History de BUDAPEST

Installation of the Aquincum Roman camp, erected as a Lower Pannonian metropolis in 106.

The Huns drove the Romans out of the province of Valeria to which Aquincum was attached.

Arrival of the seven Magyar tribes led by their chief Árpád, who settle in Óbuda and the island of Csepel.

Baptism of István (Stephen), a descendant of the árpádian line, who is crowned King of Hungary. He settles in Székesfehérvár (70 km west of Budapest). Under the reign of Béla III (dynasty of the Árpádians), in 1189, the court moved back to Óbuda.

Invasion of Pest first, then Buda and Óbuda by the Mongols. The city is in ruins. Five years later, the construction of the royal castle of Buda begins. In the 14th century, the Angevins then the Luxembourgers took over the dynastic torch. In 1445, the extension of the royal palace in Buda, where Sigismund of Luxembourg settled, was completed.

Reign of Mátyás Corvin. His wife, Beatrice of Aragon, imports the Renaissance from her native Italy. A great patron of the arts and sciences, the Hungarian sovereign received important foreign personalities such as Filippo Lippi and Botticelli at his court.

After the Battle of Mohács in 1526, Hungary came under Ottoman rule, an occupation that lasted until the end of the ^17th century. Buda became the capital of a province of the Ottoman Empire, while Óbuda, severely affected by the invasion, declined to the status of a mere village.

During this period, the Ottomans introduced their administration, levied taxes and built characteristic infrastructures, including baths and mosques. The Ottoman influence left a lasting mark on Buda's architecture, although many buildings disappeared after the Habsburg reconquest.

Today, several relics of this period remain in Budapest: the Rudas and Király baths, and the tomb of Gül Baba.

Conquest of Pest, then of Buda by Eugene of Savoy, general of the Habsburgs who hunted the Turks. The Habsburg dynasty will reign until 1918. Budapest is repopulated. The old centre of Pest, reduced to nothing, welcomes the influx of Germans.

The War of Independence of 1703-1711, led by Ferenc Rákóczi II, marked an attempt by Hungarians to rise up against Habsburg domination. The movement was born of growing dissatisfaction with the heavy taxes and restrictions imposed by the Austrian monarchy after the recapture of Buda in 1686. Supported by the nobility and some of the peasants, Rákóczi succeeded in mobilizing an army, winning several victories against the imperial troops.

However, the uprising gradually ran out of steam. The War of the Spanish Succession, which occupied Austria, initially slowed the Habsburgs' response, but once this conflict was resolved, Vienna regained the upper hand. In 1711, the Treaty of Szatmár put an end to the revolt: in exchange for certain guarantees on Hungarian freedoms, the insurgents were required to lay down their arms. Rákóczi refused to submit, opting for exile and ending his life in Turkey.

During this period, Budapest remained scarred by the destruction left by previous conflicts.

A period of modernization reforms of the city and the country led by Count István Széchenyi, "the greatest of Hungarians". He was responsible for the establishment of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, the construction of the tunnel under the castle, and the Chain Bridge (the first permanent bridge between Pest and Buda).

Hungarian Revolution against the Habsburgs. Sándor Petőfi, one of Hungary's greatest poets, elevated to the rank of national hero, and his companions circulate a twelve-point text containing the required liberal reforms and copies of the national song. But the failure of the War of Independence, crushed by the Habsburg and Tsarist armies, accentuates Austrian despotism.

The Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867 marked the transformation of the Austrian Empire into a dual monarchy, the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Under pressure from Hungarian elites, Franz Joseph agreed to recognize Hungary's autonomy, while maintaining imperial unity through three joint ministries: War, Finance and Foreign Affairs.

Each half of the Empire (Cisleithania for Austria and Transleithania for Hungary) obtained its own Parliament and government, but economic cooperation was instituted, renewable every ten years. This compromise was designed to ease Hungarian nationalist tensions following the revolution of 1848, while consolidating Habsburg power.

On June 8, 1867, Franz Joseph and his wife Elisabeth (Sissi) were solemnly crowned King and Queen of Hungary in a grandiose ceremony in Budapest's Matthias Church. As a sign of gratitude, the Hungarian nobility presented them with Gödöllő Castle, which became one of the Empress's favorite residences.

This compromise strengthened Hungary within the Empire, but left out other nationalities, notably the Slavs, fuelling tensions that would last until the fall of the Empire in 1918.

Unification of Buda, Pest and Óbuda into a single city: Budapest, which quickly reaches one million inhabitants.

The millennium celebrations marking the arrival of the Magyar tribes in the Carpathian Basin marked a turning point in the history of modern Hungary, so much so that they could be considered a founding moment, symbolizing in a way the "creation" of the country as it was then conceived.

For the occasion, Budapest obtained a host of prestigious new buildings and monuments, such as the Hungarian Museum of Decorative Arts, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Műcsarnok and the Ferenc József Bridge (now the Freedom Bridge). It was also the occasion for the inauguration of continental Europe's first subway metro line (M1).

The First World War led to the defeat of the Austrians and Hungarians. A severe economic, political and social recession hits Hungary. The Hungarian Republic is proclaimed to capitulate. One year later, Béla Kun proclaimed his three-month communist republic.

The Treaty of Trianon, signed on June 4, 1920 at the Grand Trianon in Versailles, France, ended Hungary's membership of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and redefined its borders.

Hungary lost around 72% of its territory and more than 60% of its population, a large part of which came under foreign domination. Transylvania and part of the Banat were allocated to Romania, while Slovakia and subcarpathian Ruthenia returned to Czechoslovakia. The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (future Yugoslavia) received Vojvodina and another part of Banat, while Austria took Burgenland.

