Batthyány
Encyclopedia
Batthyány is the name of an old distinguished Hungarian
Magnate
family. The members of this family bear the title count or countess (Graf/Gräfin) respectively prince or princess (Fürst/Fürstin) Batthyány von Német-Ujvár. A branch of the family was notable in Croatia
as well, producing several Bans (viceroys)
of Croatia in the 16th, 17th and 18th century.
The Batthyány family can trace its roots to the founding of Hungary in 896 AD by Árpád. The family derives from Chief Örs genus. Árpád had seven chieftains, one by the name of Örs, which later became Kővágó-Örs. In 1398 Miklós Kővágó-Örs married Katalin Battyány. King Zsigmond (Sigismund)
gave Miklós the region around the town of Battyán (now called Szabadbattyán
) and he took the name Batthyány (lit. "from Battyán"). The family were first mentioned in documents in 1398 and had their ancestral seat in Güssing
in the Austria
n region Burgenland
since 1522.
In 1570, Boldizsár Batthyány transformed the seat of the family, Güssing, into the center of Protestantism
in the region. His descendant Ádám Batthyány (1610–1659), however, was Catholic
and founded a Franciscan monastery in Güssing. Lajos Batthyány
became the first Prime Minister of Hungary during the Hungarian Revolution of 1848
and was executed in Pest
in 1849. After 1945 the Batthyány family's property was largely expropriated in Hungary and other countries under Communist rule, although they retained their property in Austria.
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
Magnate
Magnate
Magnate, from the Late Latin magnas, a great man, itself from Latin magnus 'great', designates a noble or other man in a high social position, by birth, wealth or other qualities...
family. The members of this family bear the title count or countess (Graf/Gräfin) respectively prince or princess (Fürst/Fürstin) Batthyány von Német-Ujvár. A branch of the family was notable in Croatia
Kingdom of Croatia (Habsburg)
The Kingdom of Croatia was an administrative division that existed between 1527 and 1868 within the Habsburg Monarchy . The Kingdom was a part of the Lands of the Crown of St. Stephen, but was subject to direct Imperial Austrian rule for significant periods of time, including its final years...
as well, producing several Bans (viceroys)
Ban (title)
Ban was a title used in several states in central and south-eastern Europe between the 7th century and the 20th century.-Etymology:The word ban has entered the English language probably as a borrowing from South Slavic ban, meaning "lord, master; ruler". The Slavic word is probably borrowed from...
of Croatia in the 16th, 17th and 18th century.
The Batthyány family can trace its roots to the founding of Hungary in 896 AD by Árpád. The family derives from Chief Örs genus. Árpád had seven chieftains, one by the name of Örs, which later became Kővágó-Örs. In 1398 Miklós Kővágó-Örs married Katalin Battyány. King Zsigmond (Sigismund)
Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor
Sigismund of Luxemburg KG was King of Hungary, of Croatia from 1387 to 1437, of Bohemia from 1419, and Holy Roman Emperor for four years from 1433 until 1437, the last Emperor of the House of Luxemburg. He was also King of Italy from 1431, and of Germany from 1411...
gave Miklós the region around the town of Battyán (now called Szabadbattyán
Szabadbattyán
Szabadbattyán is a village in Fejér county, Hungary. Located about 10 km from Székesfehérvár and about 30 km from Lake Balaton. The area has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Archeological record go back to the bronze age...
) and he took the name Batthyány (lit. "from Battyán"). The family were first mentioned in documents in 1398 and had their ancestral seat in Güssing
Güssing
Güssing is a town in Burgenland, Austria. It is located at , with a population of 3,811 , and is the administrative center of the Güssing district.The Güssing Castle, built in 1157, is the oldest castle in Burgenland and a regional landmark....
in the Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n region Burgenland
Burgenland
Burgenland is the easternmost and least populous state or Land of Austria. It consists of two Statutarstädte and seven districts with in total 171 municipalities. It is 166 km long from north to south but much narrower from west to east...
since 1522.
