This is a list of the princes of Transylvania.
Reign | Portrait | Prince | Birth | Marriage | Death | Notes | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1570–1571 | John Sigismund Zápolya | 7 July 1540 Buda son of John I of Hungary and Isabella of Poland | died unmarried | 14 March 1571 Gyulafehérvár | former elected king of Hungary (1540–1551, 1559–1570) | [1] [2] | |
1576–1586 | Stephen Báthory | 27 Sept 1533 Szilágysomlyó son of Stephen (VIII) Báthory and Catherine Telegdi | Anna of Poland (1576) childless | 12 December 1586 Grodno | former voivode of Transylvania (1571–1576); also king of Poland (1576–1586) | [3] [4] [5] | |
1586–1598 | Sigismund Báthory | 1572 Várad son of Christopher Báthory and Erzsébet Bocskai | Maria Christina of Austria (1595) childless | 27 March 1613 | first reign; Prince Stephen Báthory's nephew; former voivode of Transylvania (1581–1586); abdicated for the duchies of Opole and Ratibor | [3] [6] [7] | |
1598 | Transylvania is administered by imperial commissioners in the name of Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor | [8] | |||||
1598–1599 | Sigismund Báthory | 1572 Várad son of Christopher Báthory and Erzsébet Bocskai | Maria Christina of Austria (1595) childless | 27 March 1613 | second reign; abdicated in favor of his cousin, Andrew Báthory | [6] [8] | |
1599 | Andrew Báthory | 1566 Szilágysomlyó son of Andrew Báthory and Margit Majláth | unmarried | 3 November 1599 Csikszentdomokos (Sândominic) | nephew of Prince Stephen Báthory, cousin of Prince Sigismund Báthory; former Cardinal; killed by Székelys after his defeat by Voivode Michael the Brave of Wallachia in the battle of Sellemberk | [9] [10] | |
1599–1600 | Transylvania is administered by Voivode Michael the Brave of Wallachia, recognized by the Diet as imperial governor of Emperor Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor. In addition, Michael the Brave occupied Moldavia in 1600, and styled himself "By the grace of God, ruler of Wallachia, Transylvania and Moldavia" between 6 June 1600 and December 1600. In his correspondence with Emperor Rudolf II, he always styled himself locum tenens of the emperor. | [11] [12] [13] |
Reign | Portrait | Prince | Birth | Marriage | Death | Notes | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1600–1601 | Transylvania is administered by General Giorgio Basta in the name of Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor | [11] | |||||
1601–1602 | Sigismund Báthory | 1572 Várad (Oradea) son of Christopher Báthory and Erzsébet Bocskai | Maria Christina of Austria (1595) childless | 27 March 1613 | third reign; fled abroad following his defeat by General Giorgio Basta and Michael the Brave in the battle of Goroszló, but before long he returned abdicated | [6] [14] | |
1601–1603 | Transylvania (or parts of Transylvania) is administered by General Giorgio Basta in the name of Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor | [15] | |||||
1603 | Moses Székely | c. 1553 Lövéte (Lueta) son of János Székely | unknown (1st marriage) Anna Kornis (2nd marriage) (c. 1585) 1 child | 17 July 1603 by Brassó | backed by the Ottoman governor of the vilajet of Temesvár defeats Giorgio Basta; having received the ahidnâme from Sultan Mehmed III, declared prince by a "Diet at military camp" killed in the battle of Brassó fighting against Voivode Radu Şerban of Wallachia and his Székely allies | [15] [16] | |
July 1603–September 1603 | Transylvania was ruled by Radu Şerban of Wallachia who held the title of voivode | [17] | |||||
September 1603–1604 | Transylvania is administered by General Giorgio Basta in the name of Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor | [18] | |||||
1605–1606 | Stephen Bocskai | 1 January 1557 Kolozsvár (Cluj-Napoca) son of George Bocskai and Krisztina Sulyok | Kata Hagymássy (1583) childless | 29 December 1606 Kassa | maternal uncle of Prince Sigismund Báthory; elected prince of Hungary (1605–1606) | [19] [20] | |
