Hungarian history: 1526 to 1836

1541

The Turks occupy Buda castle. Hungary was split into three parts. The Habsburg governed the western part of the country, the central area was ruled by the Turks, and the south-east Transylvanian principality (today part of Romania) for a long time was the citadel of Hungarian culture.

1686

Buda castle was recaptured from the Turks, by a united Christian armies. Soon after the whole Carpathian Basin was liberated.

(The Turks - similarly to the Tartars - could only advance in Europe to the territory of Hungary. Here they were faced by obstacles, after which no strength was left for the siege of Vienna.)

from 1698

Ethnic Germans settle in Hungary during the reign of Maria Theresa. Turks expelled from Hungary by 1699.

1704-1711 The Kuruc insurrection.

Independence struggle against the Habsburg claim to power in Transylvania led by Prince Ferenc II Rákóczi acceptance of the Pragmatic Sanction by Hungary's estates (indivisibility of the Habsburg Empire, recognition of female succession)

A freedom war under the leadership of Ferenc Rákóczi II, Prince of Transylvania, against the Habsburgs. The rebels defeated the Imperial army in several battles, but did not receive the promised French support and failed.

1836

Hungarian becomes the official language.

First half of the 19th century

A national reform movement was launched for the political and economic transformation of the country, for Hungarian language and culture. This was when the National Anthem was born, and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences was set up. The building of the Chain Bridge started. The initiator of these was Count István Széchenyi, an eminent figure of the Reform Age.