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Description
Napoleon's victorious march across Europe meant the crushing defeat of the Austrian Empire in the war, and as a result, the acquisition of independence by Hungary. The progressive reforms and liberalization, which controlled the whole country at that time, was perceived by Hungarian nobility with great skepticism and caution. Despite the formal implementation of the Napoleonic Code in post-war Hungary, the Hungarian nobility gained de facto full power in the country in exchange for loyalty to France.

However, the dominion of the Hungarian aristocracy did not last long. The economic stagnation caused by an ineffective policy aimed at enriching the nobility drove the peasantry and the bourgeoisie into an already comprehensive poverty. The progressive legislation introduced by Napoleon with the aim of liberalizing the country and accelerating the growth of the economy did not actually work. The internal political situation in the state was also extremely difficult - Hungary, remaining a kingdom, did not elect a king for itself, being governed by a regency council, which consisted mainly of nobles, political freedoms were also extremely limited. The ethnic minorities of Hungary - Slovaks, Romanians, Serbs, Croats, Germans and Ruthenians, being systematically discriminated by the Hungarian nobility, were also dissatisfied with Hungarian rule and sought to reunite with the nation-states that emerged after the Napoleonic Wars. Literally everyone was dissatisfied with the established situation.

The Hungarian revolution, which broke out in 1848, spread from the center and outskirts of the state to the whole country, led to the overthrow of the regency council and the establishment of a republican government. A political, economic and cultural reformation was carried out in the country: liberal and conservative parties were formed, freedom of the press was established, serfdom was abolished, and a gradual transition of the country's economy to capitalism rails began. National minorities received the long-awaited, albeit limited, territorial and linguistic autonomy - 3 autonomous territories were formed - Croatia-Slavonia, Transylvania and Ruska Krajina.

Although Hungary's internal affairs began to improve, there were still many difficulties in the country's foreign policy. For almost a hundred years since gaining full independence, Hungary has occupied a neutral position in all foreign policy events in Europe, both before the revolution and after. France, which gave Hungary its independence at such a difficult time, deprived it of access to the sea - the western coastal part of the Kingdom of Croatia and Slavonia became part of the newly formed South Slavic state of Illyria by Napoleonic France. The Hungarian elite could not forgive Napoleon and France for such a political move.

On the other hand, Hungary was surrounded on all sides by hostile states supported by Russia and other revolutionary republican countries, such as Prussia and Britain, which were at enmity with France - Austria sought to regain its former greatness, Romania, Serbia and Illyria - to regain their historical lands. And they would have done it if France had not intervened in the events of the revolution of 1848, preventing Hungary's neighbors from intervening and returning what they considered theirs. In fact, the only strategic ally of Hungary in the region was Poland, which in turn was the main ally of France in Eastern Europe.

In 1910, the political situation in Hungary is stable, the economy is strong, the army is one of the strongest in Eastern Europe, along with Poland and Bulgaria. However, national minorities, already dissatisfied with their limited autonomy, are raising their heads. The imminent coming war between the Entente, led by France and its allies, and the Iron Pact, led by Russia, Prussia and Britain, will have a dramatic result in Europe, and Hungary is no exception. Hungary is at a crossroads - to remain neutral and be divided between neighbors who threaten it from all sides, or to put aside her pride and enlist the support of France, entering the Great War that will determine the fate of future generations.

Description
Napoleon's victorious march across Europe meant the crushing defeat of the Austrian Empire in the war, and as a result, the acquisition of independence by Hungary. The progressive reforms and liberalization, which controlled the whole country at that time, was perceived by Hungarian nobility with great skepticism and caution. Despite the formal implementation of the Napoleonic Code in post-war Hungary, the Hungarian nobility gained de facto full power in the country in exchange for loyalty to France.

However, the dominion of the Hungarian aristocracy did not last long. The economic stagnation caused by an ineffective policy aimed at enriching the nobility drove the peasantry and the bourgeoisie into an already comprehensive poverty. The progressive legislation introduced by Napoleon with the aim of liberalizing the country and accelerating the growth of the economy did not actually work. The internal political situation in the state was also extremely difficult - Hungary, remaining a kingdom, did not elect a king for itself, being governed by a regency council, which consisted mainly of nobles, political freedoms were also extremely limited. The ethnic minorities of Hungary - Slovaks, Romanians, Serbs, Croats, Germans and Ruthenians, being systematically discriminated by the Hungarian nobility, were also dissatisfied with Hungarian rule and sought to reunite with the nation-states that emerged after the Napoleonic Wars. Literally everyone was dissatisfied with the established situation.

The Hungarian revolution, which broke out in 1848, spread from the center and outskirts of the state to the whole country, led to the overthrow of the regency council and the establishment of a republican government. A political, economic and cultural reformation was carried out in the country: liberal and conservative parties were formed, freedom of the press was established, serfdom was abolished, and a gradual transition of the country's economy to capitalism rails began. National minorities received the long-awaited, albeit limited, territorial and linguistic autonomy - 3 autonomous territories were formed - Croatia-Slavonia, Transylvania and Ruska Krajina.

Although Hungary's internal affairs began to improve, there were still many difficulties in the country's foreign policy. For almost a hundred years since gaining full independence, Hungary has occupied a neutral position in all foreign policy events in Europe, both before the revolution and after. France, which gave Hungary its independence at such a difficult time, deprived it of access to the sea - the western coastal part of the Kingdom of Croatia and Slavonia became part of the newly formed South Slavic state of Illyria by Napoleonic France. The Hungarian elite could not forgive Napoleon and France for such a political move.

On the other hand, Hungary was surrounded on all sides by hostile states supported by Russia and other revolutionary republican countries, such as Prussia and Britain, which were at enmity with France - Austria sought to regain its former greatness, Romania, Serbia and Illyria - to regain their historical lands. And they would have done it if France had not intervened in the events of the revolution of 1848, preventing Hungary's neighbors from intervening and returning what they considered theirs. In fact, the only strategic ally of Hungary in the region was Poland, which in turn was the main ally of France in Eastern Europe.

In 1910, the political situation in Hungary is stable, the economy is strong, the army is one of the strongest in Eastern Europe, along with Poland and Bulgaria. However, national minorities, already dissatisfied with their limited autonomy, are raising their heads. The imminent coming war between the Entente, led by France and its allies, and the Iron Pact, led by Russia, Prussia and Britain, will have a dramatic result in Europe, and Hungary is no exception. Hungary is at a crossroads - to remain neutral and be divided between neighbors who threaten it from all sides, or to put aside her pride and enlist the support of France, entering the Great War that will determine the fate of future generations.