Charles IV of Hungary's attempts to retake the throne

Quick Facts: Who was Charles IV of Hungary's attempts to retake the throne?

Subject:

Charles IV of Hungary's attempts to retake the throne

Known for:

Charles IV's failed attempts to reclaim the Hungarian throne in 1921.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

After Miklós Horthy was chosen Regent of Hungary on 1 March 1920, Charles I of Austria, who had reigned in Hungary as Charles IV, made two unsuccessful attempts to retake the throne. His attempts are also called the "First" and "Second Royal coups d'état" (Hungarian: első és második királypuccs) respectively. On 13 November 1918, Charles issued a proclamation in which he relinquished his right to take part in Hungarian affairs of state. He also released the officials in the Hungarian half of the empire from their oath of loyalty to him. This came two days after he issued a similar statement withdrawing from Austrian politics.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Although these statements have been described as abdications, Charles deliberately avoided using that term in the event the people of either nation recalled him. Charles's last Hungarian prime minister, Mihály Károlyi, took advantage of the situation and proclaimed the Hungarian Democratic Republic, with himself as provisional president. The continued Allied occupation made Károlyi's situation untenable, and in March 1919 he was pushed out of office by a Social Democratic-Communist coalition that proclaimed the Hungarian Soviet Republic. Under the Communist leader Béla Kun, Hungary became the world's second Communist nation. However, Kun's government was overthrown in August by the Romanian Armed Forces.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Eventually, Archduke Joseph August, Charles' cousin, took power as regent for Charles, only to be forced out when the Allies refused to recognize him. It soon became apparent that the Allies would not accept a Habsburg as Hungary's head of state. Finally, in March 1920, Miklós Horthy, the last commander of the Austro-Hungarian Navy, was named regent of Hungary. The newly elected legislature nullified the actions and legally erased both the People's Republic and the Soviet Republic of Hungary via Act 1 of 1920. The former king's first coup attempt began on 26 March 1921.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1918: 1918 Milestone — On 13 November 1918, Charles issued a proclamation in which he relinquished his right to take part in Hungarian affairs of state.
2. 1919: 1919 Milestone — The continued Allied occupation made Károlyi's situation untenable, and in March 1919 he was pushed out of office by a Social Democratic-Communist coalition that proclaimed the Hungarian Soviet Republic.
3. 1920: 1920 Milestone — After Miklós Horthy was chosen Regent of Hungary on 1 March 1920, Charles I of Austria, who had reigned in Hungary as Charles IV, made two unsuccessful attempts to retake the throne.
4. 1921: 1921 Milestone — The former king's first coup attempt began on 26 March 1921.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Charles IV of Hungary's attempts to retake the throne

True or False: “Charles IV was immediately accepted back into power by the Hungarian Diet upon his return in 1921.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The local legitimists were divided, and the Smallholders faction held that Hungarians were free to choose their own king.

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