List of Transylvanian rulers
Encyclopedia
List of rulers of Transylvania
, from the first mention of a ruler in the 10th century, until 1918.
, referred as Partes Transsylvana (Latin for "parts beyond the forests"), was in the hands of a voivode appointed by the king. The word voivod or voievod first appeared in historical documents in 1193. Prior to that, the term ispán
was used for the chief official of the County of Fehér. The whole territory of Transylvania came under the jurisdiction of the voievod after 1263, when the functions of Count of Szolnok (Doboka) and Count of Fehér were terminated.
The Voivode of Transylvania (woyuoda Transsiluanus) was one of the barons of the kingdom. The voivode was, in effect, a territorial governor or viceroy appointed by the Hungarian crown. He was also the chief magistrate and military commander of Transylvania's (seven) counties (except some administrative units e.g. royal free cities, Universitas Saxorum and Székely Land
), and this power inevitably drew the Székely
and Saxon
territories into his sphere of influence. However, these territories were governed by counts who were nominally independent of the voivode.
In the 16th century, the conflict between Habsburg
s and the Ottoman Empire
allowed Transylvania to gain a certain independence as the Principality of Transylvania under Ottoman suzerainty
until it was finally integrated into the Habsburg Monarchy
around 1700. The Habsburg rulers
continued to use the title Prince of Transylvania (and later Grand Prince of Transylvania) as part of their official title until the end of Austria-Hungary
in 1918. The territory was administered by an appointed governor until 1867, when it was dissolved as an administrative unit in the wake of the Austro-Hungarian
Ausgleich
of 1867 and integrated into Hungary. At the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire
in 1919, Transylvania, along with other regions of eastern Hungary, became part of the Kingdom of Romania
. It was divided between Romania and Hungary in 1940 but reverted back to Romania in 1945.
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 the first mention of a ruler in the 10th century, until 1918.
Overview
The administration of the eastern parts of the Hungarian KingdomKingdom 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...
, referred as Partes Transsylvana (Latin for "parts beyond the forests"), was in the hands of a voivode appointed by the king. The word voivod or voievod first appeared in historical documents in 1193. Prior to that, the term ispán
Ispan
Ispan is a town in north-western Tajikistan. It is located in Sughd province.-External links:*...
was used for the chief official of the County of Fehér. The whole territory of Transylvania came under the jurisdiction of the voievod after 1263, when the functions of Count of Szolnok (Doboka) and Count of Fehér were terminated.
The Voivode of Transylvania (woyuoda Transsiluanus) was one of the barons of the kingdom. The voivode was, in effect, a territorial governor or viceroy appointed by the Hungarian crown. He was also the chief magistrate and military commander of Transylvania's (seven) counties (except some administrative units e.g. royal free cities, Universitas Saxorum and Székely Land
Székely Land
The Székely Land or Szekler Land refers to the territories inhabited mainly by the Székely, a Hungarian-speaking ethnic group from eastern Transylvania...
), and this power inevitably drew the Székely
Székely
The Székelys or Székely , sometimes also referred to as Szeklers , are a subgroup of the Hungarian people living mostly in the Székely Land, an ethno-cultural region in eastern Transylvania, Romania...
and Saxon
Transylvanian Saxons
The Transylvanian Saxons are a people of German ethnicity who settled in Transylvania from the 12th century onwards.The colonization of Transylvania by Germans was begun by King Géza II of Hungary . For decades, the main task of the German settlers was to defend the southeastern border of the...
territories into his sphere of influence. However, these territories were governed by counts who were nominally independent of the voivode.
In the 16th century, the conflict between Habsburg
Habsburg
The House of Habsburg , also found as Hapsburg, and also known as House of Austria is one of the most important royal houses of Europe and is best known for being an origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740, as well as rulers of the Austrian Empire and...
s and 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...
allowed Transylvania to gain a certain independence as the Principality of Transylvania under Ottoman 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...
until it was finally integrated into the Habsburg Monarchy
Habsburg Monarchy
The Habsburg Monarchy covered the territories ruled by the junior Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg , and then by the successor House of Habsburg-Lorraine , between 1526 and 1867/1918. The Imperial capital was Vienna, except from 1583 to 1611, when it was moved to Prague...
around 1700. The Habsburg rulers
Emperor of Austria
The Emperor of Austria was a hereditary imperial title and position proclaimed in 1804 by the Holy Roman Emperor Francis II, a member of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine, and continually held by him and his heirs until the last emperor relinquished power in 1918. The emperors retained the title of...
continued to use the title Prince of Transylvania (and later Grand Prince of Transylvania) as part of their official title until the end of Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
in 1918. The territory was administered by an appointed governor until 1867, when it was dissolved as an administrative unit in the wake of the Austro-Hungarian
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
Ausgleich
Ausgleich
The Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867 established the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary. The Compromise re-established the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Hungary, separate from and no longer subject to the Austrian Empire...
of 1867 and integrated into Hungary. At the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
in 1919, Transylvania, along with other regions of eastern Hungary, became part of the Kingdom of Romania
Kingdom of Romania
The Kingdom of Romania was the Romanian state based on a form of parliamentary monarchy between 13 March 1881 and 30 December 1947, specified by the first three Constitutions of Romania...
