Stephen VIII Báthory (1477–1534) was a Hungarian noble.

He was a son of Nicholas Báthory (1462–1500) of the Somlyó branch of the Báthory

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...

 family.

In 1521, he was appointed deputy voivode of Transylvania, serving under the Voivoid John 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 :...

. After the battle of Mohacs

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....

 in 1526, Stephen supported Zápolya's claim to the Kingship of Hungary and in 1529 was made Voivode of Transylvania himself.

With his wife Catherine Telegdi

Catherine Telegdi

Catherine Telegdi was a Hungarian noble lady, the daughter of István Telegdi de Kincstartó and his wife Margit Bebek de Pelsőcz....

, he fathered eight children:

• Nicholas
• Catharine
• Andrew (died 1563)
• Sophia
• Anna (1539–1570), who apparently was born well after her father's death, the mother of the "Blood Countess" Elizabeth Báthory
  Elizabeth Báthory
  Countess Elizabeth Báthory de Ecsed was a countess from the renowned Báthory family of Hungarian nobility. Although in modern times she has been labelled the most prolific serial killer in history, the number of murders has been debated...
  
  .
• Elizabeth (1557–1562), who apparently was born well after her father's death
• Christopher
  Christopher Báthory
  Christopher Báthory was a prince of Transylvania. He succeeded his brother Stephen Báthory. He was the father of Sigismund Báthory....
  
   (1530–1581), who governed Transylvania in the absence of his younger brother Stefan.
• Stephen (1533–1586), who became Voivode (and later Prince) of Transylvania and King of Poland.

Literature

• Farin, Michael, Heroine des Grauens. Elisabeth Báthory. Munich: P. Kirchheim, 2003. ISBN 3-87410-038-3.
• Wertner, Moritz, "Urgeschlechter in Siebenbürgen.", in Archiv des Vereins für siebenbürgische Landeskunde. Neue Folge, Bd. 29, Heft 1 (1899), Hermannstadt 1899, pp. 156–235.