100 years of diplomatic relations between Estonia and Hungary

EST / ENG / HUN

Hungary recognized the Republic of Estonia de jure on 24 February 1921, marking the start of diplomatic relations between Estonia and Hungary.

For the anniversary year, we have compiled a timeline of Estonian–Hungarian relations. It is a chronological gallery of historical photographs, documents, and texts, which provides an overview of the special and important moments of the relations between the two countries over 100 years.

To see the photo titles, move your cursor to the photo.

Happy time travelling!

Embassy of the Republic of Estonia in Budapest

Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

sixteenth century

Prologue

István (Stefan) Bátory. Photo: Wikipedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Anonymous_Stephen_B%C3%A1thory_(detail)_01.jpg

The King of Poland, István (Stephen) Báthory, was of Hungarian descent and was a Grand Duke of Livonia from 1582 to 1588. He granted Valga town privileges and in 1583, founded the first upper secondary school in Estonia in Tartu – the Tartu Jesuit grammar school – which is considered to be the predecessor of the University of Tartu.

nineteenth century

In the middle of the nineteenth century, interest in related languages arose in both Estonia and Hungary and the tribal movement began

Antal Reguly. Photo: Wikipedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Antal_Reguly.jpg

Thanks to this, Hungarian linguists Antal Reguly and Pál Hunfalvy visited Estonia. The latter published a book about the journey in 1871. Béla Vikár translated a song from Kalev’s Son into Hungarian. Estonian–Hungarian relations were significantly influenced by Estonian linguists Mihkel Veske and Karl August Hermann, and at the beginning of the twentieth century also by Villem Ernits and Julius Mark.

24 February 1918

An independent Republic of Estonia was declared

Public reading of the Estonian Declaration of Independence from the balcony of the Pärnu Endla Theatre. Photo: Pärnu Museum’s collection

At the initiative of the Salvation Committee, the Estonian Declaration of Independence was compiled, which was publicly read on 23 February 1918 from the balcony of the Endla Theatre in Pärnu. The next day, on 24 February 1918, the Salvation Committee declared Estonia an independent democratic republic.

16 November 1918

Hungary proclaimed its republic

After the First World War, the Austro–Hungarian dual monarchy collapsed, and on 16 November 1918, the Hungarian People’s Republic was proclaimed. From March to July 1919, Hungary had a communist regime, and in 1920, the Kingdom of Hungary was restored.

1919

Writer and journalist Eduard Vilde was appointed Estonia’s first representative to Sweden, Denmark, Germany, and Hungary

Illustration from the 1976 joint publication Lõbus Vilde (Merry Vilde) by Romulus Tiitus and Elem Treier. Photo: publisher Kunst in Tallinn

In 1919, Vilde was appointed the diplomatic representative to the German government, where, among other things, he was tasked with obtaining recognition for Estonia from Hungary. Vilde was not able to visit Budapest as a representative of Estonia, but visited Hungary several times later and wrote adulatory memoirs of it.

24 February 1921

Hungary recognised the Republic of Estonia de jure – tenth among the countries of the world (de facto as soon as on 18 January 1921)

Letter from the Hungarian representative to the Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs. Photo: National Archives

Letter from the Hungarian representative to the Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs. Photo: National Archives

1921

In January, Mihály Jungerth arrived in Estonia as the head of the Hungarian official delegation, becoming the first Hungarian ambassador two years later

Mihály Jungerth. Photo: National Archives

The primary objective of the delegation was to negotiate with Soviet Russia on the repatriation of Hungarian prisoners of war. The delegation gradually became a diplomatic mission, and Jungerth became the first official representative of Hungary in Estonia. In 1923, Mihály Jungerth was appointed the first Hungarian ambassador to Estonia.

1922–1927

In 1922–1927, Ferdinand Virro, an industrialist, was the first honorary consul of Hungary in Estonia

Ferdinand Virro. Photo: National Archives

1922

In 1922, Elemér Virányi was elected the first lecturer of Hungarian language at the University of Tartu; he was also the chairman of the first Estonian–Finnish society established in Hungary

József Györke and Jenő Fazekas continued his work at the university in the 1930s. Felix Oinas was the first Estonian language lecturer in Budapest in 1938–1940.

1923–1928

From 1923 to 1928, Mihály Jungerth worked in the same building as the Finnish Embassy in Tallinn and represented the Kingdom of Hungary both in the Baltic States and in Finland

Office of the Hungarian Embassy at Pikk jalg 14. Photo: Wikimapia.org http://wikimapia.org/33201580/Pikk-jalg-14#/photo/4906594

In 1928, Hungary decided to transfer the ambassador to Helsinki.

