Why did Joseph II make German the language of government in Hungary?

In 1784, Joseph II mandated that German replace Latin as the official language of government in Hungary primarily to facilitate more efficient administration.12

Joseph II believed that Latin was ineffective for the requirements of modern government. Furthermore, because Hungarian was spoken by only a portion of the kingdom's population, he viewed German as a more practical tool for centralizing and standardizing the management of his diverse territories. To enforce this policy, he required that German be used in central government offices immediately, with county and local offices following suit within one to three years. Additionally, he restricted government employment and membership in the Hungarian Diet to German speakers.12

While these measures were designed to rationalize and streamline the state's operations, many Hungarians perceived the ruling as a direct threat to their culture and national identity, sparking significant resistance.12