. It was divided between Romania and Hungary in 1940 but reverted back to Romania in 1945.
List
| Affiliation | Ruler | Years | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gelou Gelou Gelou or Gelu was a Romanian duke mentioned in Gesta Hungarorum as having opposed the conquest of Transylvania by Tuhutum, one of the “seven dukes” of the Magyars. His story was recorded only by the anonymous writer of the 13th century Gesta... |
Gelou, legendary Duke of Vlachs Vlachs Vlach is a blanket term covering several modern Latin peoples descending from the Latinised population in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe. English variations on the name include: Walla, Wlachs, Wallachs, Vlahs, Olahs or Ulahs... , is mentioned exclusively in the 13th century Gesta Hungarorum Gesta Hungarorum Gesta Hungarorum is a record of early Hungarian history by an unknown author who describes himself as Anonymi Bele Regis Notarii , but is generally cited as Anonymus... written by an unknown chronicler referred to as Anonymus Anonymus (chronicler) Bele Regis Notarius , most often referred to as Anonymus was the notary and chronicler of a Hungarian King, probably Béla III. Little is known about him, but his latinized name began with P, as he referred to himself as "P... . Hungarian 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... historiography claims that Gelou is a fictional person created by Anonymus Anonymus (chronicler) Bele Regis Notarius , most often referred to as Anonymus was the notary and chronicler of a Hungarian King, probably Béla III. Little is known about him, but his latinized name began with P, as he referred to himself as "P... from a toponym by etymology. Romania Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea... n historiography claims that he was an actual person. |
||
| Tuhutum/Töhötöm | 904 - ? | One of the legendary seven Hungarian chieftains Seven chieftains of the Magyars The Seven chieftains of the Magyars were the leaders of the seven tribes of the Hungarians at the time of their arrival to the Carpathian Basin in 895 AD. Constantine VII, emperor of the Byzantine Empire names the seven tribes in his De Administrando Imperio, a list that can be verified with names... , as given by Anonymus Anonymus (chronicler) Bele Regis Notarius , most often referred to as Anonymus was the notary and chronicler of a Hungarian King, probably Béla III. Little is known about him, but his latinized name began with P, as he referred to himself as "P... |
|
| Gyula (or Prokuj) | ? – 1003 | Ruler of the upper Tisza Tisza The Tisza or Tisa is one of the main rivers of Central Europe. It rises in Ukraine, and is formed near Rakhiv by the junction of headwaters White Tisa, whose source is in the Chornohora mountains and Black Tisa, which springs in the Gorgany range... region and northern Transylvania. Defeated by his nephew, Stephen I of Hungary |
|
| Kean | fictional person, voivode of the southern Transylvanian Bolgars and Slavs, defeated by Stephen I of Hungary c. 1003-1015. He is mentioned in the chronicle family of Chronicon Pictum Chronicon Pictum The Chronicon Pictum Pictum, Chronica Picta or Chronica de Gestis Hungarorum) is a medieval illustrated chronicle from the Kingdom of Hungary from the fourteenth century... The name was created from the word khan Khan (title) Khan is an originally Altaic and subsequently Central Asian title for a sovereign or military ruler, widely used by medieval nomadic Turko-Mongol tribes living to the north of China. 'Khan' is also seen as a title in the Xianbei confederation for their chief between 283 and 289... as an impersonification of the dignity "Khan". |
||
| Arpads | St. Stephen I (István) | 1003–1038 | first Christian King of Hungary (1000), maternal grandson of Gyula the Old, defeated Gyula the Young and the Bulgarians ("Kean") |
| Voivods under the Kings of Hungary | |||
| Mercurius (Transylvanian Voivod) | c. 1110 | attested as Mercurius princeps Ultrasylvanus | |
| Leustachius | 1176–1199 | ||
| Legforus | 1199–1200 | ||
| Eth (Transylvanian Voivod) | ? | ||
| Gyula I | ?–1201 | ||
| Benedek | 1201–1206 | ||
| Smaragd | 1206 | ||
| Benedek | 1206–1209 | ||
| Michael I | 1209–1211 | ||
| Bertold of Andechs-Meran, Archbishop | 1211–1213 | ||
| Nicholas I | 1213 | ||
| Gyula I | 1213 | ||
| Simon (Transylvanian Voivod) | 1213–1215 | ||
| Hippolitus | 1215–1217 | ||
| Raphael | 1217–1218 | ||
| Néka Neka Neka is a city in and the capital of Neka County, Mazandaran Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 26,152, in 11,941 families.... |
1218–1221 | ||
