Hungarians in Croatia

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Hungarians of Croatia
Prosvjetno-kulturni centar Madara u Hrvatskoj jugoistokB2.JPG
Hungarian Cultural and Educational Center in Osijek
Total population
10,315 [1]
Regions with significant populations
Languages
Croatian, Hungarian
Religion
Catholicism and Calvinism
Related ethnic groups
Hungarians, Hungarians in Vojvodina, Szekelys of Bukovina

Hungarians are a recognized ethnic minority in Croatia. According to the 2011 census there are 14,048 people of Hungarian ethnicity living in Croatia (or 0.33% of total population). [2] Around two thirds of them (8,249) live in Osijek-Baranja County in eastern Croatia, especially in the Croatian part of the Baranya region which borders Hungary to the north. [3] There are also small Hungarian communities in other parts of the country, including areas in Bjelovar-Bilogora County in central Croatia where 881 people identify themselves as Hungarian. [3]

Contents

History

Coat of arms of the Kingdom of Hungary and Croatia (1915) Coa Hungary Country History med (1915).svg
Coat of arms of the Kingdom of Hungary and Croatia (1915)

Hungary and Croatia have a long history dating back to the dynastic crises that followed the death of king Dmitar Zvonimir in 1089. His widow Helen II supported her brother Ladislaus I of Hungary in his claim for the kingdom of Croatia amidst the political turmoil. Two years later, Ladislaus managed to seize power and proclaim his sovereignty over the Croatian kingdom, [4] however, he and his armies were still unable to gain full control by the time of his death in 1095. It was his nephew Coloman I who finally defeated the last native Croatian king Peter II of Croatia at the Battle of Gvozd Mountain, and was then crowned as King of Croatia in capital city of Biograd on the Adriatic Sea in 1102. [5]

After the Hungarian victory, Croatia and Hungary entered into a personal union in which certain terms were agreed on. The most significant were that two would remain under Hungarian rule while some separate Croatian institutions were maintained such as the Sabor (Croatian parliament), the ban (viceroy), and retention of Croatian lands and titles. [6] The union lasted until 1918; in that time, many Hungarian military personnel settled in Croatia during the Ottoman invasion, and the borderlands of Hungary and Croatia proper blurred with the ethnic mix.

Population

1890 census of Magyars in the kingdom Magyars (Hungarians) in Hungary, census 1890.jpg
1890 census of Magyars in the kingdom
Hungarians in eastern Croatia (2011 census) Hungarians in eastern Croatia.jpg
Hungarians in eastern Croatia (2011 census)
Hungarians in Croatia by Municipality Madari u hrvatskoj.png
Hungarians in Croatia by Municipality

According to the 2022 Census, Municipalities with significant Hungarian minority (10 percent or more) include: [1]

The largest town with a significant Hungarian population is Beli Manastir, with 637 Hungarians (7.99%).

In addition, 10,231 people identified Hungarian language as their mother tongue. [7]

As of 2009, Hungarian is officially used in two municipalities and four other settlements in Croatia, according to the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. [8]

Language

Municipalities with Hungarian language in official use

Municipality [9] Name in minority languageLanguageAffected settlementsIntroduced based onPopulation (2021)Percentage of
Hungarians (2021)		County
Kneževi Vinogradi Hercegszöllős Hungarian Kneževi Vinogradi, Karanac, Zmajevac, Suza, Kamenac, Kotlina [10] Constitutional Act3,35738.70% Osijek-Baranja
Bilje BellyeHungarianAll settlementsMunicipality Statute4,77225.94% Osijek-Baranja
Ernestinovo ErnestinovoHungarian Laslovo Municipality Statute1,94815.61% Osijek-Baranja
Petlovac BaranyaszentistvánHungarian Novi Bezdan Municipality Statute1,87413.02% Osijek-Baranja
Tompojevci TompojevceHungarian Čakovci Municipality Statute1,1169.0% Vukovar-Syrmia
Tordinci ValkótardHungarian Korođ Municipality Statute1,65718.65% Vukovar-Syrmia

Politics

The two main Hungarian associations in Croatia are the Democratic Union of Hungarians of Croatia (Hungarian : Horvátországi Magyarok Demokratikus Közössége or HMDK) and the Union of Hungarian Associations (Hungarian : Magyar Egyesületek Szövetsége or MESZ).

