Aster Revolution

Aster Revolution
Part of the aftermath of World War I and the Revolutions of 1917–23

Revolutionary soldiers wearing Aster flowers, 31 October 1918
Date28–31 October 1918 (3 days)
LocationHungary
Result


Belligerents

Austria-Hungary

  • Kingdom of Hungary

Hungarian National Council

Commanders and leaders
Charles IV
Archduke Joseph
János Hadik
Mihály Károlyi
János Hock
József Pogány
Imre Csernyák
István Friedrich

The Aster Revolution or Chrysanthemum Revolution was a revolution in Hungary led by socialist count Mihály Károlyi, who founded the Hungarian Democratic Republic.

Károlyi had helped establish the Social Democratic Hungarian National Council (HNC), which demanded the end of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In the early morning hours of 31 October 1918, with support of the soldiers from the Hungarian Army, HNC protesters wearing the Aster flower helped seize public buildings throughout Budapest. Prime Minister Sándor Wekerle resigned and former Prime Minister István Tisza was murdered.

By the end of the day, King Charles IV had accepted the coup and appointed Károlyi as Hungary's New Prime Minister. The Hungarian Democratic Republic was proclaimed on 16 November 1918 with Károlyi named as president.

In March 1919, the republic was overturned by another revolution, and the Hungarian Soviet Republic was created. It had a short life, followed by the restoration of the Kingdom of Hungary, but as an independent nation.