This is a list of the princes of Transylvania.
List of princes
Sixteenth century Reign Portrait Prince Birth Marriage Death Notes Source 1570–1571 John Sigismund Zápolya 7 July 1540Budason ofJohn I of HungaryandIsabella of Poland died unmarried 14 March 1571Gyulafehérvár former elected king of Hungary (1540–1551, 1559–1570) Markó 2000, p. 110.Barta 1994, pp. 252., 259-260. 1576–1586 Stephen Báthory 27 Sept 1533Szilágysomlyóson ofStephen (VIII) BáthoryandCatherine Telegdi Anna of Poland(1576)childless 12 December 1586Grodno former voivode of Transylvania (1571–1576);also king of Poland (1576–1586) Szegedi 2009, p. 101.Markó 2000, pp. 99-100.Barta 1994, pp. 260., 264-265. 1586–1598 Sigismund Báthory 1572Váradson ofChristopher BáthoryandErzsébet Bocskai Maria Christina of Austria(1595)childless 27 March 1613 first reign;Prince Stephen Báthory's nephew;former voivode of Transylvania (1581–1586);abdicated for the duchies of Opole and Ratibor Markó 2000, pp. 101-102.Barta 1994, pp. 263., 293-295. 1598 Transylvania is administered by imperial commissioners in the name of Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor Barta 1994, p. 295. 1598–1599 Sigismund Báthory 1572Váradson ofChristopher BáthoryandErzsébet Bocskai Maria Christina of Austria(1595)childless 27 March 1613 second reign;abdicated in favor of his cousin, Andrew Báthory 1599 Andrew Báthory 1566Szilágysomlyóson ofAndrew BáthoryandMargit Majláth unmarried 3 November 1599Csikszentdomokos (Sândominic) nephew of Prince Stephen Báthory, cousin of Prince Sigismund Báthory;former Cardinal;killed by Székelys after his defeat by Voivode Michael the Brave of Wallachia in the battle of Sellenberk Markó 2000, pp. 97-98.Barta 1994, pp. 295-296. 1599–1600 Transylvania is administered by Voivode Michael the Brave of Wallachia, recognized by the Diet as imperial governor of Emperor Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor. In addition, Michael the Brave occupied Moldavia in 1600, and styled himself "By the grace of God, ruler of Wallachia, Transylvania and Moldavia" between 6 June 1600 and December 1600. In his correspondence with Emperor Rudolf II, he always styled himself locum tenens of the emperor. Barta 1994, p. 296.Markó 2000, pp. 112-113.Pop 2009, pp. 82-83.
Seventeenth century Reign Portrait Prince Birth Marriage Death Notes Source 1600–1601 Transylvania is administered by General Giorgio Basta in the name of Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor 1601–1602 Sigismund Báthory 1572Várad (Oradea)son ofChristopher BáthoryandErzsébet Bocskai Maria Christina of Austria(1595)childless 27 March 1613 third reign;fled abroad following his defeat by General Giorgio Basta and Michael the Brave in the battle of Goroszló, but before long he returnedabdicated Barta 1994, pp. 296-297. 1601–1603 Transylvania (or parts of Transylvania) is administered by General Giorgio Basta in the name of Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor Barta 1994, p. 297. 1603 Moses Székely c. 1553Lövéte (Lueta)son ofJános Székely unknown (1st marriage)Anna Kornis (2nd marriage)(c. 1585)1 child 17 July 1603by Brassó Backed by the Ottoman governor of the vilajet of Temesvár defeats Giorgio Basta; having received the ahidnâme from Sultan Mehmed III, declared prince by a "Diet at military camp"killed in the battle of Brassó fighting against Voivode Radu Şerban of Wallachia and his Székely allies Markó 2000, p. 120. July 1603–September 1603 Transylvania was ruled by Radu Şerban of Wallachia who held the title of voivode September 1603–1604 Transylvania is administered by General Giorgio Basta in the name of Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor Markó 2000, p. 97. 1605–1606 Stephen Bocskai 1 January 1557Kolozsvár (Cluj-Napoca)son ofGeorge BocskaiandKrisztina Sulyok Kata Hagymássy(1583)childless 29 December 1606Kassa maternal uncle of Prince Sigismund Báthory;elected prince of Hungary (1605–1606) Markó 2000, pp. 104-105.Barta 1994, pp. 293., 298-299. 