COLLECTION NAME:
David Rumsey Historical Map Collection
Record
Author:
Teleki, Paul
Date:
1922
Short Title:
Ethnographic Map of Hungary Based on Density of Population
Type:
Separate Map
Obj Height cm:
58
Obj Width cm:
80
Scale 1:
1,000,000
Note:
Twelve printed editions of this map produced between 1919 and 1941 have been accounted for, with this being the first map targeted at an English-speaking audience and the first edition to explain the rationale behind the representations.
Country:
Hungary
Subject:
Ethnography; Nationality; Race
Full Title:
Ethnographic Map of Hungary Based on Density of Population
List No:
10678.000
Publication Author:
Teleki, Paul
Pub Date:
1922
Pub Title:
Ethnographic Map of Hungary Based on Density of Population
Pub Note:
"The Important "Red Map." Created by the Future Wartime Prime Minister of Hungary for the Trianon Peace Talks This is one of the most influential maps of Hungary ever produced and possibly the most notable of the ethnographic maps of the early 20th century. Originally compiled in the period 1918-19, the original edition of the map was presented to the delegates of the Trianon Peace Talk while they were negotiating the future of post-war central Europe. The map was created by a young professor of geography named Pal Teleki who was trying to justify the preservation of a larger Hungarian state. The map is a feat of creative persuasion. Traditional ethnographic maps, many of which had been already produced of this ethnically complex part of central Europe, tended to color in each area according to the dominant ethnicity of said area. This led to populations that had small pluralities in sparsely populated areas appearing more populous than they really were. While some remedies for this issue were invented, for example breaking down the population of each region into a pie chart, these lacked the powers of persuasion of a traditionally colored map. Teleki decided that, in his map, the area represented by each color would be directly proportional to the total population of each ethnic group. This meant that regions with high populations, such as Budapest., would get a "fair representation," spilling into neighboring regions, while underpopulated areas would be left blank. Of course, one must question the political implications of such a map and the reasons for the bright red Magyar population dominating the map. Teleki was designing this print for the Trianon Conference, in which the Hungarian delegation hoped to sway the conference into allowing for the continuation of a larger Hungarian state. The central argument of the Hungarian delegation was that the Magyar population was dominant within the pre-war borders, an argument strengthened by this map which accounts for the high concentrations of Magyar population in dense urban areas. The results of the conference can be seen in the lower left of the map. The historical topographically-defined borders are shown, while the Trianon borders are shown in red, these are significantly smaller, leaving out, as this map argues, significant numbers of ethnic Hungarians. The implications of these new borders would be a major influence in the Hungarian national conscience for the next hundred years, influencing the country's decisions in WWII, the borders of the Hungarian state during the Soviet Era, and the modern populist government of the country. The first edition of this map appeared on the 21st of February 1919 in a local Hungarian newspaper. Twelve printed editions of this map produced between 1919 and 1941 have been accounted for, with this being the first map targeted at an English-speaking audience and the first edition to explain the rationale behind the representations. The Treaty of Trianon The Treaty of Trianon has been called the most traumatic event in the past hundred years of Hungarian history by Magyar nationalists (which obviously ignores the atrocities of WWII and the Soviet occupation). The Treaty was negotiated as part of the Paris Peace Talks which determined the terms of surrender for the Kingdom of Hungary, and was named after the Grand Trianon Palace of Versailles. While this Treaty is often neglected in favor of the more well-known Treaty of Versailles signed between the Allies and the Kingdom of Germany, Trianon would be one of the defining factors of interwar Central European politics. The terms of the Treaty were effectively dictated by the victorious powers, and while not as harsh as those imposed on Germany, still had far-reaching implications. The treaty included many clauses, including stipulating that the Hungarian military would be reduced to 35,000 soldiers and the Hungarian navy disbanded. The most offensive terms to Hungarians, however, regarded losses in territory. The treaty would involve a contraction in territory that would reduce the population of Hungary by 64% and relegate many ethnic Hungarians to minority status. Furthermore, these decisions were decided with only a single plebiscite, which served to resolve a small border dispute between Hungary and Austria. This was contrary to the principle of self-determination which the victorious powers so championed. Hungarians were left feeling enraged by the massive loss of territory to their state which drastically reduced the importance of Hungary on the European stage after the war. Count Pál Teleki Born into an important Hungarian family with political ties, Count Teleki first rose to prominence as a university professor specializing in Hungarian political science and geography. While some Hungarian sources claim Teleki fought in World War I as a volunteer, his involvement in the war effort is difficult to trace past his chairmanship of the National Welfare Office for Disabled Servicemen, where he supported eugenic policies. After the war, Teleki would be one of the delegates chosen to represent Hungary at the Paris Peace Conference. His Red Map would fail to convince the delegates from the victorious delegates to preserve an expanded Hungary, but it would become a cause popular among ethnic Hungarians who were enraged by the massive loss of territory that they suffered as outlined in the Treaty of Trianon. Partly due to the success of this map, Teleki would first become Prime Minister in 1920, but would retire in 1921 due to his frustrations with party politics. He would return to his previous post as geography professor at Budapest University for the next seventeen years, before becoming Minister for Education in May 1938, and Prime Minister nine months later. Teleki's second tenure as Prime Minister would be based on the nationalist movement that had grown around his Red Map. The new boundaries imposed by the Treaty of Trianon rankled Hungarians who believed that they should be still be in control of the lands historically belonging to Hungary. These Hungarians saw a champion in Teleki, however Teleki was unable to meet these goals due to the rise of Hitler. Growing Hungarian territory while preserving its autonomy proved to be too great a task for Teleki, who tried to navigate a tangle of alliances that would, in the end, please neither Axis or Allies. He would commit suicide in April 1941 as German troops were about to march through Hungary to occupy Bessarabia. A pro-Axis Hungarian government would rise in a coup the next day. Teleki remains a very controversial figure in Hungarian history. His resistance to Germany and support for an expanded Hungary have made him a hero in some circles. However, Teleki made significant concessions to Germany, and enforced and vastly expanded anti-Semitic policies instituted by his fascist predecessor as Prime Minister. His suicide was described by Churchill, after the war, as an act of patriotism that was an attempt to absolve Hungary of the sins that would occur under the collaboration governments." (Ruderman, 2020)
Pub List No:
10678.000
Pub Type:
Separate Map
Pub Height cm:
58
Pub Width cm:
80
Image No:
10678000.jp2
Authors:
Teleki, Paul
Ethnographic Map of Hungary Based on Density of Population
