George I Rákóczi
Encyclopedia
György Rákóczi I was elected Hungarian prince of Transylvania
from 1630 until his death. During his influence Transylvania grew politically and economically stronger.
. After Bockskay's death in 1606, he moved back to his father who was elected prince.
He joined Gabriel Bethlen
in 1619 in an immediate attack against King Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
. On 1619 November 23 Bethlen gave up his siege and turned back to Hungary. This correspond with Battle of Humenné
, where Rákóczi was defeated by Polish-Lithuanian cavalry called Lisowczycy
and Bethlen needed to secure North Transylvania against them.
On 1 December 1630, the Sighisoara
parliament elected Rákóczi as Prince. In 1644 he warred against King Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor
. He took the whole of Upper Hungary and joined the Swedish army besieging Brno
to march against Vienna
. The sultan, however, stopped the campaign. 1645 in the Tisza River in Linz, At the peace treaty of Linz, he received seven counties [partium].
and his second wife Anna Gerendi. His wife Susanna Lorántffy
gave birth to four sons:
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...
from 1630 until his death. During his influence Transylvania grew politically and economically stronger.
Biography
In 1605 he was given to the service of Stephen BocskayStephen Bocskay
Stephen Bocskai or István Bocskai Stephen Bocskai or István Bocskai Stephen Bocskai or István Bocskai (or Bocskay, (1 January 1557 – 29 December 1606) was a HungarianCalvinist nobleman, Prince of Transylvania (1605–06), who defended Hungarian interests when Hungary was divided into Ottoman...
. After Bockskay's death in 1606, he moved back to his father who was elected prince.
He joined Gabriel Bethlen
Gabriel Bethlen
Gabriel Bethlen was a prince of Transylvania , duke of Opole and leader of an anti-Habsburg insurrection in the Habsburg Royal Hungary. His last armed intervention in 1626 was part of the Thirty Years' War...
in 1619 in an immediate attack against King Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand II , a member of the House of Habsburg, was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Bohemia , and King of Hungary . His rule coincided with the Thirty Years' War.- Life :...
. On 1619 November 23 Bethlen gave up his siege and turned back to Hungary. This correspond with Battle of Humenné
Battle of Humenné
The Battle of Humenné took place on November 23, 1619 near Humenné during the first period of the Thirty Years' War between the Transylvanian army and the Polish forces of Lisowczycy...
, where Rákóczi was defeated by Polish-Lithuanian cavalry called Lisowczycy
Lisowczycy
Lisowczycy or chorągiew elearska ; or in singular form: Lisowczyk or elear) - the name of an early 17th century irregular unit of Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth light cavalry. The Lisowczycy took part in many battles across Europe and the historical accounts of the period characterized them as...
and Bethlen needed to secure North Transylvania against them.
On 1 December 1630, the Sighisoara
Sighisoara
Sighişoara is a city and municipality on the Târnava Mare River in Mureş County, Romania. Located in the historic region Transylvania, Sighişoara has a population of 27,706 ....
parliament elected Rákóczi as Prince. In 1644 he warred against King Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand III was Holy Roman Emperor from 15 February 1637 until his death, as well as King of Hungary and Croatia, King of Bohemia and Archduke of Austria.-Life:...
. He took the whole of Upper Hungary and joined the Swedish army besieging Brno
Brno
Brno by population and area is the second largest city in the Czech Republic, the largest Moravian city, and the historical capital city of the Margraviate of Moravia. Brno is the administrative centre of the South Moravian Region where it forms a separate district Brno-City District...
to march against Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. The sultan, however, stopped the campaign. 1645 in the Tisza River in Linz, At the peace treaty of Linz, he received seven counties [partium].
Family
He was a son of Prince Sigismund RákócziSigismund Rákóczi
Sigismund Rákóczi was born into the noble Hungarian Rákóczi family. He briefly reigned as Prince of Transylvania from 1607 to 1608.Rákóczi was born into the lower nobility but, by various means - including a profitable marriage - managed to rise into the ranks of the aristocracy.When Stephen...
and his second wife Anna Gerendi. His wife Susanna Lorántffy
Zsuzsanna Lorántffy
Zsuzsanna Lorántffy , anglicized as Susanna Lorantffy was the wife of György Rákóczi I, prince of Transylvania....
gave birth to four sons:
- Samuel (1617–1618);
- George II RákócziGeorge II RákócziGyörgy Rákóczi II , a Transylvanian Hungarian ruler, was the eldest son of George I and Susanna Lorantffy....
(1621–1660); - Sigismund (1622–1652); and
- Frank (1624–1632).