1607–1608 Sigismund Rákóczi 1544Felsővadászson ofJános RákócsiandSára Némethy Judit Bekény (1st marriage)(1587)1 childAnna Gerendi (2nd marriage)(1592)3 childrenBorbála Telegdy (3rd marriage)(1596)childless 5 December 1608Felsővadász baron (1588);abdicated in favor of Gabriel Báthoryfather of George I Rákóczi Markó 2000, pp. 118-119.Barta 1994, pp. 304-305. 1608–1613 Gabriel Báthory 15 August 1589Várad (Oradea)son ofStephen BáthoryandZsuzsanna Bebek Anna Palocsai-Horváth(1607)childless 27 October 1613Várad (Oradea) his father is a nephew of Prince Stephen Báthory, himself is Prince Andrew Báthory's nephew;also voivode of Wallachia (1611);expelled by Ottoman troops assisting Gabriel Bethlen;murdered by Hajdu assassins Markó 2000, pp. 98-99.Barta 1994, pp. 305-309. 1613–1629 Gabriel Bethlen 15 November 1580Marosillyeson ofFarkas BethlenandDruzsina Lázár de Szárhegy Zsuzsanna Károlyi (1st marriage)(1605)3 children (all died)Catherine of Brandenburg(1626)childless 15 November 1629Gyulafehérvár elected by Ottoman assistance;also elected king of Hungary (1620–1621);according to the Peace of Nikolsburg of 1621 also duke of Opole and Ratibor in Silesia (1621–1629);according to the same peace, 7 counties (Abaúj, Bereg, Borsod, Szabolcs, Szatmár, Ugocsa, and Zemplén) are joined to the principality for his lifetime Markó 2000, pp. 102-103.Barta 1994, pp. 314-315., 321-324. 1629–1630 Catherine of Brandenburg 28 May 1604Brandenburg an der Haveldaughter ofJohn Sigismund, Elector of BrandenburgandAnna of Prussia Gabriel Bethlen (1st marriage)(1626)childlessFrancis Charles of Saxe-Lauenburg(1639) 27 August 1649Schöningen Prince Gabriel Bethlen's widow;her right to success his husband confirmed in his life (1626) by the Diet;usually referred to as "prince" instead of "princess";abdicated Markó 2000, p. 104.Barta 1994, pp. 314-315., 325-326.Deák 2009, pp. 82-83., 85., 88., 93. 1630 Stephen Bethlen 1584son ofFarkas BethlenandDruzsina Lázár de Szárhegy Krisztina Csáky (1st marriage)3 childrenKatalin Károlyi3 children 10 January 1648Ecsed Prince Gabriel Bethlen's brother; elected by the Diet, but later opposed by George I Rákóczi Barta 1994, p. 326. 1630–1648 George I Rákóczi 8 June 1593Szerencsson ofSigismund RákócziandAnna Gerendi Zsuzsanna Lorántffy(1616)4 children 11 October 1648Gyulafehérvár Prince Sigismund Rákóczi's son Markó 2000, pp. 115-117. 1648–1657 George II Rákóczi 30 January 1621Sárospatakson ofGeorge I RákócziandZsuzsanna Lorántffy Sophia Báthory(1643)2 children 7 June 1660Várad (Oradea) first reign;Prince George I Rákóczi's son;elected prince by the Diet in his father's life (1642) in recognition of his right to succession;deposed by the Ottoman Grand Vizier Mehmed Köprülü Markó 2000, pp. 117-118.Barta 1994, pp. 352., 356. (not installed) Francis I Rákóczi 24 February 1645Gyulafehérvárson ofGeorge II RákócziandSophia Báthory Countess Ilona Zrínyi(1666)4 children 8 July 1676Zboró elected prince by the Diet in his father's life (1652) in recognition of his right to succession;never installed because of his father's fall Markó 2000, p. 113. 1657–1658 Francis Rhédey 1610Várad (Oradea)son ofFrancis RhédeyandKata Károlyi Druzsina Bethlen de Bethlen1 child 7 May 1667Huszt elected prince by the Diet against George II Rákóczi on the order of the Sublime Porte Markó 2000, p. 119. 1658 George II Rákóczi 30 January 1621Sárospatakson ofGeorge I RákócziandZsuzsanna Lorántffy Sophia Báthory(1643)2 children 7 June 1660Várad (Oradea) second reign;elected again prince by the Diet;expelled by Ottoman troops 1658–1659 Ákos Barcsay c. 1610son ofSándor BarcsayandErzse Palatics Erzsébet Szalánczy (1st marriage)childlessIzabella Bánffy(1660)childless July 1661Kozmatelke first reign;appointed by the Sublime Porte, then elected by the Diet against George II Rákóczi;while visiting the Ottoman governor of the vilajet of Temesvár, his opponent returned to the principality Markó 2000, pp. 96-97. 