# Béla Kun

> Hungarian Communist revolutionary and politician, the de facto leader of the Hungarian Soviet Republic in 1919, People's Commissar of Foreign Affairs

**Wikidata**: [Q151646](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q151646)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Béla_Kun)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/bela-kun

## Summary
Béla Kun was a Hungarian Communist revolutionary and politician who served as the de facto leader of the Hungarian Soviet Republic in 1919. He held the position of People's Commissar of Foreign Affairs during this period. His career was defined by his revolutionary activities in Hungary and his alignment with the emerging Soviet political sphere following World War I.

## Biography
- **Born:** February 20, 1886
- **Nationality:** Hungarian
- **Education:** Franz Joseph University
- **Known for:** De facto leadership of the Hungarian Soviet Republic in 1919; serving as People's Commissar of Foreign Affairs
- **Employer(s):** Hungarian Soviet Republic
- **Field(s):** Politics, Revolutionary Communism, Diplomacy, Journalism

## Contributions
- **Leadership of the Hungarian Soviet Republic (1919):** Kun served as the de facto leader of this short-lived communist state, which was established in the aftermath of World War I.
- **People's Commissar of Foreign Affairs:** He held the top diplomatic post in the Hungarian Soviet Republic, managing foreign relations during a volatile geopolitical period.
- **Revolutionary Political Movement:** As a Hungarian Communist revolutionary, he was instrumental in the political upheavals that sought to reshape Hungary's government structure in the early 20th century.

## FAQs
**What was Béla Kun's role in the Hungarian Soviet Republic?**
Béla Kun was the de facto leader of the Hungarian Soviet Republic in 1919 and simultaneously served as the People's Commissar of Foreign Affairs.

**When did Béla Kun live?**
He was born on February 20, 1886, and died on August 29, 1938.

**Where was Béla Kun educated?**
He attended Franz Joseph University, an institution originally founded in 1872 in Kolozsvár (Cluj) within the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

**What aliases did Béla Kun use?**
Throughout his life, he used several names including Kohn Béla, Emmerich Schwarz, Elemér Schwarz, Imre Schwarz, Bela Kun, Bela Kohn, and Elemer Schwarz.

**What was the historical context of Béla Kun's career?**
His political activities took place during the aftermath of World War I (1914–1918) and were centered in Hungary, a Central European nation that became landlocked in 1920 following the Treaty of Trianon.

## Why They Matter
Béla Kun is a significant historical figure due to his leadership of the Hungarian Soviet Republic, a major attempt to establish a communist government in Central Europe outside of Russia. His role as People's Commissar of Foreign Affairs placed him at the intersection of Hungarian national politics and the broader expansion of the Soviet Union's influence. His actions occurred during a critical transformation period for Hungary, marked by the loss of territory under the Treaty of Trianon and the shift from a kingdom to a volatile republic. Kun's efforts represent a key chapter in the history of international communism and the interwar political struggles in Europe.

## Notable For
- **De Facto Leadership:** Serving as the de facto leader of the Hungarian Soviet Republic in 1919.
- **Government Office:** Holding the specific title of People's Commissar of Foreign Affairs.
- **Revolutionary Status:** Being a prominent Hungarian Communist revolutionary.
- **Multiple Aliases:** Using various identities such as Kohn Béla and Emmerich Schwarz.
- **Historical Timing:** Leading a revolutionary government immediately following World War I and preceding the formalization of the Soviet Union in 1922.

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Béla Kun was born on February 20, 1886. He received his higher education at Franz Joseph University, a prominent institution founded on November 10, 1872. Originally located in Kolozsvár (Cluj) within the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the university later moved to Szeged and operated until May 1945. This academic background positioned him within the intellectual milieu of the empire prior to its dissolution.

### Political Leadership and the Hungarian Soviet Republic
Kun was a Hungarian Communist revolutionary and politician. His most significant political achievement occurred in 1919 when he became the de facto leader of the Hungarian Soviet Republic. This regime emerged in the wake of World War I, a global conflict that lasted from 1914 to 1918. Kun's leadership represented a radical shift in Hungarian governance, aiming to align the country with the communist ideologies that were gaining power in Eurasia at the time.

### Diplomatic Role
As the People's Commissar of Foreign Affairs, Kun functioned as the primary diplomat for the Hungarian Soviet Republic. In this role, he navigated the complex international landscape of Central Europe. His tenure coincided with the redrawing of regional borders; notably, the Treaty of Trianon in 1920 would later formalize Hungary's status as a landlocked nation, bordered by seven countries including Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia.

### Geopolitical Context
Kun's career was deeply embedded in the geopolitical struggles of the early 20th century. His revolutionary activities were connected to the Soviet Union, a former country in Eurasia that existed from 1922 to 1991. The context of his work included the dissolution of Austria-Hungary and the subsequent efforts to redefine the Hungarian state. Hungary, a sovereign state and parliamentary republic located in Central Europe, served as the stage for his political endeavors, with Budapest as its capital.

### Personal Identity and Aliases
Throughout his revolutionary career, Béla Kun operated under various names to navigate the political dangers of the time. His recorded aliases include Kohn Béla, Emmerich Schwarz, Elemér Schwarz, Imre Schwarz, Bela Kun, Bela Kohn, and Elemer Schwarz. These identities are documented in numerous international library and archival systems, reflecting the extensive surveillance and record-keeping associated with his political activities. He died on August 29, 1938.

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. BnF authorities
3. [Governments of Hungary]
4. International Standard Name Identifier
5. Virtual International Authority File
6. CiNii Research
7. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
8. Autoritats UB
9. Treccani's Enciclopedia on line
10. Enciclopedia Treccani
11. [Source](http://purl.org/pressemappe20/beaconlist/pe)
12. Dizionario di Storia
13. Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands