Treaty of Trianon
Background
The Treaty of Trianon was a peace agreement signed on June 4, 1920, at the end of World War I, between the Allied Powers and Hungary. The treaty was named after the Grand Trianon Palace in Versailles, France, where the negotiations took place.
Prelude to the Treaty
The treaty was a result of the complex political and military events that unfolded during World War I. Hungary, as part of the Central Powers, was on the losing side of the war. The defeat of the Central Powers led to a series of peace treaties, of which the Treaty of Trianon was one.
Terms of the Treaty
The Treaty of Trianon defined new borders for Hungary, significantly reducing its territory. The country lost about two-thirds of its territory and more than half of its population. Large areas of Transylvania, Banat, Crisana, Maramures, and Szeklerland were transferred to Romania. Slovakia and Carpathian Ruthenia were allocated to Czechoslovakia. Burgenland was given to Austria, and Vojvodina and Croatia-Slavonia to the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, later known as Yugoslavia.
Effects of the Treaty
The Treaty of Trianon had profound effects on Hungary. The loss of territories led to significant demographic changes, economic hardships, and political instability. The treaty also had a major impact on the ethnic composition of the region, as large numbers of ethnic Hungarians found themselves living outside the new borders of Hungary.
Legacy
The legacy of the Treaty of Trianon continues to influence Hungarian politics and society. The treaty is often cited as a source of national trauma and is a contentious issue in Hungarian relations with its neighbors. The anniversary of the treaty is commemorated in Hungary as the "Day of National Unity".