The problem of „Hungarian optants”–the first major diplomatic crisis between Hungary and Romania after the Trianon Treaty. Cover Image

Problema „optanţilor maghiari”. Prima criză diplomatică majoră Ungaria-România post-Trianon.
The problem of „Hungarian optants”–the first major diplomatic crisis between Hungary and Romania after the Trianon Treaty.

Author(s): Iacob Paul
Subject(s): Interwar Period (1920 - 1939), Sociology of Law, Geopolitics
Published by: Editura Academiei Române
Keywords: Hungary;Trianon;optants;Transylvania;

Summary/Abstract: After the unification of Transylvania with Romania by the act of December 1, 1918, a series of internal and international issues had to be resolved regarding the establishment of the western borders of the Romanian state, succession of the states governed by international law, of the citizenship of the inhabitants of Transylvania, not least the right to property. The Treaty of Trianon of June 4, 1920, has ruled a series of measures concerning Romania and Hungary, among which: Hungary was obliged to hand over to Romania the historical and property archives of Transylvania and, at the same time, the inhabitants of Transylvania who were up to the Great Union considered citizens of the Habsburg monarchy that broke up, they have been granted a right of option on the citizenship that each of them chooses, whether Romanian as a resident of Transylvania returned to Romania or Hungary or another citizenship of the successor states with historical provinces taken from the empire. Immediately after this treaty, the first diplomatic crisis, called the crisis of "Hungarian optans", emerged between Romania and Hungary, materialized through a long series of claims and negotiations at the level of international organisations triggered by the great Hungarian landowners (grofi) from Transylvania. The problem of property belonging to the "Hungarian optants", which was to be expropriated and then divided by ownership, was the subject of fierce disputes between national authorities and international organizations, a controversythat unfortunately is not over yet.

  • Issue Year: 31/2018
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 87-93
  • Page Count: 7
  • Language: English