Opinions still differ on the prehistory of the Magyars. The original home-land of the Hungarians-labelled as Magna Hungaria in the Middle Ages- was in all probability in the region of the confluence of the rivers Volga and Kama ( on the European side of the Ural mountains). A part of the old Hungarian tribes left this territory eround 600 A.D.. Some achaeologits and anthropologists, however, hypothesize a Central Asian origin. According to the most widely accepted views it was in the second half of the 9th century when the first Hungarian tribes appeared in the Carpathian Basin, while others partly identifí the Huns and Avars as Hungarians. The Conquest, the lasting occupation of the Carpathian Basin started under the leadership of Prince Árpád in 895.
For 50 years or so the seminomadic Hungarian political élite lead marauding campaigns against Western Europe, at the beginning as allies of European kings or princes, but later on their own initiatives as well.A decisive defeat from Otto I. King of Germany near Augsburg in 955, however, gave a new turn of the events - somewhat later, a new ruler, Géza and his son, Stephen, accepted Christianity, thus introducing the western social system in Hungary. In 1000 his son, István ( Saint István) received a crown from the Pope and thus he became an independent sovereign and could consolidate his position in the country. This meant the birth of the Kingdom of Hungary.
In 1241 the Mongols, lead by Batu Khan made a raid into Hungary and ravaged almost the whole country. The work of rebuilding was undertaken by Béla IV. who is often referred to as the second founder of the state or country. The Árpád dynasty died out with András III. in 1301.
Under the French-Neapolitan House of the Anjous, Károly Róbert was able to create economic stability and well-being in the country. Under his son, Lajos reached the territory of Hungary its largest extension - the realm under his sceptre was big as 1 million km2 in the second part of the 14th century. After the 50 years' reign of Zsigmond ( Sigismund of the House of Luxemburg, King of Hungary, also Holy Roman Emperor) the Hunyadi family played a determinant role in the history of Hungary.
The appearance of the Ottoman power at the southern border of the Hungarian Kingdom loomed an adverse, dark shadow on the history of the country for several hundreds of years. Hunyadi János was one of those who fought effectively against the Ottomans, defeating them in several battles and hindering them in conquering Belgrade in 1456 a victory of worldwide importance. His son Mátyás ( Matthias with the by-name Corvi-nus) was a typical Renaissance ruler. In his humanistic court in Buda and summer residence in Visegrád Renaissance art and culture flourished for the first time outside Italy.
The renewed Ottoman attacks, however, brought catastrophy. After the tragic defeat at Mohács (1526) the unity of Hungarians was shaken. The capture of Buda ( 1541) meant that the country was split into three parts. Next to the territories occupied by the Turks and the northwestern parts of the country influenced by the Habsburgs, the Principality of Transylvania could flourish owing to its relative independence.
From 1686, the regain of Buda, the whole country was soon liberated by a successful crusade. The arbitrary rule of the Habsburg ruler, however, lead to discontent very soon, rising to its summit in the Rákóczi War of Independence. This ended with defeat, the peace of Szatmár in 1711 confirmed the Habsburgs and guaranteed the privileges of the nobilty.
After the French revolution ( 1789) the spirit of nationalism awakened in Hungary, too. This was embodied in a reform movement with the two prominent figures of István Széchenyi and Lajos Kossuth and lead to the revolution of 1848. Singularly modern laws were enacted: serfdom was abolished, equality before the law considerably strengthened and rights of political freedom introduced.
The young Emperor Franz Joseph I, however, assaulted the land. After heavy losses and defeats he had to ask assistance from the Russian Tzar, what was given and the revolu-tion was suppressed. Years of terror, followed, but the 1867 compromise paved the way to unprecedented economic growth. By the turn of the century the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy became one of the major powers of Europe. After the first World War as a result of the dictated peace of Trianon - Hungary was deprived of 2/3 of her territories and the half of her population - among them more millions of Hungarians.
Hungarian policy between the two world wars, during the Horthy era, made endeavours to get back the lost territories what was partly achieved. As a price Hungary had to enter war on the side of Germany in 1941.
Altough Hungary retained her sovereignty until spring 1944, when the German occupation took place, as a losing party, severe sanctions were to be swallowed after the devastation of the war. The fragile Hungarian democracy was trod down - with the assistance of the Red Army - by the communists in 1948-49. The tormented population revolted, against despotism on 23rd October 1956, but the Soviets, making use of the international situation to their favour brutally crushed down the war of independence, annuling the achievements of the revolution for decades.
Power was seized by János Kádár who, upon the bloody reprisal, took measure in the direction of a relatively consolidated political and economic system within the frames of the dictatorship of communists. From 1968 onwards economic reforms were implemented and the living standard also improved slightly. From the second half of the eighties it became more and more evident that the system in unable to master the economic crisis and the enormous liabilities.
Thus were round table discussions between the ruling party and the opposition possible in 1989 where rules of transition to democracy based on a munlti-party system were fixed. Following the peaceful transition and the first free parliamentary elections in 1990 Hunngary turned a new leaf of development amidst serious economic and social tensions.
