Charles I of Austria's conflict with Miklós Horthy
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After Miklós Horthy had been chosen Regent of Hungary on 1 March 1920, Charles I of Austria (Charles IV of Hungary) returned to Hungary twice, trying to retake his throne:
- On 26 March 1921
- On 21 October 1921
The former king's first coup attempt began on 26 March 1921. He came to Hungary from Switzerland and asked Horthy for his power. When the latter refused categorically, Charles went to Szombathely and began negotiations with Prime Minister Pál Teleki, but to no avail. Meanwhile, aristocrats had also gathered at Szombathely, so as to show loyalty to the king, who also had troops by his side.
Charles sent a letter to Horthy demanding his resignation and was yet again met with a refusal. The Hungarian Regent asked the army to remove King Charles from Hungary, whereupon the king returned to Switzerland, to Hertenstein Palace, on 6 April 1921. After dictating his will, the king set out from Dübendorf airport with an Ad Astra aeroplane. The plane's engine stopped working several times. However, on 21 October 1921, Charles managed to land on a field belonging to gróf József Cziráky, in the commune of Dénesfa.
Charles intended to make for Budapest with his troops, also naming a provisional government:
- Prime Minister: István Rakovszky
- Minister of the Interior: Ödön Beniczky
- Minister of Foreign Affairs: Gyula Andrássy
- Minister of Finance and Industry: Gusztáv Gratz
- Minister of Defence: Antal Lehár
- Minister of Education: Albert Apponyi
Many soldiers swore loyalty to the new government and to the king, Horthy thus being put in a delicate position.
On 22 October 1921, the king went by train to Budaörs, accompanied by Hungarian troops.
The Chechoslovak Minister of Foreign Affairs, Edvard Beneš, had desired that a series of negotiations take place, but King Charles was not disposed to negotiate. On 23 October 1921 the Battle of Budaörs took place, resulting in 19 dead and 26 wounded. The next day, the king gave Horthy an ultimatum, but he was arrested the same day in the city of Tata by Horthy's forces. On 26 October 1921, King Charles was sent to the monastery at Tihany. On 1 November he was expelled to Galaţi, Romania with the British ship Glowworm, via the Danube. From there, Charles left for Switzerland, and in March 1922 he emigrated with his family to the island of Madeira.
On 1 April 1922, Charles IV of Hungary died of pneumonia.
Previously, on 7 November 1921, the government of István Bethlen had modified the constitution, so that Miklós Horthy remained the sole leader of Hungary until 1944.