Hungarians are officially recognized as an autochthonous national minority, and as such, they elect a special representative to the Croatian Parliament. [11]

Every elected special representative since 1992 Parliamentary elections. [12]

No.RepresentativePartyElections wonTerm
1Ferenc Farago Ind. 1992 1992 − 1995
2Sandor Jakab Ind. 1995 1995 − 2000
3Tibor Santo DZMH 2000 2000 − 2003
4Jene Adam DZMH 2003 2003 − 2007
5Deneš ŠojaSMU 2007
2011 		2007 − 2015
6Šandor JuhasSMU 2015 2015 − 2016
7Róbert Jankovics DZMH 2016
2020 		2016 −

Culture

Hungarian House in Cakovci in Vukovar-Syrmia County. Hungarian house Cakovci 2-Magyar haz-Madarska kuca-Madjarska kutsha u Chakovtsima.JPG
Hungarian House in Čakovci in Vukovar-Syrmia County.
Hungarian Cultural Association Vinkovci Hungarian Cultural Association Vinkovci MKUD.jpg
Hungarian Cultural Association Vinkovci

Since 1999, the Hungarian Cultural Society Népkör have organized the "Hungarian Days" festival in Osijek. In 2000 various Hungarian cultural groups have organised Hungarian music and singing festivals.

The Educational and Cultural Center of Hungarians in Croatia is located in Osijek. In Beli Manastir, the town's public library hosts the Central Library of Hungarians in Croatia.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bilje, Croatia</span> Municipality in Baranya, Croatia

Bilje is a municipality in the Baranja region of Osijek-Baranja County, in north-eastern Croatia. It is 5 km northeast of Osijek, on the edge of the Kopački Rit nature park. Prince Eugene of Savoy (1663-1736) constructed a hunting lodge here, Bilje Castle, which later became property of the Teschen branch of the Habsburg family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erdut</span> Municipality in Slavonia, Croatia

Erdut is a village and a municipality in eastern Croatia some 37 km east of the major city of Osijek. Lying on the border with neighbouring Serbia, it was the site of the signing of the 1995 Erdut Agreement, which initiated the UNTAES transitional administration over the Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kneževi Vinogradi</span> Municipality in Baranya, Croatia

Kneževi Vinogradi is a village and municipality in Croatia. It is situated in the Osijek-Baranja County, on the southern slopes of Bansko Brdo, 11 km southeast of Beli Manastir. It lies at an altitude of 103 m. Chief occupations of villagers include farming, viticulture, livestock breeding and dairy industry. At the time of 2011 census, Kneževi Vinogradi was the only municipality in Croatia with a relative majority of Hungarians of Croatia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Markušica</span> Municipality in Slavonia, Croatia

Markušica is a village and a municipality in Vukovar-Syrmia County in eastern Croatia. Markušica is located south of the river Vuka and northwest of the town of Vinkovci. The landscape of the Markušica Municipality is marked by the Pannonian Basin plains and agricultural fields of wheat, maize, common sunflower and sugar beet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jagodnjak</span> Municipality in Baranja, Croatia

Jagodnjak is a village and a municipality in the Osijek-Baranja County, Croatia. Landscape of the Jagodnjak Municipality is marked by the Drava river with surrounding wetland forest and by Pannonian Basin plains with agricultural fields of wheat, common sunflower, maize and sugar beet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Šodolovci</span> Municipality in Slavonia, Croatia

Šodolovci is a village and a municipality in Osijek-Baranja County in eastern Croatia. In the seven villages of the Šodolovci Municipality, there were 1,653 inhabitants at the time of the 2011 Census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vrhovine</span> Municipality in Lika-Senj, Croatia

Vrhovine is a town and a municipality in Lika-Senj County, Croatia. The municipality is part of Lika.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Končanica</span> Municipality in Bjelovar-Bilogora County, Croatia

Končanica is a town and a municipality in Slavonia, in the Bjelovar-Bilogora County of Croatia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Čeminac</span> Municipality in Baranya, Croatia

Čeminac is a village and municipality in Osijek-Baranja County, Croatia. As of 2021, there were 2,856 inhabitants in the municipality. Čeminac is an underdeveloped municipality which is statistically classified as the First Category Area of Special State Concern by the Government of Croatia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Popovac, Osijek-Baranja County</span> Municipality in Baranya, Croatia

Popovac is a village and municipality in Osijek-Baranja County, Croatia. There are 2,084 inhabitants in the municipality. Popovac is an underdeveloped municipality, which is statistically classified as the First Category Area of Special State Concern by the Government of Croatia.

Punitovci is a municipality in Osijek-Baranja County, Croatia. There are a total of 1,803 inhabitants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jasenovac, Osijek-Baranja County</span> Village in Baranya, Croatia

Jasenovac is a settlement in the region of Baranja, Croatia. Administratively, it is located in the Kneževi Vinogradi municipality within the Osijek-Baranja County. In the 2011 Croatian census it had a population of 35.