1607–1608 | Sigismund Rákóczi | 1544 Felsővadász son of János Rákócsi and Sára Némethy | Judit Bekény (1st marriage) (1587) 1 child Anna Gerendi (2nd marriage) (1592) 3 children Borbála Telegdy (3rd marriage) (1596) childless | 5 December 1608 Felsővadász | baron (1588); abdicated in favor of Gabriel Báthory father of George I Rákóczi | [21] [22] | |
1608–1613 | Gabriel Báthory | 15 August 1589 Várad (Oradea) son of Stephen Báthory and Zsuzsanna Bebek | Anna Palocsai-Horváth (1607) childless | 27 October 1613 Várad (Oradea) | his father is a nephew of Prince Stephen Báthory, himself is Prince Andrew Báthory's nephew; also voivode of Wallachia (1611); expelled by Ottoman troops assisting Gabriel Bethlen; murdered by Hajdu assassins | [23] [24] | |
1613–1629 | Gabriel Bethlen | 15 November 1580 Marosillye son of Farkas Bethlen and Druzsina Lázár de Szárhegy | Zsuzsanna Károlyi (1st marriage) (1605) 3 children (all died) Catherine of Brandenburg (1626) childless | 15 November 1629 Gyulafehérvár | elected by Ottoman assistance; also elected king of Hungary (1620–1621); according to the Peace of Nikolsburg of 1621 also duke of Opole and Ratibor in Silesia (1621–1629); according to the same peace, 7 counties (Abaúj, Bereg, Borsod, Szabolcs, Szatmár, Ugocsa, and Zemplén)[ citation needed ] are joined to the principality for his lifetime | [25] [26] | |
1629–1630 | Catherine of Brandenburg | 28 May 1604 Brandenburg an der Havel [ verification needed ] daughter of John Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg and Anna of Prussia | Gabriel Bethlen (1st marriage) (1626) childless Francis Charles of Saxe-Lauenburg (1639) | 27 August 1649 Schöningen | Prince Gabriel Bethlen's widow; her right to success his husband confirmed in his life (1626) by the Diet; usually referred to as "prince" instead of "princess"; abdicated | [27] [28] [29] | |
1630 | Stephen Bethlen | 1584 son of Farkas Bethlen and Druzsina Lázár de Szárhegy | Krisztina Csáky (1st marriage) 3 children[ verification needed ] Katalin Károlyi 3 children[ verification needed ] | 10 January 1648 Ecsed | Prince Gabriel Bethlen's brother; elected by the Diet, but later opposed by George I Rákóczi | [27] [30] | |
1630–1648 | George I Rákóczi | 8 June 1593 Szerencs son of Sigismund Rákóczi and Anna Gerendi | Zsuzsanna Lorántffy (1616) 4 children | 11 October 1648 Gyulafehérvár | Prince Sigismund Rákóczi's son | [31] | |
1648–1657 | George II Rákóczi | 30 January 1621 Sárospatak son of George I Rákóczi and Zsuzsanna Lorántffy | Sophia Báthory (1643) 2 children | 7 June 1660 Várad (Oradea) | first reign; Prince George I Rákóczi's son; elected prince by the Diet in his father's life (1642) in recognition of his right to succession; deposed by the Ottoman Grand Vizier Mehmed Köprülü | [32] [33] | |
(not installed) | Francis I Rákóczi | 24 February 1645 Gyulafehérvár son of George II Rákóczi and Sophia Báthory | Countess Ilona Zrínyi (1666) 4 children | 8 July 1676 Zboró | elected prince by the Diet in his father's life (1652) in recognition of his right to succession; never installed because of his father's fall | [34] | |
1657–1658 | Francis Rhédey | 1610 Várad (Oradea) son of Francis Rhédey and Kata Károlyi | Druzsina Bethlen de Bethlen 1 child | 7 May 1667 Huszt | elected prince by the Diet against George II Rákóczi on the order of the Sublime Porte | [35] | |
1658 | George II Rákóczi | 30 January 1621 Sárospatak son of George I Rákóczi and Zsuzsanna Lorántffy | Sophia Báthory (1643) 2 children | 7 June 1660 Várad (Oradea) | second reign; elected again prince by the Diet; expelled by Ottoman troops | [32] | |
1658–1659 | Ákos Barcsay | c. 1610 son of Sándor Barcsay and Erzse Palatics | Erzsébet Szalánczy (1st marriage) childless Izabella Bánffy (1660) childless | July 1661 Kozmatelke | first reign; appointed by the Sublime Porte, then elected by the Diet against George II Rákóczi; while visiting the Ottoman governor of the vilajet of Temesvár, his opponent returned to the principality | [36] | |
