Treaty of Trianon — 1920 peace agreement formally ending World War I between most of the Allies of World War I and the Kingdom of Hungary
The Treaty of Trianon redrew Hungary's borders after World War I, reducing its territory by about two-thirds and shaping Central European politics for decades.
Key Facts
- Date signed
- 4 June 1920
- Ratified by Hungary
- 16 November 1920
- Came into force
- 26 July 1921
- Signing venue
- Grand Trianon, Versailles
- Hungary's armistice date
- 13 November 1918
- Hungary entered WWI
- August 1914
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
As part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Hungary entered World War I in August 1914. Following the collapse of its allies and internal political upheaval, Hungary declared independence from Austria on 31 October 1918 and signed an armistice on 13 November 1918. Neighbouring states—Czechoslovakia, Romania, and the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes—subsequently blockaded and then militarily occupied portions of Hungary's territory.
On 4 June 1920, at the Grand Trianon palace in Versailles, Hungary signed the peace treaty dictated by the Allied and Associated Powers. The terms were not negotiated but presented for acceptance or rejection in full. The treaty legally recognised the existing demarcation lines as Hungary's new international borders, ended the Allied-enforced blockade, and restored free trade among former Habsburg lands.
Hungary's territory and population were dramatically reduced, with large Magyar-speaking minorities left outside the new borders. Agitation for revision began immediately after signing, and the treaty remained a source of profound political grievance in Hungary. The boundaries established in 1920 have remained largely intact, with only minor adjustments following World War II and temporary reversals during Hungary's territorial expansion between 1938 and 1941.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent