István Bethlen: The prime minister who rebuilt Hungary and paid the ultimate price

As one of the most significant Hungarian politicians of the 20th century, Count István Bethlen provided reliability and stability during a tumultuous period. During his decade-long tenure as Prime Minister, he successfully steered Hungary out of the economic and social collapse caused by the Treaty of Trianon. Both his background and personality positioned him to shape history, but he ultimately paid a heavy price for it.

A nobleman with Transylvanian roots, but not a descendant of Gábor Bethlen

István Bethlen hailed from an old Transylvanian aristocratic family, though despite sharing the surname, he was not a direct descendant of Prince Gábor Bethlen. Through family ties to the Bethlen and Teleki families, he was born in Gernyeszeg, along the Maros River. As a child, he tended a small garden on the family estate, played with local village children, and at the age of nine, was sent to the prestigious Theresianum in Vienna. For ten years, he lived under strict discipline, with his daily schedule planned from morning to night—learning languages, engaging in sports, and even mastering the cimbalom. The institution’s social environment helped him develop strong interpersonal skills, which proved invaluable in his later political career.

At nineteen, he enrolled in the Law Faculty of Budapest, though this was more of a formality—he preferred social gatherings, attending theater performances and balls, and participating in hunts. He did not complete all of his exams. In contrast, he took his studies at the Agricultural Academy in Mosonmagyaróvár seriously, ensuring he could manage the family’s Mezősámsond estate. He was in Budapest procuring agricultural equipment when he met his future wife, Countess Margit Bethlen. While both belonged to the Bethlen lineage, their familial connection was distant.

The young couple traveled frequently, had sons born every two years, but over time, their relationship lost its spark. István Bethlen was a reserved, pragmatic man who was deliberate in his politics. His contemporaries often remarked that Budapest had two great mysteries: the recipe for Pick salami and the mind of István Bethlen. In contrast, his wife, Countess Margit, was drawn to a vibrant and artistic lifestyle, becoming a prominent figure in literary and theatrical circles. Eventually, their marriage continued only in name.

A rising political career and advocacy for agricultural interests

In 1901, at just 27 years old, István Bethlen entered Parliament as a representative. Initially, he focused on agricultural issues, an area in which he excelled. He established dairy and sales cooperatives, promoted grain storage solutions, and supported railway construction. He was an early observer of the impact that Romanian national movements would have on Transylvania. In Parliament, he repeatedly emphasised the importance of strengthening Hungarian minorities in annexed territories, fearing the isolation of Székely Land.

His approach to politics was devoid of hostility or ideological fervor—he prioritised rational objectives and found the necessary means and allies to achieve them. He rejected both far-left and far-right authoritarian aspirations. His name was already considered for the prime ministership in 1917–1918, but it was not until 1921 that he was appointed to form a government.

A decade of nation-building

One of István Bethlen’s first major achievements was thwarting King Charles IV’s attempt to reclaim the throne and finalising the Habsburg dethronement. He consolidated political forces, established a unified governing party, and embarked on national reconstruction. Through the Sopron referendum and the recovery of the Baranya Triangle, he slightly mitigated the territorial losses inflicted by Trianon.

He understood that only a stable, educated, and economically robust society could produce tangible results. Thus, he closely collaborated with Minister of Culture Kunó Klebelsberg, who expanded Hungary’s educational and cultural institutions. By the mid-1920s, the Hungarian National Bank was established, and with the League of Nations’ 250-million-korona loan, Hungary stabilised its economy and introduced the pengő currency. Despite the 1925 franc-counterfeiting scandal shaking his position, Regent Horthy ultimately rejected his resignation.