Pest ( Hungarian pronunciation: [ˈpɛʃt] ) is the part of Budapest , the capital city of Hungary , that lies on the eastern bank of the Danube . Pest was administratively unified with Buda and Óbuda in 1873; prior to this, it was an independent city. In colloquial Hungarian , "Pest" is sometimes also used pars pro toto to refer to Budapest as a whole.
41-457: Revolutionary victory [REDACTED] Hungarian National Council [REDACTED] Austria-Hungary The Aster Revolution or Chrysanthemum Revolution ( Hungarian : Őszirózsás forradalom ) was a revolution in Hungary led by Count Mihály Károlyi in the aftermath of World War I . It resulted in the foundation of the short-lived First Hungarian People's Republic . The revolution
82-460: A personal union with Austria. On the same day, former prime minister István Tisza declared the war "lost" before Parliament. Unable to cope, Wekerle resigned on 23 October. Charles (who was in Gödöllő during Wekerle's resignation, but had to return to Vienna due to the deteriorating situation) was inclined to nominate Károlyi as Prime Minister to stabilise the situation. He changed his mind following
123-492: A provisional legislature throughout Károlyi's reign, as free elections would ultimately never be held. The Hungarian Royal Honvéd army still had more than 1,400,000 soldiers when Mihály Károlyi was announced as prime minister of Hungary. Károlyi yielded to U.S. President Woodrow Wilson 's demand for pacifism by ordering the disarmament of the Hungarian army. This happened under the direction of Béla Linder , minister of war in
164-676: A result, Austria-Hungary dissolved. In the second half of 1918, the course of World War I turned decisively against the Central Powers. The German Spring Offensive collapsed by July. The Central Powers likewise suffered at the Austrian offensive on the Italian front. In mid-September, the Entente broke through the Macedonian Front. Unable to halt their advance, Bulgaria capitulated on 29 September;
205-513: A violent confrontation, had lost control. Their members slept in Hotel Astoria, uncertain of the future. At 3 on the morning of 31 October 1918, János Hadik called up the Emperor and notified him of his resignation. He had been Prime Minister for a mere 17 hours, the shortest tenure in Hungarian history. The Emperor relented, nominated Károlyi as Prime Minister, and asked him to form a government with
246-569: The Entente powers began distributing slices of what many considered Hungary's traditional territory to the majority ethnic groups in Kingdom of Romania , the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes , and the First Czechoslovak Republic . The new government and its supporters had pinned their hopes for maintaining Hungary's territorial integrity on the abandonment of Cisleithania and Germany,
287-632: The Gyula Peidl government restored the pre-communist name of the state on 2 August 1919. The government of István Friedrich changed the name to " Hungarian Republic " on 8 August; however, the denomination "Hungarian People's Republic" appeared on some government-issued decrees during this period. The Hungarian People's Republic was created by the Aster Revolution , which started in Budapest on 31 October 1918. That day, King Charles IV appointed
328-454: The House of Habsburg . The Hungarian Royal Honvéd army still had more than 1,400,000 soldiers when Mihály Károlyi was announced as prime minister of Hungary. Károlyi yielded to U.S. President Woodrow Wilson 's demand for pacifism by ordering the unilateral self- disarmament of the Hungarian army. This happened under the direction of Béla Linder , (minister of war) on 2 November 1918. Due to
369-539: The Hungarian People's Republic ( Magyar Népköztársaság ), was a short-lived unrecognized country, which quickly transformed into a small rump state due to the foreign and military policy of the doctrinaire pacifist Károlyi government. It existed from 16 November 1918 until 8 August 1919, apart from a 133-day interruption in the form of the Hungarian Soviet Republic . The republic was established in
410-632: The Inner City ( Hungarian : Belváros ), the Parliament ( Országház ), the Opera , the Great Market Hall , Heroes' Square , and Andrássy Avenue . According to Ptolemy the settlement was called Pession in antiquity ( Contra-Aquincum ). Alternatively, the name Pest may have come from a Slavic word meaning "furnace", "oven" (Bulgarian пещ [ˈpɛʃt] ; Serbian пећ / peć ; Croatian peć ), related to
