For Hungary, the Treaty of Trianon is still seen as a national wound that, despite time, does not seem to be healing. On June 4, 1920, after the First World War, the country had to cede two-thirds of its former territory and 3.3 million of its compatriots. Some locals believe there must have been a hidden agenda that would partially explain this harsh injustice. A centuries-old legend has it that French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau, one of the main characters of the Alley that drafted the treaty, had such hatred for his promiscuous Hungarian daughter-in-law that he imposed extreme penalties on her country for coming back to her. Let’s reveal the truth in this article!
Georges Clemenceau, former medical doctor-turned-politician, was a dominant figure in the French Third Republic and was instrumental in the Allied victory in World War I. “The Father of Victory” had a tremendously successful political career, but his personal life was riddled with disappointments. According to divany.hu, his wife Mary Plummer gave birth to three children, but the marriage broke up shortly thereafter. The American-born former student of Clemenceau was actually caught cheating on her husband with the child’s teacher, so a divorce was inevitable.
The only son of the French politician, Michel, studied agriculture in Switzerland and got a job at the Kuffner&Guttmann sugar factory in Dioszeg after graduating. This was apparently arranged by the owner Kuffner himself, during an encounter with Clemenceau in Karlsbad (now known as Karlovy Vary, a popular spa town in the Czech Republic), where both gentlemen enjoyed annual stays for relaxation and refreshment prior to the outbreak of World War I.
While working at the factory, Michel met his wife Ida Michnay, the daughter of a Hungarian district judge.
Based on geni.com information, Ida had a rare beauty that was celebrated by many. The newspapers of the time called her “the most beautiful girl in the country” for her “titian-blonde, milk-white, violet-eyed” (blonde hair, snow-white skin and blue-violet eyes).
Also read: Even Hungary’s military successes could not stop Trianon
The couple married in Galanta in 1901; The marriage seemed idyllic at first, but marital problems quickly reared their ugly heads, eventually leading to the couple separating. Rumor has it that the father treated his children harshly. Michel was also known for his promiscuity, moreover he was involved in some shady business relationships which also led him to walk away from his father. They didn’t even speak to each other for many years. In the end, Ida was also caught having an affair, after which Michel finally filed for divorce. He severed all ties with his wife.
People think that Clemenceau must have had hard feelings about the course of the marriage towards his daughter-in-law, but it was quite the opposite. The French politician, according to historian Peter Hahner, was on good terms with Ida, considering her part of the family and even supporting her financially. On the other hand, he could never forgive his son for tarnishing his reputation with his corrupt dealings.
Some legends have it that the harsh Trianon sanctions against Hungary were imposed because Clemenceau’s son allegedly committed suicide upon learning of his wife’s infidelity, but in fact Michel lived into his 90s.
While it is tempting to justify Clemenceau’s punishment for dismantling Hungary with his alleged hatred of his daughter-in-law, in reality there were no emotional or private reasons behind his decision. He did what best served his country. His actions had a strategic reason, France needed to find new allies after losing Russia. Clemenceau’s long-term goal was to build a coalition of small new nations, including the countries of central Europe and the Balkans, led by France and capable of holding their own against Russia or Germany.
Read more: Why is Trianon still so devastating for Hungarians even after 100 years?
Source: divany.hu, geni.com
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