1923

In 1923, the first Hungarian visiting professor, legist István Csekey, started working at the University of Tartu

István Csekey. Photo: National Archives

On his initiative, the Hungarian Scientific Institute was established at the university, which became an important centre for introducing Hungarian culture, and Csekey himself was its first director. He was also active in the Hungarian–Estonian society and was its co-chairman.

1935

The Estonian state took an important step in establishing a permanent representation in Budapest in 1935

Richard Jöffert. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Richard Jöffert, a young Hungarian-fluent diplomat, was sent to Hungary as a temporary chargé d’affaires. After several attempts, in the autumn of 1939, Johan-Ernst-Hans Markus, an experienced diplomat, was appointed the first envoy residing in Budapest. Both he and the embassy attaché remained in Budapest until the occupation of Estonia in the summer of 1940.

Johan-Ernst-Hans Markus. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

1937

Hungarian–Estonian cultural agreement

Az Észt Köztársaság és a Magyar Királyság közötti kulturális együttműködési megállapodás. Kép: Riigi Teataja, 100., 1937. december 17. https://dea.digar.ee/cgi-bin/dea?a=d&d=AKriigiteataja19371217.2.4

In 1937, Ministers Bálint Hóman and Aleksander Jaakson signed the cultural agreement between the Republic of Estonia and the Kingdom of Hungary in Budapest. Under the agreement, Estonian–Hungarian and Hungarian–Estonian societies were established in the same year.

Agreement between the Republic of Estonia and the Kingdom of Hungary regarding intellectual cooperation between the two countries. Photo: Riigi Teataja, No. 100, 17 December 1937 https://dea.digar.ee/cgi-bin/dea?a=d&d=AKriigiteataja19371217.2.4

Last page of the original agreement. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

23 August 1939

Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact

a Molotov–Ribbentrop-paktum térképe az aláírásokkal. Kép: Észt Nemzeti Levéltár

The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact was signed in Moscow, and its secret supplementary protocol divided Eastern Europe between Germany and the USSR. This paved the way for the imminent occupation and annexation of the Republic of Estonia.

1940–1945

The incorporation of the Republic of Estonia into the Soviet Union

On 21 June 1940, a coup was carried out in Estonia with the support of the Red Army. The incorporation of the Republic of Estonia into the Soviet Union began. The government of the Estonian SSR decided to liquidate all Estonian embassies, consulates, and honorary consulates abroad and transfer their assets to the local offices of the USSR.

1940

Closure of the embassy

a Johan-Ernst-Hans Markus követnek Tallinnból küldött távirat, melyben elrendelik a budapesti képviselet felszámolását. Kép: Észt Külügyminisztérium

On 12 July 1940, envoy Johan-Ernst-Hans Markus received a telegram from Tallinn demanding that the archives of the Budapest representative office be transferred to Berlin and that the embassy be liquidated. On 13 August 1940, the surplus of the embassy’s cash register was deposited in a local bank in Budapest, and the savings bank book was sent by post to Tallinn. The envoy himself did not travel to Estonia.

Envoy Johan-Ernst-Hans Markus’ reply to the telegram sent from Tallinn. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Directive to recall envoy Johan-Ernst-Hans Markus. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

1944

Occupations in Hungary

In 1944, Hungary was under German occupation, followed by the occupation of the USSR in 1945. In 1946, the Kingdom of Hungary was abolished and in 1948, Hungary was declared a people’s democracy.

23 October 1956

Uprising

Hungarian uprising. Photo: Wikipedia

In October 1956, an uprising took place in Hungary and the Republic of Hungary was proclaimed. In early November, Soviet forces suppressed the uprising and the communist regime was restored. The uprising also inspired several resistance movements in Estonia.

23 October 1989

The Republic of Hungary is declared again

The caretaker President Mátyás Szűrös again proclaimed the Republic of Hungary. A few days earlier, Parliament had passed legislation that allowed for democratic changes such as a multi-party system and separation of powers.

20 August 1991

Restoration of independence of the Republic of Estonia

Removal of a statue of Lenin in Tallinn on 23 August 1991. Photo: Peeter Langovits

On 20 August 1991, the Supreme Council of the Republic of Estonia adopted a decision on Estonia’s national independence. The Republic of Estonia was restored on the basis of legal continuity.

