Sigismund Rákóczi
Encyclopedia
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 Bocskay
, who had rebelled against the Habsburgs, was elected Prince of Transylvania in 1605, he appointed Rákóczi to the post of governor of Transylvania. Rákóczi, seeing the prospects of his new position, relocated with his family from Felsővadász in Royal Hungary to Transylvania and immediately set to work rebuilding the princely possessions, reviving trade with Wallachia
and Moldavia
and balancing the Transylvanian budget.
Bocskay was recognized as Prince by the Habsburg in the Treaty of Vienna
of 1606, but died in the same year. His death propelled Rákóczi to the first rank of Transylvanian politics, as the estates looked for a fitting successor: the first candidate was Bálint Homonnai Drugeth, a young man of noble birth and military ability whom Bocskay had named as his successor. The second contender was Gabriel Báthory, who had proved himself an able soldier while fighting with Bocskay and as a member of the former princely family of Transylvania was a natural candidate for the succession. The Transylvanian estates however, claiming the right to freely chose the Prince, disapproved of both candidates, as electing Drugeth would have meant yielding to the late Bocskay (who had named Homonnai) and to the Ottomans
(who had already accepted this designation), while electing Báthory would have meant accepting his dynastic claims and a return to hereditary rule. While the two candidates rallied their supporter outside of the country, the estates looked to the able governor Sigismund Rákóczi, since he was a man both of administrative ability and without support outside of the estates.
The estates had planned to await Bocskay's burial before they would proceed with the election, but a letter by the Archduke Matthias
sped up events: Matthias told them to wait until King Rudolf had instituted the necessary requirements according to the Treaty of Vienna. As the treaty did not contain any such requirements, the estates hurried and on 9 February 1607 elected Sigismund Rákóczi.
Though this unilateral act enraged both Habsburgs and Ottomans, neither power was prepared to engage in military action: The Sultan's Turkish messenger had already been waiting at the border, ready to formally invest Drugeth as Prince, but returned to Constantinople, reportedly bribed by Rákóczi. The new Prince tried to win the recognition of the Ottoman government by offering the Vizier
Murad Pasha
two castles recently conquered from the Turks, but the Vizier declined and replied that Rákóczi was free to act as long as he didn't start a new war. The Habsburg government of Hungary, which had supported first Drugeth and then Báthory, shied away from military conflict too, but instead it tried to negotiate with Rákóczi about his voluntary resignation.
Rákóczi and the majority of Transylvanian politicians at first rejected any such attempts, but then were forced into entering into negotiations by the rising pressure of an imminent rebellion of the Hajduks
who had fought with Bocskay and demanded their pay. Hajduk commanders met with the Turkish Pasha
at Pest
, insisting that there could be no peace as long they had not been paid. They even considered electing Drugeth as King, but the former candidate refused to meet with them.
This volatile situation was exploited by Gabriel Báthory, who under the pretense of negotiating the defense of the country, on 5 February 1608 signed a pact with the Hajduks: their commanders pledged to fight with him to whatever end, while he promised to promote Calvinism, make their general his minister and their preacher a councillor, and to provide the Hajduks with lands in the region of Oradea, Ecsed and Kállo. The Transylvanian government did not dare to oppose the Hadjuk force and Rákóczi, seeing that a fight would only bring defeat to him and ruin to his country, resigned in favour of Báthory on 7 March.
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....
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 Bocskay
Stephen 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...
, who had rebelled against the Habsburgs, was elected Prince of Transylvania in 1605, he appointed Rákóczi to the post of governor of Transylvania. Rákóczi, seeing the prospects of his new position, relocated with his family from Felsővadász in Royal Hungary to Transylvania and immediately set to work rebuilding the princely possessions, reviving trade with Wallachia
Wallachia
Wallachia or Walachia is a historical and geographical region of Romania. It is situated north of the Danube and south of the Southern Carpathians...
and Moldavia
Moldavia
Moldavia is a geographic and historical region and former principality in Eastern Europe, corresponding to the territory between the Eastern Carpathians and the Dniester river...
and balancing the Transylvanian budget.