| Pál PAL PAL, short for Phase Alternating Line, is an analogue television colour encoding system used in broadcast television systems in many countries. Other common analogue television systems are NTSC and SECAM. This page primarily discusses the PAL colour encoding system... |
1221–1231 | ||
| Gyula II Gyula II Gyula II was a Hungarian tribal leader in the middle of the 10th century. He visited Constantinople where he was baptized. His baptismal name was Stephen .- Life :... |
1230–1233 | ||
| Dénes | 1233–1234 | ||
| Andrew I | 1234–1235 | ||
| Posza | 1235–1240 | ||
| First Mongol invasion 1240-1242 | |||
| Lóránt | 1242–1252 | ||
| Interregnum | 1252–1261 | ||
| Erény Kos | 1261 | ||
| Arpads | Stephen II | 1261–1270 | |
| Mátyás Mátyás Mátyás is a Hungarian given name meaning Matthew or Matthias.Notable people with the given name Mátyás:* Mátyás Bél, Hungarian scientist* Mátyás Rákosi, Hungarian communist politician... |
1270–1272 | ||
| Nicholas II Miklos Miklós is a given name or surname, the Hungarian form of the Greek Νικόλαος , and may refer to:-In Hungarian politics:* Miklós Bánffy, Hungarian nobleman, politician, and novelist... |
1272–1273 | 1st rule | |
| John I Janos Janos may refer to:*Janos, an alternative-rock band out of Las Cruces, NM*János, male Hungarian given name, a variant of John-Places:*Janos, Chihuahua, town in Mexico*Janos , a municipality of Chihuahua-People:... |
1273–1274 | ||
| Nicholas II Miklos Miklós is a given name or surname, the Hungarian form of the Greek Νικόλαος , and may refer to:-In Hungarian politics:* Miklós Bánffy, Hungarian nobleman, politician, and novelist... |
1274–1275 | 2nd rule | |
| Ladislaus I Borsa | 1275 | ||
| Ugrin | 1275–1276 | ||
| Matyas Mátyás Mátyás is a Hungarian given name meaning Matthew or Matthias.Notable people with the given name Mátyás:* Mátyás Bél, Hungarian scientist* Mátyás Rákosi, Hungarian communist politician... |
1276–1277 | ||
| Nicholas III Pók | 1277 | 1st rule | |
| Aba | 1278–1279 | ||
| Stephen III | 1280 | ||
| Roland Borsa Roland Borsa Roland Borsa was voivode of Transylvania for 3 periods in the late thirteenth century. He was known for battling the Mongol invasions and, later, for rebelling against Hungarian attempts to control his territory.- Origins :... |
1281–1282 | ||
| Apor Pecz | 1283 | ||
| Roland Borsa Roland Borsa Roland Borsa was voivode of Transylvania for 3 periods in the late thirteenth century. He was known for battling the Mongol invasions and, later, for rebelling against Hungarian attempts to control his territory.- Origins :... |
1284–1285 | ||
| Second Mongol invasion 1284-1285. No Voivode is appointed during 1285-1288 | |||
| Roland Borsa Roland Borsa Roland Borsa was voivode of Transylvania for 3 periods in the late thirteenth century. He was known for battling the Mongol invasions and, later, for rebelling against Hungarian attempts to control his territory.- Origins :... |
1288–1294 | opposed to the king as seigneur of the province during years of feudal anarchy. Defeated by King Andrew III of Hungary | |
| Ladislaus II Khan | 1294–1315 | opposed to the king as seigneur of the province during years feudal anarchy. | |
| Voivods under the Kings of Hungary | |||
| Nicholas III | 1315–1318 | 2nd rule | |
| D of Debrecen | 1318–1321 | ||
| Thomas I Szecsényi | 1322–1342 | ||
| Nicholas IV Sirokay Miklós Sirokay Miklós Sirokay de Siroka , in Romania known as was a Voivod under the King of Hungary.He was Ruler of Transylvania from 1342 to 1344.His family descends, like 18 others, from the Hungarian noble clan of Aba... |
1342–1344 | ||
| Lackfi | Stephen IV | 1344–1350 | |
| Thomas II Csor | 1350 | ||
| Iločki House of Iločki The House of Iločki , in old sources de Illoch, de Wylak, de Voilack etc., Hungarian: Újlaki) was a Croatian noble family, descended in the male line from Gug , a member of the lower nobility in the region of Lower Slavonia during the 13th century.The Iločki, meaning "those of Ilok", rose to be a... |
Nicholas V Kont | 1351–1356 | |
| Lackfi | Andrew II Lackfi | 1356–1359 | |
| Lackfi | Dionys Lackfi | 1360–1367 | |
| Lackfi | Nicholas VI | | 1367–1368 | |
| Lackfi | Emeric Lackfi | 1368–1372 | |
| Lackfi | Stephen V | 1373–1376 | brother of Emeric |
| Ladislaus III | 1376–1391 | ||
| Emeric I Bebek | 1392–1393 | ||
| Frank de Szècsèny | 1392–1393 | ||
| Stibor of Stiboricz Stibor of Stiboricz Stibor of Stiboricz of Ostoja coat of arms was an aristocrat of Polish origin in the Kingdom of Hungary. He was a close friend of King Sigismund of Hungary who appointed him to several offices during his reign. For instance, between 1395 and 1401, then from 1409 to 1414 he was the voivode of... |
