The Kingdom of Hungary (Nagymagyarorszag)



This map is the property of Hunmagyar.org .


The Kingdom of Hungary has existed for more than a thousand years, and through its existence, its borders were redefined repeatedly.  The most recent change took place during the Treaty of Trianon, at the end of World War I.  It left Hungary with only 28% of its pre-war territory; five of its ten major cities and two thirds of its population lived outside the new borders, and it was left without access to the sea.  The treaty also eliminated its navy, reduced the majority of its army, and wreaked havoc with its economy.  The intent of the Allies was to weaken the country of Hungary significantly, and eliminate it as a major player in Europe.  (For the large part, it worked.)

Some areas that were formerly a part of Hungary have Magyars as the ethnic majority, and many others see Hungarians as a very significant minority population.  Sadly, many of them live under persecution of their new governments, who sought to eradicate the Magyar culture from their lands.  Many Magyars were also deported, voluntarily immigrated to other countries (such as the new borders of Hungary, or to the United States, Australia, Canada, or to other European countries), or slowly assimilated with their new national identities.  However, others have held on to their ancestral heritage.  Today, there are still several million ethnic Hungarians living outside the current-day borders, many of whom preserve the language, culture, and national identity of their Magyar heritage.

Many people, especially those belonging to the older generations, are still bitter about the treaty and hope for a day when the older borders are restored, although this doesn't sound like a very realistic possibility.  Still, it never hurts to look back and see what contributions to the Magyar culture the people in these regions made.  HunMagyar.org is an awesome site, and its Regions and Folk Art section explores the different culture and folk art of all the different regions of Hungary, including those that are no longer a part of the official country.