Eastern Hungarian Kingdom
Encyclopedia
The Eastern Hungarian Kingdom was the name of the area under the rule of King John I of Hungary. John I of Hungary was the former voivode of Transylvania and the wealthiest and the most powerful landlord after Mohács, secured the eastern part of the kingdom with the help of the Ottomans. There were several attempts to unite the two Hungarian kingdoms under Habsburg rule, but the Turks prevented this by drawing the Eastern Hungarian Kingdom under their protection. On 29 February 1528, the sultan assented to an alliance with Zapolya and gave written assurance of his support.
In 1526, after the Battle of Mohács
, the Kingdom of Hungary
was overrun by the Ottomans, but effectively split into 3 parts in 1541 when the Ottomans captured Buda
. Initially, the country was ruled by two crowned kings (between 1526 and 1538), however this problem was temporary solved when the Habsburgs got a foothold in the north and west (Royal Hungary
), with the new capital Pressburg, according to the secret agreement of Nagyvárad in 1538.
In 1540, when Zápolya died, his son John II Sigismund Zápolya
was crowned by the Hungarian estates.
From 1541 or 1542, the house of Zápolya also controlled the region that after 1571 became known as Partium
.
In 1568, the freedom of religion was formally recognized and guarantied by John II Sigismund in the Edict of Torda.This religious tolerance and diversity had a lasting impact.
In 1570, John II Sigismund Zápolya
, son of John I Zápolya renounced his claim as King of Hungary (1540-1570) in favour of Maximilian II of Habsburg
, who also claimed the title since 1563. Instead John II Sigismund Zápolya
remained Prince of Transylvania between 1570 and 1571.
(Spires), John II Sigismund
, John I's son, abdicated as king of Hungary, and a new dukedom was invented for him: "Joannes, serenissimi olim Joannis regis Hungariae, Dalmatiae, Croatiae etc. filius, Dei gratia princeps Transsylvaniae ac partium regni Hungariae" (imperial prince), from which derives the name Partium.
This treaty, like the earlier Nagyvárad accord, endorsed the principle of a united Hungary. Partium and Transylvania were entrusted to John II Sigismund
, but under the title of imperial prince. As mentioned above, the Zápolya held Partium before, but the treaty allowed them to do this without fear that the Habsburgs would contest the house of Zápolya's lordship. In a sense, Zápolya traded title for territory.
Eastern Hungarian Kingdom ceased to exist, and Transylvania became an autonomous state, under the suzerainty
of the Ottoman Empire
, Principality of Transylvania, where native princes, who paid the Turks tribute, ruled with considerable autonomy and where Austrian and Turkish influences vied for supremacy for nearly two centuries. All rulings after 1570 as King of Hungary refer to the territory known as "Royal Hungary", and as Prince refer to the "Principality of Transylvania". Also, the Ottomans
annexed central and southern Hungary. Habsburg Austria controlled Royal Hungary, which consisted of northern part (most of present day Slovakia) and counties along the Austrian border and some of northwestern Croatia.
In 1526, after the Battle of Mohács
Battle of Mohács
The Battle of Mohács was fought on August 29, 1526 near Mohács, Hungary. In the battle, forces of the Kingdom of Hungary led by King Louis II of Hungary and Bohemia were defeated by forces of the Ottoman Empire led by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent....
, the Kingdom of Hungary
Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
was overrun by the Ottomans, but effectively split into 3 parts in 1541 when the Ottomans captured Buda
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
. Initially, the country was ruled by two crowned kings (between 1526 and 1538), however this problem was temporary solved when the Habsburgs got a foothold in the north and west (Royal Hungary
Royal Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary between 1538 and 1867 was part of the lands of the Habsburg Monarchy, while outside the Holy Roman Empire.After Battle of Mohács, the country was ruled by two crowned kings . They divided the kingdom in 1538...
), with the new capital Pressburg, according to the secret agreement of Nagyvárad in 1538.
John II Sigimund's reign
John II Sigismund Zápolya
John II Sigismund Zápolya was King of Hungary from 1540 to 1570 and Prince of Transylvania from 1570–1571.-Family:The son of King John I and Isabella Jagiełło, he succeeded his father as an infant...
was crowned by the Hungarian estates.