1395–1401 | knight of the Order of the Dragon Order of the Dragon The Order of the Dragon was a monarchical chivalric order for selected nobility,founded in 1408 by Sigismund, King of Hungary and later Holy Roman Emperor The Order of the Dragon (Latin Societas Draconistrarum) was a monarchical chivalric order for selected nobility,founded in 1408 by Sigismund,... , Clan of Ostoja Clan of Ostoja The Clan of Ostoja was a powerful group of Knights and Lords in late medieval Europe. The clan encompassed several families in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Upper Hungary , Hungary, Transylvania, Belorus, Ukraine and Prussia.... |
|
| Nicholas VII Csaki & Nicholas VIII Marczali | | 1401–1403 | ||
| John II Tamasi & Iacob Lack de Szántó | 1403–1409 | ||
| Stibor of Stiboricz Stibor of Stiboricz Stibor of Stiboricz of Ostoja coat of arms was an aristocrat of Polish origin in the Kingdom of Hungary. He was a close friend of King Sigismund of Hungary who appointed him to several offices during his reign. For instance, between 1395 and 1401, then from 1409 to 1414 he was the voivode of... |
1410–1414 | knight of the Order of the Dragon Order of the Dragon The Order of the Dragon was a monarchical chivalric order for selected nobility,founded in 1408 by Sigismund, King of Hungary and later Holy Roman Emperor The Order of the Dragon (Latin Societas Draconistrarum) was a monarchical chivalric order for selected nobility,founded in 1408 by Sigismund,... |
|
| Nicholas VII Csaki | 1415–1426 | 2nd rule | |
| Ladislaus IV Csaki | 1426–1437 | son of Nicolae Csaki | |
| Peter I Cseh | 1436–1438 | ||
| Losonczi Dezső | 1441-1440 | ||
| Ladislaus V Jakcs | January 1441 | ||
| John III Hunyadi John Hunyadi John Hunyadi John Hunyadi (Hungarian: Hunyadi János , Medieval Latin: Ioannes Corvinus or Ioannes de Hunyad, Romanian: Iancu (Ioan) de Hunedoara, Croatian: Janko Hunjadi, Serbian: Сибињанин Јанко / Sibinjanin Janko, Slovak: Ján Huňady) John Hunyadi (Hungarian: Hunyadi János , Medieval Latin: ... (János Hunyadi / Iancu de Hunedoara) |
1441–1446 | ||
| Emeric I Bebek & Nicholas IX Uljaki | 1446–1447 | ||
| Emeric II Bebek & John III Hunyadi John Hunyadi John Hunyadi John Hunyadi (Hungarian: Hunyadi János , Medieval Latin: Ioannes Corvinus or Ioannes de Hunyad, Romanian: Iancu (Ioan) de Hunedoara, Croatian: Janko Hunjadi, Serbian: Сибињанин Јанко / Sibinjanin Janko, Slovak: Ján Huňady) John Hunyadi (Hungarian: Hunyadi János , Medieval Latin: ... |
May–October 1448 | ||
| John IV Rozgonyi | 1449–1460 | ||
| Iločki House of Iločki The House of Iločki , in old sources de Illoch, de Wylak, de Voilack etc., Hungarian: Újlaki) was a Croatian noble family, descended in the male line from Gug , a member of the lower nobility in the region of Lower Slavonia during the 13th century.The Iločki, meaning "those of Ilok", rose to be a... |
Nicholas IX Iločki | 1449–1458 | 2nd rule |
| Rozgonyi Sebestyén | 1458–1461 | ||
| Iločki House of Iločki The House of Iločki , in old sources de Illoch, de Wylak, de Voilack etc., Hungarian: Újlaki) was a Croatian noble family, descended in the male line from Gug , a member of the lower nobility in the region of Lower Slavonia during the 13th century.The Iločki, meaning "those of Ilok", rose to be a... |
Nicholas IX Iločki | 1460 | 3rd rule |
| Ladislaus VI | 1460 | ||
| Nicholas IX Iločki & Pongrácz János | 1462–1465 | ||
| Szentgyörgyi Zsigmond & John V Szentgyörgyi | 1465–1467 | ||
| John VI Pongrácz & Nicholas X Csupor | 1468–1472 | ||
| Magyar Balázs | 1472–1475 | ||
| John VI Pongrácz | 1475–1476 | ||
| Peter II Gereb | 1478–1479 | ||
| Báthory (Ecsed) Báthory The Báthory were a Hungarian noble family of the Gutkeled clan. The family rose to significant influence in Central Europe during the late Middle Ages, holding high military, administrative and ecclesiastical positions in the Kingdom of Hungary... |
Stephen VI Báthory Stephen V Báthory Stephen Báthory of Ecsed was a Hungarian commander, 'dapiferorum regalium magister' , judge of the Royal Court and voivod of Transylvania... |
1479–1493 | |
| Drágfi | Bartolomeus Drágfi | 1493–1499 | |
| Ladislaus VII Losonczi | 1493–1495 | ||
| Peter III Szentgyörgyi | 1499–1510 | ||
| Zápolya John Zápolya John Zápolya was King of Hungary from 1526 to 1540. His rule was disputed by Archduke Ferdinand I, who also claimed the title King of Hungary between 1526 and 1540. He was the voivode of Transylvania before his coronation.- Biography :... |
John VII Zápolya John Zápolya John Zápolya was King of Hungary from 1526 to 1540. His rule was disputed by Archduke Ferdinand I, who also claimed the title King of Hungary between 1526 and 1540. He was the voivode of Transylvania before his coronation.- Biography :... (Zápolya János) |