24 August 1991

The Hungarian government recognised the restored independence of the Republic of Estonia as the third country (after Iceland and Lithuania)

2 September 1991

Diplomatic relations, which were cut in 1940, were re-established on 2 September 1991

Jegyzőkönyv az Észt Köztársaság és a Magyar Köztársaság közötti diplomáciai kapcsolatok újrafelvételéről. Kép: az Észt Külügyminisztérium Levéltára

The protocol on the re-establishment of diplomatic relations was signed in Budapest.

10 December 1991

Hungary reappointed its ambassador to Estonia (based in Helsinki)

Jávorszky Béla nagykövet megbízólevél-átadási ünnepsége. Kép: Észt Külügyminisztérium

Béla Jávorszky became the first post-war ambassador.

Credentials of ambassador Bela Jávorszky. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

August 1992

Hungarian Foreign Minister Géza Jeszenszky visited Estonia

Az Észt Köztársaság és a Magyar Köztársaság közötti baráti kapcsolatok és együttműködés alapjairól szóló szerződés. Kép: Riigi Teataja

The Treaty on Friendship and Cooperation between the Republic of Ukraine and the Republic of Estonia and the agreement on the reciprocal abolition of visa obligations were signed.

Treaty on Friendship and Cooperation between the Republic of Ukraine and the Republic of Estonia. Photo: Riigi Teataja

26 January 1993

Prime Minister Mart Laar paid an official visit to Hungary

Mart Laar miniszterelnök. Kép: Postimees, fotó: Ain Protsin

1994

Hungarian honorary consuls appointed to Estonia: Mall Hellam (Tallinn) and Ago Kunnap (Tartu)

28 April 1994

An agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of the Republic of Estonia on Cooperation in the Field of Culture, Education and Science was signed in Tallinn

Az Észt Köztársaság és a Magyar Köztársaság közötti baráti kapcsolatok és együttműködés alapjairól szóló szerződés. Kép: Riigi Teataja

On the basis of this agreement, a new cultural cooperation programme is agreed on every three years, setting out the goals and more detailed plans for the next period.

Pages of the cultural cooperation programme for 2020–2022 between the Estonian Ministry of Culture and the Hungarian Ministry of Human Resources. Photo: Ministry of Culture https://www.kul.ee/sites/kulminn/files/eesti-ungari_kultuurikoostooprogramm_2020-2022.pdf

28 March 1995

Toivo Tasa, Estonia’s first post-war ambassador to Hungary (based in Vienna), presents his credentials

Ambassador Toivo Tasa laying a wreath on the Heroes’ Square in Budapest. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

25 July 1995

András Bereczki, Assistant to the Chair of Finno-Ugric Studies at Eötvös Loránd University, was appointed honorary consul of Estonia in Hungary

Észtország magyarországi tiszteletbeli főkonzulja, Bereczki András. Kép: Bereczki András magángyűjteménye

2–4 May 1996

State visit of the President of Hungary Árpád Göncz to Estonia

Göncz Árpád ja Lennart Meri köztársasági elnökök és házastársaik. Kép: az Észt Külügyminisztérium Levéltára

He was the first Hungarian head of state to officially visit Estonia (no state visits took place between the two world wars).

13–14 May 1997

President Lennart Meri was the first Estonian head of state to go on a state visit to Hungary

Göncz Árpád és Lennart Meri köztársasági elnökök. Kép: az Észt Külügyminisztérium Levéltára

27 February 1998

Finno-Ugric dimension and cultural relations

Az Észt Intézet magyarországi kirendeltsége Budapesten, a Falk Miksa u. 22. címen. Kép: a Budapesti Észt Nagykövetség magángyűjteménye

The Finno-Ugric dimension and cultural relations have always been important in Estonian–Hungarian relations. The Hungarian representative office of the Estonian Institute has been operating in Budapest since 1998. It is one of the two Estonian cultural institutes abroad (the other is located in Helsinki).
Read more: https://estinst.ee/en/about-us/estonian-institute-in-hungary/

4 August 1999

Estonia’s first post-war embassy in Hungary began operations in August 1999, when chargé d’affaires Lembit Luht was sent to Budapest

A háború utáni első Észt Nagykövetség Budapesten. Kép: a Budapesti Észt Nagykövetség levéltára

The embassy was located at 12 Lendvay Street and was housed in a building built in the twentieth century by an English metalworker. Between the two world wars, the embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands was also located in the building.

30 September 1999

After a 76-year break, Hungary re-opened its embassy in Tallinn

The Hungarian embassy in Estonia was open until 15 September 2014. From the same date, Hungary continued to cover Estonia from Helsinki until it re-opened its embassy in Tallinn in 2018.