In 1570, Boldizsár Batthyány transformed the seat of the family, Güssing, into the center of Protestantism
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
in the region. His descendant Ádám Batthyány (1610–1659), however, was Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
and founded a Franciscan monastery in Güssing. Lajos Batthyány
Lajos Batthyány
Count Lajos Batthyány de Németújvár was the first Prime Minister of Hungary. He was born in Pressburg on 10 February 1807, and was executed by firing squad in Pest on 6 October 1849, the same day as the 13 Martyrs of Arad.-Career:His father was Count József Sándor Batthyány , his mother Borbála...
became the first Prime Minister of Hungary during the Hungarian Revolution of 1848
Hungarian Revolution of 1848
The Hungarian Revolution of 1848 was one of many of the European Revolutions of 1848 and closely linked to other revolutions of 1848 in the Habsburg areas...
and was executed in Pest
Pest (city)
Pest is the eastern, mostly flat part of Budapest, Hungary, comprising about two thirds of the city's territory. It is divided from Buda, the other part of Budapest, by the Danube River. Among its most notable parts are the Inner City, including the Hungarian Parliament, Heroes' Square and...
in 1849. After 1945 the Batthyány family's property was largely expropriated in Hungary and other countries under Communist rule, although they retained their property in Austria.
Family members
- Boldizsár Batthyány (1543 – 1590), baron, well-educated humanist, became Protestant in 1570
- Ádám Batthyány (1610 – 1659), count, Founder of the Franciscan monastery in Güssing
- Károly József BatthyányKarl Josef BatthyányCount Karl Josef Batthyány of Németújvár was a Hungarian-Austrian general and field marshal. He served as ban of Croatia from 1743 to 1756.Károly József Batthyány was born 1697 as a son of the Hungarian count Ádám Batthyány...
(1698 – 1772), Austrian Field Marshal and later educator of Joseph IIJoseph II, Holy Roman EmperorJoseph II was Holy Roman Emperor from 1765 to 1790 and ruler of the Habsburg lands from 1780 to 1790. He was the eldest son of Empress Maria Theresa and her husband, Francis I...
, Ban (viceroy)Ban (title)Ban was a title used in several states in central and south-eastern Europe between the 7th century and the 20th century.-Etymology:The word ban has entered the English language probably as a borrowing from South Slavic ban, meaning "lord, master; ruler". The Slavic word is probably borrowed from...
of Croatia - József Batthyány (1727 – 1799), bishop
- Ignác Batthyány (1741 – 1798), bishop
- Kázmér BatthyányKázmér BatthyányCount Kázmér Antal Ferenc Batthyány de Németújvár was a Hungarian politician, who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs during the Hungarian Revolution of 1848. At the beginnings he was a conservative aristocrat politician but his views changed after an journey to Western Europe. He continuously...
(1807 – 1854), politician, minister in the Hungarian Revolution of 1848Hungarian Revolution of 1848The Hungarian Revolution of 1848 was one of many of the European Revolutions of 1848 and closely linked to other revolutions of 1848 in the Habsburg areas... - Franciska Batthyány (1802 – 1861), born Széchenyi
- Lajos BatthyányLajos BatthyányCount Lajos Batthyány de Németújvár was the first Prime Minister of Hungary. He was born in Pressburg on 10 February 1807, and was executed by firing squad in Pest on 6 October 1849, the same day as the 13 Martyrs of Arad.-Career:His father was Count József Sándor Batthyány , his mother Borbála...
(1807 – 1849), executed, first Hungarian Prime Minister - Count József Sándor Batthyány (1777–1812), his father
- Gusztáv, 5th Prince Batthyány-Strattmann (1803 – 1883), English sportsman, Thoroughbred racehorse owner/breeder
- Ludovika Olga Karoline Philippine Antonia Batthyany (1869–1939)
- Count Tivadar BatthyányTivadar BatthyányCount Tivadar Batthyány de Németújvár son of Count Zsigmond Batthyány de Német-Ujvar, and Johanna Nepomucena Justina Maria Goberta Erdödy....
, (1859–1931) - László, 7th Prince Batthyány-StrattmannLászló Batthyány-StrattmannThe Blessed Prince László Batthyány-Strattmann de Németújvár, in German Ladislaus Fürst Batthyány-Strattmann von Güssing, was a Hungarian aristocrat and physician. The devout Catholic became known as the "doctor of the poor"...
(1870 – 1931), oculist, beatified in 2003 - Comtesse Margit Batthyány (1914 – 1959):de:Margit von Batthyány, lived until the end of World War II on Castle RechnitzRechnitzRechnitz is a municipality in Burgenland in the Oberwart district in Austria with a population of 3,133.- Geography :The municipality is located in southern Burgenland, on the border with Hungary, near Bozsok and Szombathely...
(BurgenlandBurgenlandBurgenland is the easternmost and least populous state or Land of Austria. It consists of two Statutarstädte and seven districts with in total 171 municipalities. It is 166 km long from north to south but much narrower from west to east...
) where she was engaged in breeding horses and maintaining a reconvalescence home for members of the SS. Her involvement in the infamous Rechnitz massacre is still controversial.