The relationship between the Habsburgs and Hungary dates back to the 13th century, when Rudolf I (1218–1291) was able to rely on the support of Hungarian troops in his conflicts with Ottokar II Přemysl. Rudolf’s victory over the Bohemian king laid the foundation for Habsburg rule in Austria, Styria, and Bohemia. In 1273, Rudolf became the first Roman-German king from the House of Habsburg.

The first Habsburg to ascend the Hungarian throne was Albert (Albert II) in 1437. Following the death of his father-in-law Sigismund of Luxembourg—Roman-German emperor, King of Bohemia, and King of Hungary—Albert inherited all four crowns. The Roman-German kingship was subsequently to remain largely in Habsburg hands until the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806, with only brief interruptions. At the same time, Albert II was the last Roman-German ruler who did not hold the imperial title; throughout his life, he remained “only” King of the Romans.

The Hungarian Crown of St Stephen did not remain permanently with the House of Habsburg until after 1526. In the Battle of Mohács that year, King Louis II of the Jagiellonian dynasty fell in the fighting against the Ottomans, and Ferdinand I (1503–1564) gained a claim to the succession through his marriage to Anna of Hungary and Bohemia.

This was followed by difficult years for Hungary, which was divided as a result of the wars with the Ottomans into three parts: Habsburg Hungary, Transylvania as a vassal of the Sublime Porte, and central Hungary (including Buda), which was incorporated into the Ottoman Empire.

The end of Ottoman rule in Hungary came in 1683, shortly after the failed siege of Vienna. In the same year, the Habsburgs were also able to capture Gran (Esztergom). In 1686, with the help of the Holy League, Buda and Ofen were reconquered after almost 150 years. In the Peace of Karlowitz in 1699, the Ottoman Empire finally recognized the loss of Hungary.

One of Hungary’s two “favorite queens” was Maria Theresa (1717–1780), who ruled the country from 1740 to 1780 alongside her other territories (including Austria, Bohemia, Croatia, and Silesia). With the support of Hungarian nobles, she succeeded in securing her power during the turbulent years of the War of the Austrian Succession. Her personal bodyguard was always composed of Magyars. Her ceremonial coronation as Rex Hungariae took place on 25 June 1741 in St Martin’s Cathedral in Pressburg (Bratislava).

An important witness to this period in Hungary is the Royal Palace of Gödöllő, located near Budapest and a member of VIA HABSBURG since 2023.

The Baroque palace was built in the mid-18th century by Count Antal (Anton) Grassalkovich, a close confidant of Maria Theresa. Grassalkovich’s prominent role is underscored by his depiction on the Maria Theresa Memorial in Vienna. The two were not only political allies but also shared a deep mutual sympathy that developed into a friendship over time. Empress Maria Theresa herself visited the palace in 1751 her easternmost journey.

In addition to Maria Theresa, the palace is closely associated with another Habsburg who spent at least 2,000 days of her life there: Empress Elisabeth “Sisi” (1837–1898). She was considered a strong advocate of Hungarian interests, which she consistently supported using all means at her disposal. She is credited in no small part with helping to bring about the Compromise of 1867 after the Hungarian national revolution of 1848/49 and years of mutual distance and rejection. This led to the establishment of the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy (1867–1918).

The year 1867 thus marked a decisive turning point. Emperor Franz Joseph I - previously an absolutist ruler governing with a firm hand - agreed to a far-reaching compromise. Decades of consolidation followed, during which Austria-Hungary succeeded, as hoped, in once again attaining a politically dominant position in Central and Southeastern Europe.

Alongside this geopolitical rise, Austria-Hungary experienced rapid economic growth, today commonly referred to as the Gründerzeit.

Architectural and cultural legacies from the period between 1867 and the outbreak of the First World War still shape many former imperial and royal cities, most notably Budapest, where this era remains a vivid and ever-present part of daily life.

The last King of Hungary was Charles IV (1887–1922), who was crowned on 30 December 1916 in Matthias Church in the Buda Castle District, shortly before the end of the First World War and the collapse of the monarchy.

His son, Otto von Habsburg (1912–2011), was a writer, publicist, and Member of the European Parliament who strongly advocated European integration during the communist era. He played a key role in the Pan-European Picnic, which ultimately contributed to the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989/90. Together with his son Georg (born 1964), he was also instrumental in Hungary’s accession to the European Union on 1 May 2004.