From 1541 or 1542, the house of Zápolya also controlled the region that after 1571 became known as Partium
Partium
Partium or Részek is the name given in Hungarian to the region located to the north and west of Transylvania.-Origin of the name:...
.
In 1568, the freedom of religion was formally recognized and guarantied by John II Sigismund in the Edict of Torda.This religious tolerance and diversity had a lasting impact.
In 1570, John II Sigismund Zápolya
John II Sigismund Zápolya
John II Sigismund Zápolya was King of Hungary from 1540 to 1570 and Prince of Transylvania from 1570–1571.-Family:The son of King John I and Isabella Jagiełło, he succeeded his father as an infant...
, son of John I Zápolya renounced his claim as King of Hungary (1540-1570) in favour of Maximilian II of Habsburg
Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor
Maximilian II was king of Bohemia and king of the Romans from 1562, king of Hungary and Croatia from 1563, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation from 1564 until his death...
, who also claimed the title since 1563. Instead John II Sigismund Zápolya
John II Sigismund Zápolya
John II Sigismund Zápolya was King of Hungary from 1540 to 1570 and Prince of Transylvania from 1570–1571.-Family:The son of King John I and Isabella Jagiełło, he succeeded his father as an infant...
remained Prince of Transylvania between 1570 and 1571.
Treaty of Speyer
In 1571, by the Treaty of SpeyerSpeyer
Speyer is a city of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany with approximately 50,000 inhabitants. Located beside the river Rhine, Speyer is 25 km south of Ludwigshafen and Mannheim. Founded by the Romans, it is one of Germany's oldest cities...
(Spires), John II Sigismund
John II Sigismund Zápolya
John II Sigismund Zápolya was King of Hungary from 1540 to 1570 and Prince of Transylvania from 1570–1571.-Family:The son of King John I and Isabella Jagiełło, he succeeded his father as an infant...
, John I's son, abdicated as king of Hungary, and a new dukedom was invented for him: "Joannes, serenissimi olim Joannis regis Hungariae, Dalmatiae, Croatiae etc. filius, Dei gratia princeps Transsylvaniae ac partium regni Hungariae" (imperial prince), from which derives the name Partium.
This treaty, like the earlier Nagyvárad accord, endorsed the principle of a united Hungary. Partium and Transylvania were entrusted to John II Sigismund
John II Sigismund Zápolya
John II Sigismund Zápolya was King of Hungary from 1540 to 1570 and Prince of Transylvania from 1570–1571.-Family:The son of King John I and Isabella Jagiełło, he succeeded his father as an infant...
, but under the title of imperial prince. As mentioned above, the Zápolya held Partium before, but the treaty allowed them to do this without fear that the Habsburgs would contest the house of Zápolya's lordship. In a sense, Zápolya traded title for territory.
Eastern Hungarian Kingdom ceased to exist, and Transylvania became an autonomous state, under the suzerainty
Suzerainty
Suzerainty occurs where a region or people is a tributary to a more powerful entity which controls its foreign affairs while allowing the tributary vassal state some limited domestic autonomy. The dominant entity in the suzerainty relationship, or the more powerful entity itself, is called a...
of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, Principality of Transylvania, where native princes, who paid the Turks tribute, ruled with considerable autonomy and where Austrian and Turkish influences vied for supremacy for nearly two centuries. All rulings after 1570 as King of Hungary refer to the territory known as "Royal Hungary", and as Prince refer to the "Principality of Transylvania". Also, the Ottomans
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
annexed central and southern Hungary. Habsburg Austria controlled Royal Hungary, which consisted of northern part (most of present day Slovakia) and counties along the Austrian border and some of northwestern Croatia.
See also
- List of Hungarian rulers
- Kingdom of Hungary in the Middle AgesKingdom of Hungary in the Middle AgesThe Kingdom of Hungary was formed from the previous Principality of Hungarywith the coronation of Stephen I in AD 1000. This was a result of the conversion of Géza of Hungary to the Western Church in the 970s....
- Ottoman HungaryOttoman HungaryHistory of Ottoman Hungary refers to the history of parts of the Ottoman Empire situated in what today is Hungary, in the period from 1541 to 1699.-History:...
- Ottomans
- Habsburgs