Aster Revolution

The Aster Revolution or Chrysanthemum Revolution was a revolution in Hungary led by leftist liberal count Mihály Károlyi, who founded the Hungarian Democratic Republic.

Károlyi had helped establish the Social Democratic Hungarian National Council (HNC), which demanded the end of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In the early morning hours of 31 October 1918, with support of the soldiers from the Hungarian Army, HNC protesters wearing the Aster flower helped seize public buildings throughout Budapest. Prime Minister Sándor Wekerle resigned and former Prime Minister István Tisza was murdered.

By the end of the day, King Charles IV had accepted the coup and appointed Károlyi as Hungary's New Prime Minister. The Hungarian Democratic Republic was proclaimed on 16 November 1918 with Károlyi named as president.

In March 1919, the republic was overturned by another revolution, and the Hungarian Soviet Republic was created. It had a short life, followed by the restoration of the Kingdom of Hungary, but as an independent nation.