1511–1526 | elected King of Hungary by one party of Hungarian nobles in 1526, while another party elected Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand I was Holy Roman Emperor from 1558 and king of Bohemia and Hungary from 1526 until his death. Before his accession, he ruled the Austrian hereditary lands of the Habsburgs in the name of his elder brother, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor.The key events during his reign were the contest... . |
| Peter IV Perény | 1526–1534 | appointed by John VII Zápolya | |
| Báthory (Somlyó) Báthory The Báthory were a Hungarian noble family of the Gutkeled clan. The family rose to significant influence in Central Europe during the late Middle Ages, holding high military, administrative and ecclesiastical positions in the Kingdom of Hungary... |
Stephen VII Báthory | 1529–1534 | appointed by John I Zápolya |
| Hieronymus Laski Hieronymus Jaroslaw Łaski Hieronymus Jarosław Laski, Lasky, Laszki, Laszky, Laskó, Jeromos, Jerome, Hieronym, Hieronim, , was a Polish diplomat born of an illustrious Polish family... |
1531–1534 | ||
| Stephen VIII Majláth (Ştefan Mailat) | 1534–1536 | ||
| Emeric III Balassa | 1536–1540 | ||
| Fráter György | 1542–1551 | guardian of 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... |
|
| Báthory (Ecsed) | Andrew Bonaventura Báthory | 1551–1552 | lieutenant of Ferdinand of Austria |
| Stephen IX Dobó István Dobó Baron István Dobó de Ruszka Baron István Dobó de Ruszka Baron István Dobó de Ruszka (c. 1502 - Szerednye (today, Середнє (Szerednye / Serednie, Ukraine), mid-June 1572). Hungarian soldier, best known as the successful defender of Eger against the Ottomans in 1552. Dobó was a member of the... & Francise Kendi |
1552–1556 | ||
| vacant | 1556–1570 | direct rule of 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... as claimant to the throne of Hungary |
|
| Princes of Transylvania and parts of Hungary | |||
| Zápolya | John VIII Sigismund Zapólya 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... ]] (János Zsigmond) |
1570–1571 | Son of John Zápolya, renounced his royal claim in 1570 in favour of Emperor Maximilian 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... and remained Prince of Transylvania 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 parts of Hungary until his death in 1571. |
| Báthory (Somlyó) | Stephen X Báthory | 1571–1586 | elected Voivod by a diet, King of Poland since 1575, assumed title of Prince of Transylvania 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 parts of Hungary |
| Gáspár Bekes Gáspár Bekes Gáspár de Kornyath Bekes was a Hungarian noble who fought with Stephen Báthory for the throne of Transylvania after the death of John II Sigismund Zápolya in 1571... |
1571–1572 | rival voivod, designated as successor by John II Sigismund Zápolya and supported by the Habsburg King, defeated by Stephen Báthory | |
| Báthory (Somlyó) | Christopher Báthory Christopher Báthory Christopher Báthory was a prince of Transylvania. He succeeded his brother Stephen Báthory. He was the father of Sigismund Báthory.... |
1575–1581 | older brother of Stephen Báthory, administered Transylvania as Voivod during the absence of his brother. |
| Báthory (Somlyó) | Sigismund Báthory Sigismund Báthory Sigismund Báthory was Prince of Transylvania.-Biography:Hailing from the Báthory family's Somlyó branch, he was the son of Christopher Báthory, Voivod of Transylvania, and nephew of Stephen Báthory, King of Poland... |
1581/1586–1598 | son of Christopher, succeeded his father as Voivod and his uncle as Prince; assumed regency in 1588; abdicated in April 1598 in favor of Habsburg Rudolf, King of Hungary |
| Habsburg Habsburg The House of Habsburg , also found as Hapsburg, and also known as House of Austria is one of the most important royal houses of Europe and is best known for being an origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740, as well as rulers of the Austrian Empire and... |
Rudolf Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Hungary and Croatia , King of Bohemia and Archduke of Austria... |
April–August 1598 | |
| Báthory (Somlyó) | Sigismund Báthory | August 1598 – March 1599 | returned in August 1598, again abdicated in March 1599 favor of his cousin Andrew Cardinal Báthory. |
| Báthory (Somlyó) | Andrew Cardinal Báthory | March–November 1599 | Cousin of Sigismund, driven out by Michael of Wallachia and killed by his Szekely Székely The Székelys or Székely , sometimes also referred to as Szeklers , are a subgroup of the Hungarian people living mostly in the Székely Land, an ethno-cultural region in eastern Transylvania, Romania... allies |