451-579: The Royal Romanian Army . The next day, Joseph August declared himself regent of Hungary —he held the position until 23 August, when he was forced to resign —and appointed Friedrich as Prime Minister. The state was formally dissolved by the new government on 8 August 1919. Pest, Hungary Comprising about two-thirds of the city's area, Pest is flatter and much more heavily urbanized than Buda. Many of Budapest's most notable sites are in Pest, including
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#1732848295042492-605: The gendarmerie collapsed, replaced by local National Councils and a variety of spontaneously formed paramilitaries to protect local interests. The government attempted to formalize and regulate them as the National Guard ( Nemzetőrség ). Targets of violence differed from region: apart from landowners and administrators, Jewish merchants were often targeted, especially in the east. In areas mostly inhabited by non-Magyars, unrest took an explicitly ethnic character. Unrest continued throughout November and December, and in many places order
533-643: The Károlyi government. Due to the full disarmament of its army, Hungary was to remain without a national defense at a time of particular vulnerability. The Hungarian self-disarmament made the occupation of Hungary directly possible for the relatively small armies of Romania, the Franco-Serbian army and the armed forces of the newly established Czechoslovakia. During the rule of Károlyi's pacifist cabinet, Hungary rapidly lost control over approx. 75% of its former pre-WW1 territories (325 411 km) without armed resistance and
574-519: The Paris peace conference. After the Hungarian self-disarmament, Czech, Serbian, and Romanian political leaders chose to attack Hungary instead of holding democratic plebiscites concerning the disputed areas. Military and political events changed rapidly and drastically after Hungarian disarmament: The Entente considered Hungary a partner in the defeated Dual Monarchy , and dashed the Hungarians' hopes with
615-536: The Social Democrats held a majority in the newly merged Hungarian Socialist Party, the communists led by Béla Kun immediately seized control and announced the establishment of the Hungarian Soviet Republic on 21 March 1919. After the fall of the Soviet Republic on 1 August 1919, a social democratic government—the so-called "trade union government"—came to power under the leadership of Gyula Peidl . A decree
656-657: The Southern Slavs. After abortive attempts to negotiate a separate peace, plans among Entente leaders increasingly favoured the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. By Summer 1918 the Entente recognised the Czechoslovak National Council as the future government of an independent Czechoslovakia. Therefore Austro-Hungarian peace offers based on the 14 points were rejected. In a final attempt to salvage his empire, Emperor Charles on 16 October legitimised
697-497: The advice of prominent Hungarian politicians like Gyula Andrássy (then newly appointed Joint Foreign Minister). As a result, no new Prime Minister got nominated until 30 October. In the meantime, Archduke Joseph August of Austria was named homo regius , Governor of Hungary. On 24 October, the Entente launched its final offensive on the Italian Front. Hungarian units of the already disintegrating army flooded home, destabilising
738-546: The already precarious situation on the street. On the evening of Wekerle's resignation on 23 October 1918, the Hungarian National Council was established from opposition forces, most prominent among them Mihály Károlyi and his Party of Independence and '48 . It also included Oszkár Jászi 's Radical Party and Ernő Garami 's Social Democratic Party of Hungary . They set up their headquarters in Hotel Astoria in
779-458: The centre of Pest . Independently, two days later, a Soldiers' Council was established by flight lieutenant Imre Csernyák. Two days afterwards, on 27 October, the National Council nominated him as chairman of the committee of the armed forces. By this time, protests had erupted in Budapest's streets in favour of a National Council, and demanding Károlyi as Prime Minister. On 28 October 1918
820-429: The city, and freed political prisoners. Notably, on the initiative of Béla Szántó , they blocked the transport of two militarty companies from Eastern Railway Station , who then turned to the revolution and looted the train for weapons. Unions halted rail traffic to and from Budapest. Telephone exchanges, posts and banks were seized. Lukachich himself was arrested. At this point the National Council, still wanting to avoid
