Who's Who - Julius Andrassy
Count Julius Andrassy von
Csik-Szent-Kiraly und Kraszna Horka (1860-1929) became Austria-Hungary's
last imperial Foreign Minister, serving for just nine days before resigning
on 1 November 1918.
Born on 30 June 1860 at Toketebenes in Hungary, Julius Andrassy was the son of Prime Minister Andrassy, responsible for inaugurating the first Hungarian parliament since the revolution of 1848.
Julius Andrassy formed a liberal opposition party in 1912 with the intention of securing electoral reform; throughout his political career Andrassy remained consistent in his belief in the extension of democracy throughout the kingdom (which set him directly against then Prime Minister Count Tisza).
With war underway, Andrassy came out in opposition to Foreign Minister Burian's initiatives in Italy and Poland. In the wake of Russia's military setbacks in 1915, Andrassy also spoke in favour of a negotiated peace.
With Burian's (final) resignation on 24 October 1918 Andrassy succeeded him as Foreign Minister. His appointment made on the basis of his known views in favour of peace, Andrassy proved unable to hold meaningful negotiations with the Allies, who by this stage were insistent upon unconditional surrender (despite Andrassy's actions in dissolving Austria-Hungary's alliance with Germany).
Resigning his ministry on 1 November, Andrassy supported deposed Emperor Karl I's efforts to regain his throne. Andrassy was consequently imprisoned for a short period by new Premier Horthy's forces.
Although he subsequently returned to politics - he was elected to the new Hungarian parliament in 1920 - he did not again hold office. He served as leader of the Christian Democratic Party from 1921.
He died on 11 June 1929 in Budapest at the age of 68.
'Alleyman' was British slang for a German soldier.
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