Revolutions of 1848

February 23, 1848 - 1849

In March of 1848, a month after the abolition of the Monarchy of France, revolutions swept the cities of Europe. In Habsburg Budapest, revolutionaries initially sought equality under the law and a degree of autonomy, but their quest for equality would transform into a war for full independence of Hungary from the Austrian Empire. These events forced the abdication of Emperor Ferdinand I and resulted in the resignation of Metternich. With the aid of his Russian allies, Ferdinand’s successor, Franz Joseph I, was able to crush the rebellion. Though the revolution successfully abolished serfdom, Hungary did not gain independence and was instead placed under martial law until 1867.