The Historically Changing Role of Port Rijeka in the Hungarian Context (1719–1941), with a Special View on Trieste

From 1779 until the period between the two World Wars Rijeka had a long way of history. Several times prevented by Austrian imperial interests against Trieste but with strong support from Hungary a major port even with European scale could have been constructed by the end of the 19th century that successfully served the Hungarian imperial interests, and became a Hungarian sea exit. The peculiar public law relations did not constitute an obstacle to economic development. However, the great power rivalries sealed the fate of Rijeka. It became loser of the period between the two World Wars. The city’s fate was resolved after the Second World War, when it returned to the South Slav state.