Liberal aristocrat who came to power in the Aster Revolution and was president of the First Hungarian Republic
Born into an extremely wealthy Catholic aristocratic family, he led the small anti-war faction in parliament that demanded an immediate peace during the First World War. The Aster Revolution of October 1918 made him prime minister; when the People’s Republic was proclaimed on 16 November he also became provisional head of state, and in January 1919 he was recognised as president. As an example for land reform he gave his family estates to his tenants. After his government fell over the Vix note in March 1919 the Soviet Republic was proclaimed, and in July he went into exile. He returned in 1946 and was ambassador to France from 1947 to 1949, resigning in protest at the Rajk trial, and died in Vence, France, in 1955.
Activities and affiliations
Career Timeline
- 1910Member of parliament for the Party of Independence
- 1918Formed the Hungarian National Council; prime minister after the Aster Revolution
- 1918–1919Provisional head of state and president of the People’s Republic
- 1919–1946Exile in France and Britain
- 1947–1949Hungarian ambassador to France