1659–1660 | George II Rákóczi | 30 January 1621 Sárospatak son of George I Rákóczi and Zsuzsanna Lorántffy | Sophia Báthory (1643) 2 children | 7 June 1660 Várad (Oradea) | third reign; elected again prince by the Diet; defeated in a battle at Szászfenes | [32] | |
1660 | Ákos Barcsay | c. 1610 son of Sándor Barcsay and Erzse Palatics | Erzsébet Szalánczy (1st marriage) childless Izabella Bánffy (1660) childless | July 1661 Kozmatelke | second reign; reinstalled by the Sublime Porte; abdicated | [36] | |
1661–1662 | John Kemény | 14 December 1607 Magyarbükkös son of Balthasar Kemény and Zsófia Tornyi | Zsuzsa Kállai (1st marriage) (1632) 1 child[ verification needed ] Anna Lónyay (1659) 1 child[ verification needed ] | 22 January 1662 Nagyszőllős (Seleuș) | [37] | ||
1661–1690 | Michael I Apafi | 3 November 1632 Ebesfalva son of George Apafi and Borbála Petki | Anna Bornemissza 9 children | 15 April 1690 Fogaras | [38] | ||
1690–1696 or 1701 | Michael II Apafi | 13 October 1676 Gyulafehérvár son of Michael I Apafi and Anna Bornemissza | Countess Kata Bethlen (1694) childless | 1 February 1713 Vienna | Prince Michael I Apafi's son; elected prince by the Diet in his father's life (1681) in recognition of his right to succession; never installed, since he was taken in 1696 by force to Vienna because of his marriage without the previous approval of Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor; abdicated of his title in 1701 | [39] | |
1690 | Emeric Thököly | 25 September 1657 Késmárk son of Count Stephen Thököly and Mária Gyulaffi | Countess Ilona Zrínyi (1683) 2 children | 13 February 1705 İzmit | Declared vassal king of Upper Hungary by Sultan Mehmed IV, never elected and crowned.[ citation needed ] | [40] |
Reign | Portrait | Prince | Birth | Marriage | Death | Notes | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1704–1711 | Francis II Rákóczi | 27 March 1676 Borsi son of Francis I Rákóczi and Countess Ilona Zrínyi | Charlotte Amalie of Hessen-Rheinfels-Wanfried (1694) 4 children | 8 April 1735 Tekirdağ | Prince Francis I Rákóczi's son | [41] |
Christopher Báthory was voivode of Transylvania from 1576 to 1581. He was a younger son of Stephen Báthory of Somlyó. Christopher's career began during the reign of Queen Isabella Jagiellon, who administered the eastern territories of the Kingdom of Hungary on behalf of her son, John Sigismund Zápolya, from 1556 to 1559. He was one of the commanders of John Sigismund's army in the early 1560s.
Sigismund Báthory was Prince of Transylvania several times between 1586 and 1602, and Duke of Racibórz and Opole in Silesia in 1598. His father, Christopher Báthory, ruled Transylvania as voivode of the absent prince, Stephen Báthory. Sigismund was still a child when the Diet of Transylvania elected him voivode at his dying father's request in 1581. Initially, regency councils administered Transylvania on his behalf, but Stephen Báthory made János Ghyczy the sole regent in 1585. Sigismund adopted the title of prince after Stephen Báthory died.
Menumorut or Menumorout was the ruler of the lands between the rivers Mureș, Someș and Tisza at the time of the Hungarian conquest of the Carpathian Basin around 900, according to the Gesta Hungarorum, a Hungarian chronicle written after 1150 by an unidentified author, referred to as Anonymus. Historians debate whether Menumorut was an actual ruler or a fictional character created by the author, since the Gesta tells of multiple figures, including Menumorut, who are not identified in any other primary sources, and does not name any of the enemies of the invading Hungarians written of in other contemporary accounts of the invasion. According to Anonymus, Menumorut's duchy was populated primarily with Khazars and Székelys, and he acknowledged the suzerainty of the (unnamed) ruling Byzantine Emperor at the time.