Kamenac is a settlement in the region of Baranja, Croatia. Administratively, it is located in the Kneževi Vinogradi municipality within the Osijek-Baranja County. Population is 177 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karanac</span> Village in Baranya, Croatia

Karanac is a settlement in the region of Baranja, Croatia. Administratively, it is located in the Kneževi Vinogradi municipality within the Osijek-Baranja County. Population is 1,065 people. Today, the village mainly lives on tourism. The place once belonged to the manor of Darda.

Kotlina is a settlement in the region of Baranja, Croatia. Administratively, it is located in the Kneževi Vinogradi municipality within the Osijek-Baranja County. The population is 334 people.

Sokolovac is a settlement in the region of Baranja, Croatia. Administratively, it is located in the Kneževi Vinogradi municipality within the Osijek-Baranja County. Population is 55 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suza, Osijek-Baranja County</span> Village in Baranya, Croatia

Suza is a settlement in the region of Baranja, Croatia. Administratively, it is located in the Kneževi Vinogradi municipality within the Osijek-Baranja County. Population is 636 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zmajevac</span> Village in Baranya, Croatia

Zmajevac is a settlement in the region of Baranja, Croatia. Administratively, it is located in the Kneževi Vinogradi municipality within the Osijek-Baranja County. The population is 974 people. Zmajevac was founded on the foundations of the Roman colony Ad Novas. In 1246, it is mentioned under the name Verusmorth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Petrovci, Croatia</span> Village in Syrmia, Croatia

Petrovci is a village in eastern Croatia, in the municipality of Bogdanovci. According to the 2011 census, it had a population of 864. The majority of residents are ethnic Rusyns.

The Serbian language is one of the officially recognized minority languages in Croatia. It is primarily used by the Serbs of Croatia. The Croatian Constitution, Croatian Constitutional law on national minorities rights, Law on Education in Language and Script of National Minorities and Law on Use of Languages and Scripts of National Minorities define the public co-official usage of Serbian in Croatia. Serbian and Croatian are two standardized varieties of the pluricentric Serbo-Croatian language. The majority of Serbs of Croatia use Ijekavian pronunciation of Proto-Slavic vowel jat except in the Podunavlje region in Vukovar-Syrmia and Osijek-Baranja Counties where local Serb population use Ekavian pronunciation. Post-World War II and Croatian War of Independence settlers in Podunavlje which have come from Bosnia, Dalmatia or Western Slavonia either use their original Ijekavian pronunciation, adopted Ekavian pronunciation or both of them depending on context. In 2011 Census majority of Serbs of Croatia declared Croatian standardized variety as their first language with Ijekavian pronunciation always being required standard form in Croatian. While Serbian variety recognizes both pronunciations as standard, Ekavian is the more common one as it is the dominant one in Serbia, with Ijekavian being dominant in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and Croatia.

References

  1. 1 2 "Population by Ethnicity/Citizenship/Mother tongue/Religion by Towns/Municipalities" (xlsx). Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in 2021. Zagreb: Croatian Bureau of Statistics. 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  2. ↑ "Population by Ethnicity, by Towns/Municipalities, 2011 Census". Census of Population, Households and Dwellings 2011. Zagreb: Croatian Bureau of Statistics. December 2012.
  3. 1 2 "Population by ethnicity, by towns and municipalities". Census 2011. Croatian Bureau of Statistics . Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  4. ↑ Ladislas I. (2009). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved June 21, 2009, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/327524/Ladislas-I
  5. ↑ "Coloman | king of Hungary".
  6. ↑ "Croatia (History)". Britannica .
  7. ↑ "Population by mother tongue, by towns and municipalities". Croatian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  8. ↑ "Europska povelja o regionalnim ili manjinskim jezicima" (in Croatian). Ministry of Justice (Croatia). 2011-04-12. Archived from the original on December 27, 2013. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
  9. ↑ Government of Croatia (October 2013). "Peto izvješće Republike Hrvatske o primjeni Europske povelje o regionalnim ili manjinskim jezicima" (PDF) (in Croatian). Council of Europe. pp. 34–36. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Statut Općine Kneževi Vinogradi , article 15" (PDF). Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  11. ↑ "Pravo pripadnika nacionalnih manjina u Republici Hrvatskoj na zastupljenost u Hrvatskom saboru". Zakon o izborima zastupnika u Hrvatski sabor (in Croatian). Croatian Parliament. Archived from the original on 2018-10-31. Retrieved 2011-12-29.
  12. ↑ "Arhiva izbora" [Election archive]. Arhiva izbora Republike Hrvatske (in Croatian). Državno izborno povjerenstvo Republike Hrvatske. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
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