30 September 1999

The first Hungarian ambassador to reside in Estonia after 1928 was Béla Jávorszky, who presented his credentials in September 1999

Jávorszky Béla. Kép: Wikipedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:J%C3%A1vorszky_B%C3%A9la.jpg

2000

Opening of the Hungarian Institute in Tallinn

A Magyar Intézet Tallinnban, a Piiskopi 2. címen. Kép: Kulturális emlékek jegyzéke, fotó: H. Kuningas, 2020.

Among other things, the strengthening of Estonian–Hungarian relations was also shown by Hungary’s decision to open a cultural office in Tallinn in February 2000, which was named the Hungarian Institute.

31 May - 1 June 2000

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in Estonia for a two-day visit

Mart Laar és Orbán Viktor a Toompeán. Kép: az Észt Külügyminisztérium Levéltára

He was the first Hungarian prime minister to visit Estonia.

12-14 December 2000

Hungarian President Ferenc Mádl in Estonia for a state visit

Mádl Ferenc és Lennart Meri köztársasági elnökök a Feketefejűek Házában. Kép: az Észt Külügyminisztérium Levéltára

13 December 2001

Toivo Tasa was the first post-war Estonian ambassador residing in Budapest

Toivo Tasa egy dunai hajón. Kép: a Budapesti Észt Nagykövetség levéltára

Toivo Tasa presented his credentials to the President of Hungary, Ferenc Madl, in Budapest on 13 December 2001, and on the same day, laid a wreath with a blue-and-black-and-white ribbon on the monument to those who fell for Hungary. Toivo Tasa remained the ambassador until 2006.

11-14 September 2002

President Arnold Rüütel and Mrs. Ingrid Rüütel on a state visit to Hungary

Arnold Rüütel ja Mádl Ferenc köztársasági elnökök házastársaikkal. Kép: az Észt Külügyminisztérium Levéltára

1 May 2004

Together with eight other countries, Estonia and Hungary joined the European Union in 2004

Az Európai Unió zászlajának felvonása Kadriorgban

27-28 March 2006

In March 2006, the President of Hungary, László Sólyom, paid a state visit to Estonia

Arnold Rüütel, Észtország köztársasági elnöke és Sólyom László, Magyarország köztársasági elnöke. Kép: az Észt Külügyminisztérium Levéltára

19 May 2009

Estonia’s newly renovated and beautiful embassy building was opened in Budapest

A Budapesti Észt Nagykövetség az Áldás u. 3. címen. Kép: a Budapesti Észt Nagykövetség levéltára

A new period began for the Estonian embassy when the then Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Paet opened a newly renovated new embassy building owned by the Estonian state at Áldás 3.

5-6 October 2009

Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves paid a state visit to Hungary

Toomas Hendrik Ilves és Sólyom László köztársasági elnökök találkozója a Sándor-palotában, Budapesten. Kép: Getty Images

20–22 July 2013

The President of Hungary, János Áder, paid a state visit to Estonia

Áder János és Toomas Hendrik Ilves köztársasági elnökök. Kép: az Észt Külügyminisztérium Levéltára

june 2014

In June 2014, Hungary decided to close its embassy in Tallinn

Priit Pallum nagykövet zárszava a nagykövetség vendégkönyvében 2014. szeptember 30-án. Kép: a Budapesti Észt Nagykövetség levéltára

In July of the same year, the Estonian government announced that it would close the embassy in Budapest and appoint a non-resident envoy to Hungary. Nevertheless, excellent and close bilateral relations between Estonia and Hungary continued. Honorary consulate general András Bereczki remained in Hungary to assist Estonian citizens, and the Estonian Institute’s representative office in Budapest also continued its activities.

1 August 2016

Hungary opened a diplomatic representation in Tallinn on the premises of the Hungarian Institute under the jurisdiction of the Hungarian embassy in Helsinki

20 August 2018

Estonia re-opened the embassy in Budapest, and Hungary re-opened its embassy in Tallinn in September of the same year

Kristi Karelsohn nagykövet megbízólevelének átadása alkalmából adott díszőrség Budapesten, a Hősök terén. Kép: Kristi Karelsohn magángyűjteménye

The current Estonian ambassador Kristi Karelsohn presented her credentials to President János Áder on 3 October 2018.

Read about the Estonian embassy: https://budapest.mfa.ee
Read about the Hungarian embassy: https://tallinn.mfa.gov.hu/eng

24 February 2021

100 years have passed since Hungary recognised the Republic of Estonia de jure and established official diplomatic relations

Az észt-magyar diplomáciai kapcsolatok centenáriumának logója. Kép: Észt Külügyminisztérium