outside their country, in the nation state ofRomaniansorSlovaks.Thus, the main political goal of the governments under Horthy was to revise this treaty, and at least, toregainthe Hungarian-inhabited lands.

Communist Hungary, 1946-1989

After the fall ofNazi Germany,Soviet troops occupied all of the country. So Hungary gradually became a communist satellite state of theSoviet Union.After 1948, Communist leaderMátyás Rákosiestablished Stalinist rule in the country. He forced collectivization and aplanned economy.This led to the1956 Hungarian Revolution.Hungary withdrew from theWarsaw Pact.But the Soviets sent in over 150,000 troops and 2,500 tanks.Nearly a quarter of a million people left the country during the brief time that the borders were open in 1956.János Kádárbecame leader of the communist party. In 1991 Soviet military presence in Hungary ended, and the transition to a market economy began.

Republic of Hungary, 1989 onwards

Today, Hungary is a democratic republic. Elections are held every four years.

The current president of the country is Katalin Novák and the prime minister isViktor Orbán.Orbán was Prime Minister from 1998 to 2002, and was elected again in 2010.

Demographics

Hungarians make up the largest part of the population but there are also several other ethnic communities. The largest of these are theRomaandGermans.Hungarian is the most widely used language in Hungary. Ethnic communities often use their own languages as well. The majority of Hungarians are religious, mainly Roman Catholic andCalvinist(in Hungarian 'református' - 'reformed'). There areJews,often in intellectual and artistic occupations, and someMuslims.Orthodox Christianityis practised by ethnic minorities from eastern Europe.

Geography

The Kékestető

Location of Hungary in Europe

Hungary's highest point isKékestető(1014 m; in the northeastern part of Hungary). The RiverDanube,one of Europe's largest rivers, divides Hungary into a western and an eastern part. The region west of the Danube is called Transdanubia (Dunántúl). Transdanubia has a hilly landscape and many small villages and towns. The large flat area in the eastern part is the Great Plains (Alföld). Along the Slovakian border there are mountains.

LakeBalaton,Central Europe's largest lake can be found in Hungary. This small country has several thermal spas too. Lake Hévíz is one of the world's largest thermal lakes. Hungary, however, is a landlocked country (it has no coastline).

Its biggest cities areBudapest,Debrecen,Miskolc,Szeged,Pécs,Győr,NyíregyházaandSzolnok.Szolnok is found at the juncture of the Tisza River and the Zagyva River (stream).

Related pages

• Hungary at the Olympics
• Hungary national football team
• List of rivers of Hungary

Other websites

• STELLA HungarianArchived2022-10-03 at theWayback Machine– free online course Hungarian for beginners (requiresMacromedia Flash).