Báthory
Báthory , Pol. Batory, Hungarian noble family. Stephen Báthory, 1477-1534, a loyal adherent of John I of Hungary (John Zápolya), was made (1529) voivode [governor] of Transylvania . His youngest son became (1575) king of Poland (see Stephen Báthory , king of Poland) and was succeeded as prince of Transylvania by his brother, Christopher Báthory, 1530-81. Christopher married Elizabeth, sister of Stephen Bocskay .
His son and successor, Sigismund Báthory, 1572-1613, was mentally unbalanced. At first a loyal vassal of the Hapsburg king of Hungary (Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II ), he crushed (1594) the pro-Turkish faction of nobles and was recognized by Rudolf as hereditary prince. In 1597, he abdicated in favor of Rudolf but returned to assume power in Aug., 1598. The following March he abdicated in favor of his cousin, Andrew Cardinal Báthory (d. 1599), but again reversed his decision and, with the help of Stephen Bocskay, returned to power as a vassal of Sultan Muhammad III. He abdicated definitively in 1602 (in favor of Rudolf) and retired to Silesia.
Elizabeth Báthory, d. 1614, a niece of Stephen Bathory, is celebrated in legend as a female werewolf. She is said to have slaughtered more than 600 virgins in order to renew her youth by bathing in their blood. She was incarcerated in 1610 and died in prison.
Gabriel Báthory, 1589-1613, a nephew of Andrew Cardinal Báthory, became prince of Transylvania in 1608. His harsh regime provoked a rebellion by the nobles, and he was murdered. By the marriage of his niece Sophia (d. 1680) to George II Rákóczy, the two families were united.
Bibliography: See biography of Elizabeth Báthory by V. Penrose (tr. 1970); B. Gould, Book of Werewolves (1865).
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Stephen Báthory
Book article from: The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition
...Transylvania (1571-75), son of Stephen Báthory (1477-1534). He was elected to succeed...of Poland. To his brother, Christopher Báthory, he gave Transylvania. With his chancellor...Toward the end of his reign Stephen Báthory planned a Christian alliance against...
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Batory
Book article from: The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition
see Stephen Báthory and Báthory , family.
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Gabriel Bethlen
Book article from: The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition
...of Transylvania (1613-29). He was chief adviser of Stephen Bocskay and was elected prince after the assassination of Gabriel Báthory . A Protestant, though tolerant toward all religions, he allied himself (1619) with the Protestant Frederick the Winter King...
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Michael the Brave
Book article from: The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition
...retaliatory army with the help of Sigismund Báthory , prince of Transylvania, and mercenaries...after defeating (1599) Andrew Cardinal Báthory, to whom Sigismund had given up his throne...Transylvania. Returning, he defeated Sigismund Báthory, who had renewed his claim to the principality...
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Rákóczy
Book article from: The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition
...continued the anti-Hapsburg policy of his predecessors, Gabriel Báthory and Gabriel Bethlen, and like them he relied on alliances with...invaded Transylvania. He married Sophia, a niece of Gabriel Báthory. Their son, Francis I Rákóczy, 1645-76, was designated George...
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