List of princes of Transylvania

This is a list of the princes of Transylvania.

This article is about the reigning princes of Transylvania. For wives of the reigning princes, see List of princesses consort of Transylvania.

List of princes

Sixteenth century
Reign Portrait Prince Birth Marriage Death Notes Source
1570–1571
John Sigismund Zápolya
 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
 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
 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
 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
 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]

Seventeenth century
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
 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
Mózes Székely
 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
 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
 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
 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
 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) are joined to the principality for his lifetime		 [25][26]
1629–1630
Catherine of Brandenburg
 Catherine of Brandenburg 28 May 1604
Brandenburg an der Havel
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
 Stephen Bethlen 1584
son of
Farkas Bethlen
and
Druzsina Lázár de Szárhegy		 Krisztina Csáky (1st marriage)
3 children
Katalin Károlyi
3 children		 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
 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
 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
 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
 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
 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
 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
 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
 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
 John Kemény 14 December 1607
Magyarbükkös
son of
Balthasar Kemény
and
Zsófia Tornyi		 Zsuzsa Kállai (1st marriage)
(1632)
1 child
Anna Lónyay
(1659)
1 child		 22 January 1662
Nagyszőllős (Seleuș)		 [37]
1661–1690
Michael I Apafi
 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
 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
 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. [40]

Eighteenth century
Reign Portrait Prince Birth Marriage Death Notes Source
1704–1711
Francis II Rákóczi
 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]

See also

Footnotes
  1. Markó 2000, p. 110.
  2. Barta 1994, pp. 252., 259-260.
  3. Szegedi 2009, p. 101.
  4. Markó 2000, pp. 99-100.
  5. Barta 1994, pp. 260., 264-265.
  6. Markó 2000, pp. 101-102.
  7. Barta 1994, pp. 263., 293-295.
  8. Barta 1994, p. 295.
  9. Markó 2000, pp. 97-98.
  10. Barta 1994, pp. 295-296.
  11. Barta 1994, p. 296.
  12. Markó 2000, pp. 112-113.
  13. Pop 2009, pp. 82-83.
  14. Barta 1994, pp. 296-297.
  15. Barta 1994, p. 297.
  16. Markó 2000, p. 120.
  17. Andea, Susana (2006). History of Romania: Compendium. ISBN 9789737784124.
  18. Markó 2000, p. 97.
  19. Markó 2000, pp. 104-105.
  20. Barta 1994, pp. 293., 298-299.
  21. Markó 2000, pp. 118-119.
  22. Barta 1994, pp. 304-305.
  23. Markó 2000, pp. 98-99.
  24. Barta 1994, pp. 305-309.
  25. Markó 2000, pp. 102-103.
  26. Barta 1994, pp. 314-315., 321-324.
  27. Markó 2000, p. 104.
  28. Barta 1994, pp. 314-315., 325-326.
  29. Deák 2009, pp. 82-83., 85., 88., 93.
  30. Barta 1994, p. 326.
  31. Markó 2000, pp. 115-117.
  32. Markó 2000, pp. 117-118.
  33. Barta 1994, pp. 352., 356.
  34. Markó 2000, p. 113.
  35. Markó 2000, p. 119.
  36. Markó 2000, pp. 96-97.
  37. Markó 2000, pp. 110-111.
  38. Markó 2000, pp. 94-95.
  39. Markó 2000, p. 95.
  40. Markó 2000, pp. 120–122.
  41. Markó 2000, pp. 113-115.

References
  • (in Hungarian) Bán, Péter (1989). Entry székely ispán in: Bán, Péter; Magyar történelmi fogalomtár, II. kötet: L–Zs ("Thesaurus of Terms of Hungarian History, Volume I: A–Zs"). Gondolat. ISBN 963-282-204-8.
  • Barta, Gábor (1994). The Emergence of the Principality and its First Crises (1526–1606). In: Köpeczi, Béla; Barta, Gábor; Bóna, István; Makkai, László; Szász, Zoltán; Borus, Judit; History of Transylvania; Akadémiai Kiadó; ISBN 963-05-6703-2.
  • Deák, Éva (2009). "Princeps non Principissa": Catherine of Brandenburg, Elected Prince of Transylvania (1630–1648). In: Cruz, Anne J.; Suzuki, Mihoko; The Rule of Women in Early Modern Europe; University of Illinois Press; ISBN 978-0-252-07616-9.
  • (in Hungarian) Fallenbüchl, Zoltán (1988). Magyarország főméltóságai ("Great Officers of State in Hungary"). Maecenas Könyvkiadó. ISBN 963-02-5536-7.
  • Felezeu, Călin (2009). The International Political Background (1541–1699) and The Legal Status of the Principality of Transylvania in Its Relations with the Ottoman Porte. In: Pop, Ioan-Aurel; Nägler, Thomas; Magyari, András;
  • Georgescu, Vlad (1991). The Romanians: A History. Ohio State University Press. ISBN 0-8142-0511-9.
  • Makkai, László (1994). The Emergence of the Estates (1172–1526). In: Köpeczi, Béla; Barta, Gábor; Bóna, István; Makkai, László; Szász, Zoltán; Borus, Judit; History of Transylvania; Akadémiai Kiadó; ISBN 963-05-6703-2.
  • (in Hungarian) Markó, László (2000). A magyar állam főméltóságai Szent Istvántól napjainkig: Életrajzi Lexikon ("Great Officers of State in Hungary from King Saint Stephen to Our Days: A Biographical Encyclopedia"). Magyar Könyvklub. ISBN 963-547-085-1
  • Pop, Ioan-Aurel (1999). Romanians and Romania: A Brief History. Boulder (distributed by Columbia University Press). ISBN 0-88033-440-1.
  • Pop, Ioan-Aurel (2005). Romanians in the 14th–16th Centuries: From the "Christian Republic" to the "Restoration of Dacia". In: Pop, Ioan-Aurel; Bolovan, Ioan; History of Romania: Compendium; Romanian Cultural Institute (Center for Transylvanian Studies). ISBN 978-973-7784-12-4.
  • Pop, Ioan-Aurel (2009). Michael the Brave and Transylvania. In: Pop, Ioan-Aurel; Nägler, Thomas; Magyari, András; The History of Transylvania, Vol. II. (From 1541 to 1711); Romanian Academy, Center for Transylvanian Studies; ISBN 978-973-7784-43-8.
  • Szegedi, Edit (2009). The birth and evolution of the Principality of Transylvania (1541–1690). In: Pop, Ioan-Aurel; Nägler, Thomas; Magyari, András; The History of Transylvania, Vol. II. (From 1541 to 1711); Romanian Academy, Center for Transylvanian Studies; ISBN 978-973-7784-43-8.
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