861-626: The country's territorial integrity, but were in no position to reject it. In protest, Berinkey resigned. Károlyi informed the cabinet that only the Hungarian Social Democratic Party could possibly form a new government. Unknown to Károlyi, however, the Social Democrats had merged with the Hungarian Communist Party ; the latter promised that the Russian SFSR would help Hungary to restore its original borders . Although
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#1732848295042902-547: The crowd ( István Friedrich among them) attempted to march on Buda Castle . They were intercepted and fired upon by the police while crossing the Chain Bridge. This " Battle of the Chain Bridge " left 3 dead and over 50 injured, and it only inflamed the crowds. Géza Lukachich was tasked to keep order in Budapest. Although he was firmly set against the National Council, his forces quickly deserted him, rendering him powerless to stop
943-462: The delivery of successive diplomatic notes. Each demanded the surrender of more land to other ethnic groups. On 20 March 1919, the French head of the Entente mission in Budapest gave Károlyi a note delineating the final postwar boundaries, which the Hungarians found unacceptable. Károlyi and Prime Minister Dénes Berinkey were now in an impossible position. They knew accepting the French note would endanger
984-571: The formation of National Councils and published the Völkermanifest, declaring federalisation of the Austrian part of the empire. This, however, only accelerated collapse: by the end of October, secession had been announced by most National Councils, including the Austrian Germans themselves. In Hungary, on 17 October, the ruling Third Wekerle Government abolished the 1867 Compromise, retaining only
1025-429: The former prime minister, became a target of anger for the revolutionary crowds, blaming him for the war. He was assassinated the afternoon of 31 October in his villa near City Park by disgruntled soldiers. Although the revolution in Budapest was relatively bloodless, a wave of violence and looting swept across the countryside as returning soldiers wrecked havoc on representatives of the old order. Local administration and
1066-418: The full disarmament of its army, Hungary was to remain without a national defence at a time of particular vulnerability. The Hungarian self-disarmament made the occupation of Hungary directly possible for the relatively small armies of Romania, the Franco-Serbian army and the armed forces of the newly established Czechoslovakia. The Károlyi government's measures failed to stem popular discontent, especially when
1107-431: The legal path to declare full independence as the Hungarian People's Republic on 16 November 1918. Károlyi, who was already Prime Minister, would also serve as the provisional head of state. That day, both houses of parliament dissolved themselves, and an expanded Hungarian National Council was called representing local councils that sprung up throughout the country during the revolution. This National Council would serve as
1148-456: The original Roman camp can still be seen at Március 15. tér. During the Middle Ages, Pest was an independent city separate from Buda/Ofen, which became an important economic center during the 11th–13th centuries. The first written mention dates back to 1148. Pest was destroyed in 1241 Mongol invasion of Hungary , but was rebuilt shortly thereafter. Demographically, in the 15th century Pest
1189-502: The parties of the National Council. Károlyi assembled his cabinet that day. The revolution technically didn't change Hungary's legal status, as the new government still swore an oath to the king. However, afraid of the radicalized public opinion, Károlyi asked to be relieved of his oath by the next day 1 November, which he was granted. Subsequently the government took a new oath to the Hungarian National Council. István Tisza,
1230-495: The position of the Austrian military became untenable. Romania and Italy had been promised large territorial concessions earlier in the war. However, there had been differing opinions over the future dismemberment of Austria-Hungary (the 14 points of Woodrow Wilson in January 1918 had demanded only "autonomous development" of nations). Meanwhile emerging in influence among the Entente powers had been demands by Italian-backed Czechs and
1271-431: The revolt's leader, Mihály Károlyi , as Hungarian prime minister. Almost his first act was to formally terminate the personal union between Austria and Hungary. On 13 November, Charles issued a proclamation withdrawing from Hungarian politics. A few days later the provisional government proclaimed Hungary a people's republic, with Károlyi as both prime minister and interim president. This event ended 400 years of rule by
