Wendish question
Encyclopedia
The Wendish question ( Prekmurian: Vednsko pitanje, or Vendiško pitanje) in Hungarian politics concerns the origin and nomenclature of the Hungarian Slovenes
.
The traditional Hungarian term for the Slovenes living in Hungary
was "Wend" (Hungarian: vend). Many Slovenes in Hungary accepted this nomenclature, although in their dialect, they always referred to themselves as "Slovenes". In the last decades of the 19th century, and especially during the Horthy regime
, the term "Wend" was used in order to emphasize the difference between the Slovenes of historic Hungary and other Slovenes.
The borders between Hungary and Serbia-Croatia-Slovenia
were finally regulated by the Treaty of Trianon
on June 4, 1920. The territory inhabited by the Slovenes (the so-called Vendvidék) was divided by the watershed of the two rivers Raba
and Mura. The Mura region (Prekmurje in Slovene) including the areas of Murska Sobota
and Lendava
went to Slovenia
, while the Raba Region (Porabje in Slovene) including nine communes around Szentgotthárd
became part of Hungary. After this separation, the two regions developed independently in terms of economy, politics, culture and ethnicity.
After the German invasion of Yugoslavia
in 1941, Hungary (re-)annexed the regions lost in 1920 including the Slovenian Prekmurje. It was expedient to argue that the inhabitants of the Prekmurje were not Slovenes after all, helping to substantiate Hungary's claim on the Prekmurje. Sándor Mikola (1871–1945), a well-known Hungarian physicist hailing from the Slovene Mura Region, used his influence to publicize this view in his book A Vendség múltja és jelene (The past and present of the Wends). In the book he describes how the Wends were descended from the Celts, but assimilated into the surrounding Slavic population. This theory has no scientific foundation and is not linguistically substantiated in the language of this population.
The Prekmurje remained a part of Yugoslavia (Slovenia
) when the Trianon boundaries were restored after World War II.
Hungarian Slovenes
Hungarian Slovenes are an autochthonous ethnic and linguistic Slovene minority living in Hungary. The largest groups are the Rába Slovenes in the Rába Valley in western Hungary between the town of Szentgotthárd and the borders with Slovenia and Austria. They speak the Prekmurje dialect of Slovene...
.
The traditional Hungarian term for the Slovenes living in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
was "Wend" (Hungarian: vend). Many Slovenes in Hungary accepted this nomenclature, although in their dialect, they always referred to themselves as "Slovenes". In the last decades of the 19th century, and especially during the Horthy regime
Kingdom of Hungary (1920–1946)
The Kingdom of Hungary also known as the Regency, existed from 1920 to 1946 and was a de facto country under Regent Miklós Horthy. Horthy officially represented the abdicated Hungarian monarchy of Charles IV, Apostolic King of Hungary...
, the term "Wend" was used in order to emphasize the difference between the Slovenes of historic Hungary and other Slovenes.
The borders between Hungary and Serbia-Croatia-Slovenia
State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs
The State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs was a short-lived state formed from the southernmost parts of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy after its dissolution at the end of the World War I by the resident population of Slovenes, Croats, and Serbs...
were finally regulated by the Treaty of Trianon
Treaty of Trianon
The Treaty of Trianon was the peace agreement signed in 1920, at the end of World War I, between the Allies of World War I and Hungary . The treaty greatly redefined and reduced Hungary's borders. From its borders before World War I, it lost 72% of its territory, which was reduced from to...
on June 4, 1920. The territory inhabited by the Slovenes (the so-called Vendvidék) was divided by the watershed of the two rivers Raba
Raba
Raba can refer to:*Raba, Indonesia, a town on Sumbawa island, Indonesia*Raba , a river in Poland, tributary of the Vistula*Rabbah bar Nahmani, known simply as Rabbah, was a Babylonian rabbi known in the Talmud as an Amora...
and Mura. The Mura region (Prekmurje in Slovene) including the areas of Murska Sobota
Murska Sobota
Murska Sobota is a city in northeastern Slovenia. It is located in the eponymous municipality near the Mura River in the region of Prekmurje and is the regional capital.-Name:...
and Lendava
Lendava
Lendava is a town and a municipality in Slovenia in the region of Prekmurje. It is close to the border crossing with Hungary at Dolga vas-Rédics, and Hungarian is one of the official languages of the municipality, along with Slovene...
went to Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
, while the Raba Region (Porabje in Slovene) including nine communes around Szentgotthárd
Szentgotthárd
Szentgotthárd is the westernmost town of Hungary. It is situated on the Rába River near the Austrian border, and is home to much of Hungary's small Slovene ethnic minority....
became part of Hungary. After this separation, the two regions developed independently in terms of economy, politics, culture and ethnicity.
After the German invasion of Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
in 1941, Hungary (re-)annexed the regions lost in 1920 including the Slovenian Prekmurje. It was expedient to argue that the inhabitants of the Prekmurje were not Slovenes after all, helping to substantiate Hungary's claim on the Prekmurje. Sándor Mikola (1871–1945), a well-known Hungarian physicist hailing from the Slovene Mura Region, used his influence to publicize this view in his book A Vendség múltja és jelene (The past and present of the Wends). In the book he describes how the Wends were descended from the Celts, but assimilated into the surrounding Slavic population. This theory has no scientific foundation and is not linguistically substantiated in the language of this population.
The Prekmurje remained a part of Yugoslavia (Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
) when the Trianon boundaries were restored after World War II.