Famous Hungarian Leaders

Imre Nagy was a Hungarian politician who served as the third chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Hungarian People's Republic. He also served as the 44th prime minister of Hungary. In 1956, Nagy played an influential role in the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 where he led the Revolution against the government, for which he was executed in 1958.

Viktor Orbán is a Hungarian politician and the current prime minister of Hungary. He is also the president of a national conservative political party called Fidesz. Over the years, Orbán has introduced major legislative and constitutional reforms in the country. However, Hungary has also been experiencing democratic backsliding under his leadership since 2010.

Transylvania-born Hungarian military general John Hunyadi had also been the country’s governor. Remembered for his role in the battles of Kosovo and Varna, he eventually succumbed to a plague outbreak, though he went down in history for his valiant exploits against the Turks and is now a legend even in Romania and Bulgaria.

One of the pioneers of Western Marxism, Hungarian philosopher and literary critic György Lukács also taught at the University of Budapest and later became a major pillar of the Hungarian uprising. His best-known written works include Soul and Form and The Historical Novel, apart from his books on Goethe, Lenin, and Marx.

Miklós Horthy was a Hungarian statesman and admiral who served as the regent of Hungary from 1920 to 1944. He started his career in the Austro-Hungarian Navy and played an important role in the Battle of the Strait of Otranto. During the final year of World War I, Miklós Horthy became commander-in-chief of the Austro-Hungarian Navy.

Hungarian president János Áder was born in the small town Csorna and is a qualified lawyer. His first step into politics was as a law expert of the liberal-democratic party Fidesz. He has previously been the Speaker of the National Assembly. The father of four is married to a judge.

Emperor Leopold I’s eldest son, Joseph I became the king of Hungary at the tender age of 9 and the king of Romans at 11. Though he strengthened Austria’s financial situation, bringing the Viennese city bank under the state, he failed to retain the Spanish crown for the Habsburg Monarchy.

A renowned international affairs strategist and geopolitical forecaster, George Friedman is also a New York Times bestselling author, having penned works such as The Storm Before the Calm and The Next 100 Years. He has also headed Stratfor as its CEO and has worked with various US military and government organizations.

Born into a noble family, Lajos Kossuth grew up to be one of his country’s greatest political reformers. He initially followed in his father’s footsteps to become a lawyer and later entered national politics to become the governor-president of Hungary. He is remembered for his role in the Hungarian Revolution.

Ilona Staller is a former porn star, singer, and politician. She achieved popularity by appearing in Telefono rosso, the first Italian hardcore pornography production, and then went on to pose nude in Playboy's editions around the world. In 1980, an erotic series titled La Cicciolina was made based on Ilona Staller's life and career.

Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand III is largely held responsible for ending the Thirty Years’ War in 1648 with 2 peace treaties known as the Peace of Westphalia. He also conspired against Generalissimo Albrecht von Wallenstein when he was denied control of the imperial army. He was also instrumental in the Peace of Prague.

A major figure of the Hungarian Communist Party, János Kádár had a major contribution to Hungary’s transformation from being anti-Soviet to pro-Soviet. Born as an illegitimate child of a soldier and a maid, he quit school at 14 but grew up to lead the Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party.

Hungarian poet and revolutionary Sándor Petőfi is remembered as one of the pillars of the 1848 Hungarian Revolution, and his song Talpra Magyar became an anthem of the revolution. While he was initially part of the army, ill health got him dismissed soon. He also penned the epic fairy tale János vitéz.

Born to a village clerk in Hungary, Béla Kun later rose to be one of the most prominent Communist leaders of his country. Initially a journalist, he later fought for the Austro-Hungarian Army and was captured by the Russians. In Russia, he embraced Communism and later established the Hungarian Communist Party.

King John Zápolya of Hungary was initially the governor of Transylvania, where he suppressed a peasant revolt. After Louis II was killed by the Ottomans, Louis II’s brother-in-law, Ferdinand I challenged John for the throne of Hungary and acquired a part of the country. Eventually, a childless John named Ferdinand his successor.

Gyula Andrássy not only served as Hungary’s prime minister but also created the 1879 the Austro-German alliance with German chancellor Otto von Bismarck. He remained associated with Hungarian public affairs even after his retirement. He was the first Magyar statesman to hold a long-term European position.

An Austro-Hungarian field marshal, Archduke Joseph August of Austria was born into the aristocratic family of Archduke Joseph Karl of Austria. A 72-carat diamond named after him is considered the world’s 12-largest diamond and was once owned by him. He was also associated with the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.

Not only did István Tisza serve as the Hungarian prime minister, but he also supported the Austro-Hungarian dualist government. A qualified lawyer, he also had doctorate degrees in economics and political science and also dealt with macroeconomic issues. His father, Kálmán Tisza, too, had been the prime minister of Hungary.

The first democratic president of Hungary, Arpad Goncz had been part of the anti-Nazi resistance and also the anti-Soviet Hungarian Revolution of 1956, and was jailed for the latter. A father figure in Hungary, he earned the nickname Uncle Arpi. Post-retirement, he devoted himself to charitable causes.

Born into an affluent Hungarian aristocratic family, Mihály Károlyi was, however, often ridiculed in childhood due to his cleft lip and speech difficulty, later cured by surgery. He grew up to be Hungary’s prime minister and, later, its first president, too. He was exiled in his later years.

Pál Schmitt hasn’t just served Hungary as its president, but has also won 2 Olympic gold medals as a fencer. He was also a member of the IOC and has been the Magyar Olympic Committee’s general secretary. Additionally, he has served his country as its ambassador to Spain, Switzerland, and Andorra.

A seasoned Hungarian economist, Gordon Bajnai has not just led his country as its prime minister but has also been associated with various investment and equity companies, such as CA IB Securities, the Wallis Group, Campbell Lutyens, and Meridiam. He is also a skilled soccer player.

The first prime minister of Hungary who was democratically elected, József Antall was initially trained as a history teacher and museologist and had even taught at a grammar school in Budapest. Later banned from teaching for his role in the Hungarian uprising, he joined the Hungarian Democratic Forum.

Zoltán Tildy, who started off as an Independent Smallholders' Party leader, soon rose to lead Hungary as its prime minister and then as its president. Initially trained as a Protestant minister, he had also been a pastor and a high-school teacher before venturing into politics.