Bocskay was recognized as Prince by the Habsburg in the Treaty of Vienna
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...
of 1606, but died in the same year. His death propelled Rákóczi to the first rank of Transylvanian politics, as the estates looked for a fitting successor: the first candidate was Bálint Homonnai Drugeth, a young man of noble birth and military ability whom Bocskay had named as his successor. The second contender was Gabriel Báthory, who had proved himself an able soldier while fighting with Bocskay and as a member of the former princely family of Transylvania was a natural candidate for the succession. The Transylvanian estates however, claiming the right to freely chose the Prince, disapproved of both candidates, as electing Drugeth would have meant yielding to the late Bocskay (who had named Homonnai) and to 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...
(who had already accepted this designation), while electing Báthory would have meant accepting his dynastic claims and a return to hereditary rule. While the two candidates rallied their supporter outside of the country, the estates looked to the able governor Sigismund Rákóczi, since he was a man both of administrative ability and without support outside of the estates.
The estates had planned to await Bocskay's burial before they would proceed with the election, but a letter by the Archduke Matthias
Matthias, Holy Roman Emperor
Matthias of Austria was Holy Roman Emperor from 1612, King of Hungary and Croatia from 1608 and King of Bohemia from 1611...
sped up events: Matthias told them to wait until King Rudolf had instituted the necessary requirements according to the Treaty of Vienna. As the treaty did not contain any such requirements, the estates hurried and on 9 February 1607 elected Sigismund Rákóczi.
Though this unilateral act enraged both Habsburgs and Ottomans, neither power was prepared to engage in military action: The Sultan's Turkish messenger had already been waiting at the border, ready to formally invest Drugeth as Prince, but returned to Constantinople, reportedly bribed by Rákóczi. The new Prince tried to win the recognition of the Ottoman government by offering the Vizier
Vizier
A vizier or in Arabic script ; ; sometimes spelled vazir, vizir, vasir, wazir, vesir, or vezir) is a high-ranking political advisor or minister in a Muslim government....
Murad Pasha
Kuyucu Murad Pasha
Kuyucu Murat Pasha was a Croatian who became Ottoman grand vizier during the reign of Ahmed I between December 9, 1606 and August 5, 1611...
two castles recently conquered from the Turks, but the Vizier declined and replied that Rákóczi was free to act as long as he didn't start a new war. The Habsburg government of Hungary, which had supported first Drugeth and then Báthory, shied away from military conflict too, but instead it tried to negotiate with Rákóczi about his voluntary resignation.
Rákóczi and the majority of Transylvanian politicians at first rejected any such attempts, but then were forced into entering into negotiations by the rising pressure of an imminent rebellion of the Hajduks
Hajduk (soldiers)
The Hajduk were Hungarian irregular or mercenary soldiers in the 16th and 17th centuries, and a liveried bodyguard of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the 17th and 18th centuries. In Serbia and the Banat region in the 18th century, hajduk referred to an infantry soldier, though the term is now...
who had fought with Bocskay and demanded their pay. Hajduk commanders met with the Turkish Pasha
Pasha
Pasha or pascha, formerly bashaw, was a high rank in the Ottoman Empire political system, typically granted to governors, generals and dignitaries. As an honorary title, Pasha, in one of its various ranks, is equivalent to the British title of Lord, and was also one of the highest titles in...
at Pest
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...
, insisting that there could be no peace as long they had not been paid. They even considered electing Drugeth as King, but the former candidate refused to meet with them.
This volatile situation was exploited by Gabriel Báthory, who under the pretense of negotiating the defense of the country, on 5 February 1608 signed a pact with the Hajduks: their commanders pledged to fight with him to whatever end, while he promised to promote Calvinism, make their general his minister and their preacher a councillor, and to provide the Hajduks with lands in the region of Oradea, Ecsed and Kállo. The Transylvanian government did not dare to oppose the Hadjuk force and Rákóczi, seeing that a fight would only bring defeat to him and ruin to his country, resigned in favour of Báthory on 7 March.