| Drăculeşti | Michael II (Michael the Brave) | 1599–1600 | was recognized by the Transylvanian parliament (diet) only as imperial governor subject to the Holy Roman Emperor, however, he was de facto ruler of Transylvania. Deposed in September 1600 by Hungarian nobles. Romanian historiography asserts that he was Prince of Transylvania. |
| Habsburg Habsburg The House of Habsburg , also found as Hapsburg, and also known as House of Austria is one of the most important royal houses of Europe and is best known for being an origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740, as well as rulers of the Austrian Empire and... |
Rudolf Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Hungary and Croatia , King of Bohemia and Archduke of Austria... |
1600–1601 | ruled through the governor Giorgio Basta Giorgio Basta Giorgio Basta, Count of Huszt was an Italian general of Arbëreshë descent, employed by the Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II to command Habsburg forces in the Long War of 1591-1606 and later to administer Transylvania as an Imperial vassal to restore Catholicism as a predominant religion in... , 1600–1601 |
| Báthory (Somlyó) | Sigismund Báthory | 1601 | attempted to regain Transylvania, recognized by the diet of Kolozsvár/Klausenburg/Cluj but defeated by Basta and Michael the Brave, eventually abdicated in 1602 in favor of King Rudolf II |
| Habsburg | Rudolf Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Hungary and Croatia , King of Bohemia and Archduke of Austria... |
1601–1606 | ruled through the governor Giorgio Basta Giorgio Basta Giorgio Basta, Count of Huszt was an Italian general of Arbëreshë descent, employed by the Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II to command Habsburg forces in the Long War of 1591-1606 and later to administer Transylvania as an Imperial vassal to restore Catholicism as a predominant religion in... , 1601–1604 |
| Mózes Székely Mózes Székely Mózes Székely was a Transylvanian nobleman of Székely descent and briefly ruled as Prince of Transylvania.- Biography :... |
April - July 1603 | rebelled against Habsburgs and defeated Basta with Tartar mercenaries and claimed the title of Prince but was defeated by Radu Şerban, Voivode of Wallachia | |
| Princes of Transylvania between Ottomans and Habsburgs | |||
| Bocskay | Stephen XI Bocksay | 1605–1606 | rebelled against Habsburgs with support of Hungarian nobles and the Turks, confirmed in his position in the Treaty of Vienna (1606) Treaty of Vienna (1606) The Treaty of Vienna was signed on June 23, 1606 between Stephen Bocskay, a Hungarian noble, and Archduke Matthias. Based on the terms of the treaty, all constitutional and religious rights and privileges were granted to the Hungarians in both Transylvania and Royal Hungary... |
| Rákóczi (Felsõvadász) | Sigismund Rákóczi Sigismund 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... |
1607–1608 | elected by the estates against the wishes of Bocskay, Habsburgs and Ottomans; deposed by a military rebellion under Gabriel Báthory |
| Báthory (Somlyó) | Gabriel Báthory | 1608–1613 | ally of Bocskay, came to power in a military rebellion |
| Bethlen (Iktár) | 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... |
1613–1629 | claimed the Kingship of Hungary 1619-1621 |
| Bethlen (Iktár) | Stephen XII Bethlen | 1629–1630 | originally chosen to succeed his brother, opposed his sister-in-law |
| Hohenzollern | Catherine of Brandenburg Catherine of Brandenburg Catherine of Brandenburg was ruler of Transylvania between 1629 and 1630.She was the daughter of John Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg and Anne of Prussia.... |
1629–1630 | daughter of John Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg John Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg John Sigismund was a Prince-elector of the Margraviate of Brandenburg from the House of Hohenzollern. He also served as a Duke of Prussia.-Elector of Brandenburg and Duke of Prussia:... , widow of Gabriel Bethlen |
| Rákóczi (Felsõvadász) | George I Rákóczi George I Rákóczi György Rákóczi I was elected Hungarian prince of Transylvania from 1630 until his death. During his influence Transylvania grew politically and economically stronger.-Biography:... |
1630–1648 | |
| Habsburg | Ferdinand III 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:... |
1630–1645 | claimed the Principality but accepted George I in 1645 in the treaty of Linz |