Gabriel Báthory was Prince of Transylvania from 1608 to 1613. Born to the Roman Catholic branch of the Báthory family, he was closely related to four rulers of the Principality of Transylvania. His father, Stephen Báthory, held estates in the principality, but never ruled it. Being a minor when his father died in 1601, Gabriel became the ward of the childless Stephen Báthory, from the Protestant branch of the family, who converted him to Calvinism. After inheriting most of his guardian's estates in 1605, Gabriel became one of the wealthiest landowners in Transylvania and Royal Hungary.
The Prince of Transylvania was the head of state of the Principality of Transylvania from the last decades of the 16th century until the middle of the 18th century. John Sigismund Zápolya was the first to adopt the title in 1570, but its use only became stable from 1576.
Moses Székely was Prince of Transylvania in 1603.
The Voivode of Transylvania was the highest-ranking official in Transylvania within the Kingdom of Hungary from the 12th century to the 16th century. Appointed by the monarchs, the voivodes – themselves also the heads or ispáns of Fehér County – were the superiors of the ispáns of all the other counties in the province.
Farcaș, also Farkas, Farkaș or Farcas, was a cneaz mentioned in the Diploma of the Joannites issued by king Béla IV of Hungary (1235–1270) on 2 July 1247; the diploma granted territories to the Knights Hospitaller in the Banate of Severin and Cumania. Farcaș held a kenazate which was given to the knights by the king. His kenazate lay in the northeast of modern Oltenia.
The Transylvanian Diet was an important legislative, administrative and judicial body of the Principality of Transylvania between 1570 and 1867. The general assemblies of the Transylvanian noblemen and the joint assemblies of the representatives of the "Three Nations of Transylvania"—the noblemen, Székelys and Saxons—gave rise to its development. After the disintegration of the medieval Kingdom of Hungary in 1541, delegates from the counties of the eastern and northeastern territories of Hungary proper also attained the Transylvanian Diet, transforming it into a legal successor of the medieval Diets of Hungary.
The Count of the Székelys was the leader of the Hungarian-speaking Székelys in Transylvania, in the medieval Kingdom of Hungary. First mentioned in royal charters of the 13th century, the counts were the highest-ranking royal officials in Székely Land. From around 1320 to the second half of the 15th century, the counts' jurisdiction included four Transylvanian Saxon districts, in addition to the seven Székely seats.
The Duke of Transylvania was a title of nobility four times granted to a son or a brother of the Hungarian monarch. The dukes of the first and second creations, Béla (1226–1235) and Stephen of the Árpád dynasty were in fact viceroys with significant authority in Transylvania. The duke of the third creation, Louis, did not administer the province. The fourth duke, Stephen of the Anjou dynasty (1350–1351) did not play any significant role in politics.
John Hunyadi was a Hungarian noble and knight banneret. He was a member of a noble family of Wallachian ancestry. He was the younger brother of regent John Hunyadi and the second son of Vajk (Voyk), a Wallachian noble.
Dózsa Debreceni, or Dózsa of Debrecen, was an influential lord in the Kingdom of Hungary in the early 14th century. He was Palatine in 1322, and Voivode of Transylvania between 1318 and 1321. He was one of the staunchest supporters of Charles I of Hungary.
A Romanian district was an autonomous administrative unit of the Vlachs in the medieval Kingdom of Hungary.
Bálint Drugeth de Geren et Homonna, also anglicized as Valentine Drugeth, was judge royal of the Kingdom of Hungary from 1608 to 1609.
The boyars of Fogaras were a group of Vlach conditional nobles in the medieval Kingdom of Hungary and the Principality of Transylvania.
Pál Bornemissza was the Roman Catholic bishop of Transylvania in the Kingdom of Hungary from 1553 and 1556. King Ferdinand I appointed him to the episcopal see after years of vacancy, although the Transylvanian nobles had proposed an other candidate, Márton Kecseti. Bornemissza could not stop the spread of Reformation in his diocese and he left Transylvania in 1554. Two years later, he abdicated the bishopric. After his abdication, the Transylvanian bishopric was left vacant for more than 100 years.
Gheorghe of Sîngeorgiu, also known as Gheorghe of Sângeorz, was the Reformed bishop of the Transylvanian Romanians from 1566 to around 1568.
Eftimie was Orthodox bishop of Transylvania from 1571 to 1574, and the Orthodox bishop of Roman from 1574.
A voivode was a leader of certain Vlach (Romanian) communities in the Kingdom of Hungary and western Balkans, during the Middle Ages.