This territorial redistribution, perceived as an injustice by the Hungarians, provoked strong national resentment that would influence Hungarian politics between the wars. In addition to these territorial losses, Hungary had to accept military restrictions and the payment of war reparations, which considerably weakened its economy and influence in Central Europe.

Even today, the Treaty of Trianon remains a sensitive subject in Hungary, where it is often regarded as a national tragedy.

Hungary, under Miklós Horthy, promulgates its first anti-Jewish laws. In 1941, the country enters the war on Germany's side. But Admiral Horthy practises a policy of "swinging" and promises not to engage in deportations while continuing the war on the side of Nazi Germany.

Miklós Horthy is driven out by the Nazi occupiers, the Arrow Crosses, the Hungarian fascist party, take power. Jewish deportations begin. Late, they will nevertheless be massive.

Soviet troops liberate Budapest. Three years later, the communist regime is established.

Uprising against Stalinism crushed by Soviet tanks, battles rage in Budapest, 200,000 Hungarians leave the country.

Kádár's communist regime established a soft dictatorship and economic comfort.

The fall of communism in Hungary and the return of democracy. Ten years later, Hungary joins NATO.

Parliamentary elections marked by a record turnout since the first free elections in 1990 (73.47% in the second round). The Left, led by Peter Medgyessy, wins. It was a bitter defeat for the coalition led by Viktor Orbán - Prime Minister from 1998 to 2002 - who took just 188 of the 386 seats.

Integration of Hungary into the European Union. Ferenc Gyurcsány (member of the Magyar Szocialista Párt, MSZP) succeeds Peter Medgyessy as Prime Minister, following a government crisis. In 2006, the ruling centre-left coalition won a majority in parliament. Ferenc Gyurcsány was reappointed.

In an internal recording broadcast on state radio, Ferenc Gyurcsány bluntly admits that he has done "nothing but bullshit " since coming to power and deliberately lied to voters. On the night of 18-19 September, several thousand demonstrators tried to ransack the premises of the state television station. More than 150 people were injured in the clashes, including around 100 law enforcement officials. The event will mark Hungarian politics for more than a decade.

Hungary enters the Schengen area.

Prime Minister Gyurcsány eventually resigned and left his place to Gordon Bajnai. Hungary was hit hard by the economic crisis of 2008 and implemented austerity plans (wage freeze, abolition of the 13th month...).

Victory for Fidesz (conservative right) in the April parliamentary elections, Viktor Orbán (re)becomes Prime Minister: he has a constitutional majority (two-thirds of seats) in parliament. In the autumn, municipal elections across the country confirmed the Fidesz advance. Budapest became a right-wing city for the first time since 1990, with the election of István Tarlos (a Fidesz ally).

The controversial media law, amended in part at the request of the European Commission, came into effect. It was followed a few months later by a new constitution, which was widely criticized both inside and outside the country.

The parliamentary elections, largely won by the Fidesz-KDNP (new two-thirds majority), returned Viktor Orbán as head of the Hungarian executive. At the end of 2014, 100,000 demonstrators won the withdrawal of a bill to tax Internet use in Hungary.

Hungary closes its border with Serbia and Croatia to stem the flow of refugees into the country (400,000 illegal entries in 2015). A year later, the Orbán government launched a referendum on refugee distribution quotas, initiated by the European Commission. Voters overwhelmingly rejected the idea of a quota, but the result was invalidated due to a lack of sufficient turnout. A few days later, the largest opposition daily newspaper, Népszabadság, ceased to be published, due to the alleged economic difficulties of the title.

Parliamentary elections won by Fidesz-KDNP, Viktor Orbán begins his third consecutive term in office. His ruling coalition once again has a two-thirds majority in Parliament. At the end of 2018, Nikola Gruevski, a former North Macedonian Prime Minister sentenced to two years' imprisonment in his country, is granted political asylum in Hungary. In autumn 2019, to everyone's surprise, the municipal elections in Budapest bring an opposition candidate (left-wing/ecologist) to the mayor's office. A month later, the Central European University moves to Vienna, as the accreditation of its American degrees has not been renewed by Viktor Orbán's government. In April 2022, for the first time since 2010, Viktor Orbán faced a united opposition at the ballot box in a bid to steal his fourth consecutive election. However, his party won the parliamentary elections by 54%.

The year 2023 marks 150 years since the unification of Buda, Óbuda and Pest. To mark the occasion, almost 100 events are being organized and will run until 2024. For example, the Chain Bridge reopens in autumn 2023, the Budapest Marathon welcomes runners from all over the world in October, the History Museum presents a new exhibition, hotels reopen or are inaugurated..

Hungary is also experiencing tensions with Ukraine, following the transfer of Ukrainian soldiers from Transcarpathia in early June 2023.

On the domestic front, Viktor Orbán's government has adopted controversial reforms, including a redrawing of electoral constituencies and a law restricting foreign funding of NGOs, fueling accusations of authoritarianism. The rise of the opposition Tisza party, led by Péter Magyar, a former member of Orbán's party, represents a significant threat to the ruling Fidesz party. But this party is also criticized for its former links with Orbán.

Internationally, Orbán has drawn dangerously close to Russia and China, drawing criticism from within the European Union. In July, he met Xi Jinping to strengthen Sino-Hungarian cooperation, and has also stepped up his contacts with Vladimir Putin, challenging the EU's political line, notably on the war in Ukraine.

Hungary took over the presidency of the EU Council from July¹ to December 31: Orbán was criticized for his anti-European rhetoric, his management of immigration and his ambiguous position on Ukraine. Tensions with Poland, a former regional ally, intensified after Hungary granted asylum to a former Polish minister accused of corruption; Hungary was not invited to the inaugural ceremony of Poland's 6-month EU Council presidency, from January¹ to June 30, 2025.