| Rákóczi (Felsõvadász) | George II Rákóczi George II Rákóczi György Rákóczi II , a Transylvanian Hungarian ruler, was the eldest son of George I and Susanna Lorantffy.... |
1648–1657 | married Sophia Báthory, niece of Gabriel Báthory, claimed the Kingship of Poland in 1657, abdicated in favor of Habsburg Leopold, King of Hungary Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor | style="float:right;" | Leopold I was a Holy Roman Emperor, King of Hungary and King of Bohemia. A member of the Habsburg family, he was the second son of Emperor Ferdinand III and his first wife, Maria Anna of Spain. His maternal grandparents were Philip III of Spain and Margaret of Austria... , deposed by a diet at Turkish command |
| Rhédey (Aba) | Francis Rhédey | 1657–1658 | backed by Charles X Gustav of Sweden Charles X Gustav of Sweden Charles X Gustav also Carl Gustav, was King of Sweden from 1654 until his death. He was the son of John Casimir, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Kleeburg and Catherine of Sweden. After his father's death he also succeeded him as Pfalzgraf. He was married to Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp, who... (1654–1660). Francis Rhédey was a descendent from the Royal House of Aba - King Samuel Aba of Hungary Samuel Aba of Hungary Samuel Aba , King of Hungary , Palatine of Hungary .-King of Hungary:Samuel was from Northern Hungary, Castle Gonce / Castle Abaújvár, County of Aba... |
| Rákóczi (Felsõvadász) | George II Rákóczi George II Rákóczi György Rákóczi II , a Transylvanian Hungarian ruler, was the eldest son of George I and Susanna Lorantffy.... |
1657–1658 | restored by a diet, deposed by the Turks |
| Barcsay (Nagybarcsa) | Ákos Barcsay | 1658–1659 | |
| Rákóczi (Felsõvadász) | George II Rákóczi George II Rákóczi György Rákóczi II , a Transylvanian Hungarian ruler, was the eldest son of George I and Susanna Lorantffy.... |
1659–1660 | fell in battle against the Turks |
| Kemény | John IX Kemény John Kemény (Prince) János Kemény was a Hungarian aristocrat, writer and prince of Transylvania.... |
1661–1662 | backed by the Habsburg King Leopold |
| Apafi (Apanagyfalu) | Michael III Apafi Michael I Apafi Michael Apafi was a Hungarian Prince of Transylvania.He was elected by the nobles of Transylvania on 14 September 1661, with the support of the Ottoman Empire, as a rival to the Habsburg-backed ruler János Kemény... |
1661–1690 | backed by the Turks, opposed King Leopold, made peace with the Habsburg King in 1685/7 |
| Apafi (Apanagyfalu) | Michael IV Apafi Michael II Apafi Michael Apafi was the son of the Hungarian Michael I Apafi and Anna Bornemissza. Following his father, he was Prince of Transylvania from 10 June 1690 to 1699.... |
1681–1692 | elected as heir during his father's lifetime, and accepted as such by the Turks, ruled with George Bánffy as governor, moved to Vienna and forced to cede the Principality to King Leopold |
| Thököly (Kesmarkium) | Imre Thököly Imre Thököly Count Imre Thököly de Késmárk was a Hungarian statesman, leader of an anti-Habsburg uprising, Prince of Transylvania, and vassal king of Upper Hungary.- Early life :Imre Thököly was born at Késmárk, Royal Hungary Count Imre Thököly de Késmárk (Thököly/Tököly/Tökölli Imre in Hungarian, Mirko... |
1690–1699 | earlier claimant of 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... , appointed Prince of Transsylvania by the Turks at the death of Michael I, held the country with Turkish support briefly in 1690/91 |
| In 1692 the Habsburg Kings of Hungary permanently assumed the title of Prince of Transylvania, administering the country through governors. | |||
| Habsburg | Leopold I Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor | style="float:right;" | Leopold I was a Holy Roman Emperor, King of Hungary and King of Bohemia. A member of the Habsburg family, he was the second son of Emperor Ferdinand III and his first wife, Maria Anna of Spain. His maternal grandparents were Philip III of Spain and Margaret of Austria... |
1690–1705 | governors: * George Bánffy, 1691-1696 * Rabutin de Bussy 1696-1708 |
| Rákóczi (Felsõvadász) | 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... |
1704–1711 | grandson of George II Rákóczi, rebelled against King Leopold, claiming the titles Prince of Transylvania and Ruling Prince of Hungary |
| Habsburg | CharlesI Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI was the penultimate Habsburg sovereign of the Habsburg Empire. He succeeded his elder brother, Joseph I, as Holy Roman Emperor, King of Bohemia , Hungary and Croatia , Archduke of Austria, etc., in 1711... |
