He was fascinated by politics, and aspired to be more than a mere magnate, but rather a servant of the Hungarian people. In spite of his occasionally plebian leanings, he was still faithful to both the King and his fellow magnates. It was a balancing act, to be sure.
Thus, when Premier István Tisza resigned his post on 15 June 1917, King Karl appointed Esterházy as Premier in the hope of unifying the parliament around this important figure (and around the King as well). However, Esterházy was faced with strong opposition from all sides, who tended to see him as a lackey of the King and therefore tainted by the military. This caused Esterházy to resign after a very brief tenure as Premier, and on 20 August 1917, he was replaced by the former Premier, Sandór Wekérle who took the job for a third and final time.
Móric Graf Esterházy von Galantha died in 1960.
GWS, 8/01 [rev. 11/03]
Esterházy's short-lived government consisted of the following ministers:
Minister of Agriculture: Béla Mezsssy
Minister of Commerce: Béla Graf Serényi
Minister of Defense: Sándor Freiherr Szurmay
Minister of Finance: Gusztáv Gratz
Minister of the Interior: Gábor Ugron
Minister of Justice: Vilmos Vázsonyi (15 June 1917 to 18 August 1917); Károly Grecsák (18 August 1917 to 20 August 1917)
King's Personal Minister: Tivadar Graf Batthyány (15 June 1917 to 18 August 1917); Aladár Graf Zichy (18 August 1917 to 20 August 1917)
Minister of Religion and Education: Albert Graf Apponyi
Minister Without Portfolio for Croatia-Slavonia and Dalmatia: Aladár Graf Zichy (15 June 1917 to 18 August 1917); Károly Unkelh Susser (18 August 1917 to 20 August 1917)
Minister Without Portfolio for the Economy: Béla Faldes
Minister Without Portfolio for Election Reform: Vilmos Vázsonyi (18 August 1917 to 20 August 1917)
Minister Without Portfolio for Welfare and Labour: Tivadar Graf Batthyány (18 August 1917 to 20 August 1917)
