Francis I Rákóczi
Encyclopedia
Francis I Rákóczi was a Hungarian aristocrat, elected prince of Transylvania
and father of Hungarian national hero Francis II Rákóczi
.
Francis I Rákóczi was the son of George II Rákóczi
, prince of Transylvania, and Zsófia Báthori. He was elected prince by the Transylvanian Diet in 1652, during his father's life. However, because of the disastrous Polish campaign of 1657 and its consequences, the Ottoman Porte removed his father from the throne in 1660, and prohibited any Rákóczi
to ascend the Transylvanian throne. This left Francis unable to come by his father's legacy; he therefore withdrew to his estates in Royal Hungary
.
Notably, the Rákóczi family
was Calvinist, and they were staunch supporters of the Calvinist cause. However, Francis' mother, Zsófia Báthori came from a Catholic
family, and converted to Calvinism merely for the sake of her marriage, only to leave Calvinism, re-convert to Catholicism and become a bulwark of Hungarian Counter-Reformation after his husband's death. Francis Rákóczi also became a catholic with her, thus acquiring favour with the Catholic Habsburg Court. He was made a count in 1664.
In 1666 Francis married Jelena Zrinska (Ilona Zrínyi in Hungarian), a Croatian
countess, and joined the Wesselényi conspiracy (Zrinski-Frankopan conspiracy in Croatia
), one leader of which was Jelena's father, Petar Zrinski
(Hungarian: Zrínyi Péter). Francis soon became the leader of the conspiracy, and, as a culmination of their anti-Habsburg stratagems, started an armed uprising of nobles in Upper Hungary
, while the other conspirators were supposed to start the fight in Croatia
. Due to poor organization and discord between the conspirators, however, the Austrian authorities were well informed; they quickly suppressed the Croatian branch of the revolt.
When Rákóczi was informed of Petar Zrinski being captured by the Austrians, he laid down his weapons and applied for mercy. All other leaders of the conspiracy were executed for high treason; Rákóczi, for her mother's merits in the Counter-Reformation movement and for a ransom of 300,000 Forints and several castles, was pardoned.
Francis I had 3 children - György (1667); Julianna Borbála (1672–1717); and Francis II
(1676–1735), the future ruling prince of Hungary and leader of a war of independence
named after him, who was born a few months before his father's death in 1676.
Transylvania
Transylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical...
and father of Hungarian national hero Francis II Rákóczi
Francis II Rákóczi
Francis II Rákóczi Hungarian aristocrat, he was the leader of the Hungarian uprising against the Habsburgs in 1703-11 as the prince of the Estates Confederated for Liberty of the Kingdom of Hungary. He was also Prince of Transylvania, an Imperial Prince, and a member of the Order of the Golden...
.
Francis I Rákóczi was the son of George II Rákóczi
George II Rákóczi
György Rákóczi II , a Transylvanian Hungarian ruler, was the eldest son of George I and Susanna Lorantffy....
, prince of Transylvania, and Zsófia Báthori. He was elected prince by the Transylvanian Diet in 1652, during his father's life. However, because of the disastrous Polish campaign of 1657 and its consequences, the Ottoman Porte removed his father from the throne in 1660, and prohibited any Rákóczi
Rákóczi
The Rákóczi were a Hungarian noble family in the Kingdom of Hungary between the 13th century and 18th century. Their name is also spelled Rakoczi and Rakoczy in some foreign sources....
to ascend the Transylvanian throne. This left Francis unable to come by his father's legacy; he therefore withdrew to his estates in 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...
.
Notably, the Rákóczi family
Rákóczi
The Rákóczi were a Hungarian noble family in the Kingdom of Hungary between the 13th century and 18th century. Their name is also spelled Rakoczi and Rakoczy in some foreign sources....
was Calvinist, and they were staunch supporters of the Calvinist cause. However, Francis' mother, Zsófia Báthori came from a 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"...
family, and converted to Calvinism merely for the sake of her marriage, only to leave Calvinism, re-convert to Catholicism and become a bulwark of Hungarian Counter-Reformation after his husband's death. Francis Rákóczi also became a catholic with her, thus acquiring favour with the Catholic Habsburg Court. He was made a count in 1664.
In 1666 Francis married Jelena Zrinska (Ilona Zrínyi in Hungarian), a Croatian
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...
countess, and joined the Wesselényi conspiracy (Zrinski-Frankopan conspiracy 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...
), one leader of which was Jelena's father, Petar Zrinski
Petar Zrinski
Petar Zrinski was a Croatian Ban and writer. A member of the Zrinski noble family, he was noted for his role in the attempted Croatian-Hungarian rebellion of 1664-1670 which ultimately led to his execution for high treason.-Zrinski family:Petar Zrinski was born in Vrbovec, a small town near...
(Hungarian: Zrínyi Péter). Francis soon became the leader of the conspiracy, and, as a culmination of their anti-Habsburg stratagems, started an armed uprising of nobles in Upper Hungary
Upper Hungary
Upper Hungary is the usual English translation for the area that was historically the northern part of the Kingdom of Hungary, now mostly present-day Slovakia...
, while the other conspirators were supposed to start the fight in Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
. Due to poor organization and discord between the conspirators, however, the Austrian authorities were well informed; they quickly suppressed the Croatian branch of the revolt.
When Rákóczi was informed of Petar Zrinski being captured by the Austrians, he laid down his weapons and applied for mercy. All other leaders of the conspiracy were executed for high treason; Rákóczi, for her mother's merits in the Counter-Reformation movement and for a ransom of 300,000 Forints and several castles, was pardoned.
Francis I had 3 children - György (1667); Julianna Borbála (1672–1717); and Francis II
Francis II Rákóczi
Francis II Rákóczi Hungarian aristocrat, he was the leader of the Hungarian uprising against the Habsburgs in 1703-11 as the prince of the Estates Confederated for Liberty of the Kingdom of Hungary. He was also Prince of Transylvania, an Imperial Prince, and a member of the Order of the Golden...
(1676–1735), the future ruling prince of Hungary and leader of a war of independence
Rákóczi's War for Independence
Rákóczi's War for Independence was the first significant attempt to topple therule of Habsburg Austria over Hungary. The war was fought by a group of noblemen, wealthy and high-ranking progressives and was led by Francis II Rákóczi Rákóczi's War for Independence (1703–1711) was the first...
named after him, who was born a few months before his father's death in 1676.