1711–1740 | governors: * Stephen Haller, 1709-1710 * Wesselényi István, 1710-1713 * Sigismund Kornis, 1713-1731 * Wesselény István, 1731-1732 * Francisc Anton Wallis, 1732-1734 * John Haller 1734-1755 |
| Habsburg | Maria Theresa Maria Theresa of Austria Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina was the only female ruler of the Habsburg dominions and the last of the House of Habsburg. She was the sovereign of Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia, Mantua, Milan, Lodomeria and Galicia, the Austrian Netherlands and Parma... |
1740–1765 | governors: * Francisc Venceslav Wallis, 1755-1758 * Ladislaus Kemény, 1758-1762 * Adolf Buccow, 1762-1764 * Hadik András, 1764–1765 |
| The Principality is elevated to the Grand Principality of Transylvania, with the Habsburg Grand Princes administering the country through governors. | |||
| Habsburg | Maria Theresa Maria Theresa of Austria Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina was the only female ruler of the Habsburg dominions and the last of the House of Habsburg. She was the sovereign of Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia, Mantua, Milan, Lodomeria and Galicia, the Austrian Netherlands and Parma... |
1765–1780 | governors: * Andreas Hadik Andreas Hadik Count András Hadik de Futak was a Hungarian Noble. He was Governor of Galicia and Lodomeria from January 1774 to June 1774, and the father of Karl Joseph Hadik von Futak... 1765-1767 * Carol O'Donell 1767-1770 * Joseph Maria von Auersperg 1771-1774 * Samuel von Brukenthal Samuel von Brukenthal Samuel von Brukenthal was the Habsburg governor of the Grand Principality of Transylvania between July 6, 1774 and January 9, 1787... 1774-1775, 1776–1787 |
| Habsburg-Lorraine | Joseph II Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor Joseph 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... |
1780–1790 | governors: * Samuel von Brukenthal Samuel von Brukenthal Samuel von Brukenthal was the Habsburg governor of the Grand Principality of Transylvania between July 6, 1774 and January 9, 1787... 1774-1775, 1776–1787 * Bánffy György II, 1787–1822 |
| Habsburg-Lorraine | Leopold II Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor Leopold II , born Peter Leopold Joseph Anton Joachim Pius Gotthard, was Holy Roman Emperor and King of Hungary and Bohemia from 1790 to 1792, Archduke of Austria and Grand Duke of Tuscany from 1765 to 1790. He was a son of Emperor Francis I and his wife, Empress Maria Theresa... |
1790–1792 | |
| Habsburg-Lorraine | Francis II Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor Francis II was the last Holy Roman Emperor, ruling from 1792 until 6 August 1806, when he dissolved the Empire after the disastrous defeat of the Third Coalition by Napoleon at the Battle of Austerlitz... |
1792–1835 | governors: * George Bánffy II, 1787–1822 * Jósika János 1822-1834 * Ferdinand d'Este 1835-1837 |
| Habsburg-Lorraine | Ferdinand I Ferdinand I of Austria Ferdinand I was Emperor of Austria, President of the German Confederation, King of Hungary and Bohemia , as well as associated dominions from the death of his father, Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor, until his abdication after the Revolutions of 1848.He married Maria Anna of Savoy, the sixth child... |
1835–1848 | * John Kornis, 1838-1840 * Teleki József, 1842–1848 |
| Habsburg-Lorraine | Franz Joseph I Franz Joseph I of Austria Franz Joseph I or Francis Joseph I was Emperor of Austria, King of Bohemia, King of Croatia, Apostolic King of Hungary, King of Galicia and Lodomeria and Grand Duke of Cracow from 1848 until his death in 1916.In the December of 1848, Emperor Ferdinand I of Austria abdicated the throne as part of... |
1848–1916 | governors: * Ludwig Wohlgemuth, 1849-1851 * Karl B. Schwarzenberg, 1851-1858 * Friedrich von Liechtenstein, 1858-1861 * Mikó Imre 1860-1861 * Ludwig Folliot of Crenneville, 1861–1867 |
| In the wake of the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867, the Hungarian government dissolved the Grand Principality and incorporated its territory into the Kingdom of Hungary. The Habsburg Kings continue to use the title of a Grand Prince of Transsylvania. | |||
| Habsburg-Lorraine | Karl I Karl I of Austria Charles I of Austria or Charles IV of Hungary was the last ruler of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He was the last Emperor of Austria, the last King of Hungary, the last King of Bohemia and Croatia and the last King of Galicia and Lodomeria and the last monarch of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine... |
1916–1918 | |
External links
- Heraldique Europeenne including the coats-of-arms of Transylvania and its rulers 1526-1690