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1312-489: The revolution. The trigger point came on 30 October, when the Emperor nominated János Hadik , an establishment politician as Prime Minister. Soldiers gathering on Gizella Tér (now Vörösmarty tér ) swore allegiance to the National Council. They tore off the rose on their caps, replacing it with an aster , which quickly became a revolutionary symbol. Over the course of the day, the Soldiers' Council took over strategic points in
1353-490: The securing of a separate peace, and exploiting Károlyi's close connections in the French Third Republic . When Károlyi appointed Oszkár Jászi as the new Minister for National Minorities of Hungary, Jászi immediately offered democratic referendums about the disputed borders for minorities, however, the political leaders of those minorities refused the very idea of democratic referendums regarding disputed territories at
1394-408: The wake of the dissolution of Austria-Hungary following World War I as a replacement for the Kingdom of Hungary . During the rule of Count Mihály Károlyi 's pacifist cabinet, Hungary lost control over approximately 75% of its former pre-World War I territories, which was about 325,411 km (125,642 sq mi), without armed resistance and was subjected to unhindered foreign occupation. It
1435-528: The word пещера (meaning "cave"), probably with reference to a local cave where fire burned. The spelling Pesth was occasionally used in English, even as late as the early 20th century, although it is now considered archaic. Pest was originally founded as a Celtic settlement, then a fortified camp established by the Romans (Contra-Aquincum) across the river from their military border camp at Aquincum . Remains of
1476-404: Was brought about by widespread protests as World War I wore on, from which Mihály Károlyi emerged as the leader of the newly proclaimed First Hungarian People's Republic. This lasted between 16 November 1918 and 21 March 1919. Supporters of Károlyi, many of whom were demobilised soldiers, adopted the aster as the symbol of the revolution. Following its success, Hungary declared its independence. As
1517-522: Was in turn succeeded by the Hungarian Soviet Republic but re-established following its demise, and ultimately replaced by the Hungarian Republic . "Hungarian People's Republic" was adopted as the official name of the country on 16 November 1918, and remained in use until the overthrow of the Dénes Berinkey government on 21 March 1919. Following the collapse of the Hungarian Soviet Republic ,
1558-580: Was issued on 2 August restoring the form of government and the official state name back to "People's Republic". During its brief existence, the Peidl government began to abrogate the edicts passed by the Communist regime. On 6 August, István Friedrich , leader of the White House Comrades Association—a right-wing, counter-revolutionary group—seized power in a bloodless coup with the backing of
1599-589: Was mostly Hungarian, while Buda across the Danube had a German-majority population. In 1838 Pest was flooded by the Danube ; parts of the city were under as much as eight feet of water, and the flood destroyed or seriously damaged three-fourths of the city's buildings. In 1849 the first suspension bridge, the Széchenyi Chain Bridge , was constructed across the Danube connecting Pest with Buda . Subsequently, in 1873,
1640-550: Was only restored by the arrival of Czech, Romanian, Serbian or French troops. Although the Károlyi government initially didn't declare independence, the collapse of Habsburg power in Austria made the distinction meaningless. On 13 November, after a similar proclamation was made for the Austrian throne, Charles issued a proclamation recognizing Hungary's right to determine the form of the state and withdrawing from Hungarian affairs of state (although he did not explicitly resign). This opened
1681-538: Was subject to foreign occupation. In March 1919, the republic was itself overthrown by a Communist putsch, which established the Hungarian Soviet Republic . Soviet Hungary soon collapsed due to internal discontent and a Romanian invasion and, after a brief revival of the People's Republic, the monarchy was restored, now as an independent country. First Hungarian Republic The First Hungarian Republic ( Hungarian : Első Magyar Köztársaság ), until 21 March 1919