Regent of Hungary

Regent of Hungary
A Magyar Királyság kormányzója
Longest serving
Miklós Horthy

1 March 1920 – 16 October 1944
StyleHis Serene Highness
TypeHead of state
Commander-in-chief
Member ofCrown Council
ResidenceBuda Castle
AppointerRoyal Diet
National Assembly
Term lengthNo fixed term
Formation6 June 1446 (historic)
1 March 1920
First holderJohn Hunyadi
Final holderMiklós Horthy
Abolished15 October 1944
DeputyIstván Horthy
(19 February – 20 August 1942)

The regent of Hungary was a position established in 1446 and renewed in 1920. It was held by Admiral Miklós Horthy until 1944. Under Hungary's constitution there were two regents, one a regent of the ruling house, called the Nádor, and another called "Kormányzó" (which can mean "governor"). As the Entente had banned the legitimate Nádor (kept by a member of House of Habsburg) from taking his place, the choice fell on electing a governor-regent: Admiral Horthy was chosen. Thus, he was regent of the post-World War I state called the Kingdom of Hungary and served as the head of state in the absence of a monarch, while a prime minister served as head of government. Horthy was styled "His Serene Highness the Regent of the Kingdom of Hungary" (Hungarian: Ő Főméltósága a Magyar Királyság Kormányzója).