1659–1660 George II Rákóczi 30 January 1621Sárospatakson ofGeorge I RákócziandZsuzsanna Lorántffy Sophia Báthory(1643)2 children 7 June 1660Várad (Oradea) third reign;elected again prince by the Diet;defeated in a battle at Szászfenes 1660 Ákos Barcsay c. 1610son ofSándor BarcsayandErzse Palatics Erzsébet Szalánczy (1st marriage)childlessIzabella Bánffy(1660)childless July 1661Kozmatelke second reign;reinstalled by the Sublime Porte;abdicated 1661–1662 John Kemény 14 December 1607Magyarbükkösson ofBalthasar KeményandZsófia Tornyi Zsuzsa Kállai (1st marriage)(1632)1 childAnna Lónyay(1659)1 child 22 January 1662Nagyszőllős (Seleuș) Markó 2000, pp. 110-111. 1661–1690 Michael I Apafi 3 November 1632Ebesfalvason ofGeorge ApafiandBorbála Petki Anna Bornemissza9 children 15 April 1690Fogaras Markó 2000, pp. 94-95. 1690–1696 or 1701 Michael II Apafi 13 October 1676Gyulafehérvárson ofMichael I ApafiandAnna Bornemissza Countess Kata Bethlen(1694)childless 1 February 1713Vienna Prince Michael I Apafi's son; elected prince by the Diet in his father's life (1681) in recognition of his right to succession;never installed, since he was taken in 1696 by force to Vienna because of his marriage without the previous approval of Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor;abdicated of his title in 1701 Markó 2000, p. 95. 1690 Emeric Thököly 25 September 1657Késmárkson ofCount Stephen ThökölyandMária Gyulaffi Countess Ilona Zrínyi(1683)2 children 13 February 1705İzmit Declared vassal king of Upper Hungary by Sultan Mehmed IV, never elected and crowned. Markó 2000, pp. 120–122.
Eighteenth century Reign Portrait Prince Birth Marriage Death Notes Source 1704–1711 Francis II Rákóczi 27 March 1676Borsison ofFrancis I RákócziandCountess Ilona Zrínyi Charlotte Amalie of Hessen-Rheinfels-Wanfried(1694)4 children 8 April 1735Tekirdağ Prince Francis I Rákóczi's son Markó 2000, pp. 113-115.
See also List of rulers of Transylvania List of consorts of Transylvania
Footnotes
References
Bán, Péter (1989). Entry székely ispán in: Bán, Péter; Magyar történelmi fogalomtár, II. kötet: L–Zs ("Thesaurus of Terms of Hungarian History, Volume I: A–Zs"). Gondolat. . Barta, Gábor (1994). The Emergence of the Principality and its First Crises (1526–1606). In: Köpeczi, Béla; Barta, Gábor; Bóna, István; Makkai, László; Szász, Zoltán; Borus, Judit; History of Transylvania; Akadémiai Kiadó; . Deák, Éva (2009). "Princeps non Principissa": Catherine of Brandenburg, Elected Prince of Transylvania (1630–1648). In: Cruz, Anne J.; Suzuki, Mihoko; The Rule of Women in Early Modern Europe; University of Illinois Press; . Fallenbüchl, Zoltán (1988). Magyarország főméltóságai ("Great Officers of State in Hungary"). Maecenas Könyvkiadó. . Felezeu, Călin (2009). The International Political Background (1541–1699) and The Legal Status of the Principality of Transylvania in Its Relations with the Ottoman Porte. In: Pop, Ioan-Aurel; Nägler, Thomas; Magyari, András; Georgescu, Vlad (1991). The Romanians: A History. Ohio State University Press. . Makkai, László (1994). The Emergence of the Estates (1172–1526). In: Köpeczi, Béla; Barta, Gábor; Bóna, István; Makkai, László; Szász, Zoltán; Borus, Judit; History of Transylvania; Akadémiai Kiadó; . Markó, László (2000). A magyar állam főméltóságai Szent Istvántól napjainkig: Életrajzi Lexikon ("Great Officers of State in Hungary from King Saint Stephen to Our Days: A Biographical Encyclopedia"). Magyar Könyvklub. Pop, Ioan-Aurel (1999). Romanians and Romania: A Brief History. Boulder (distributed by Columbia University Press). . Pop, Ioan-Aurel (2005). Romanians in the 14th–16th Centuries: From the "Christian Republic" to the "Restoration of Dacia". In: Pop, Ioan-Aurel; Bolovan, Ioan; History of Romania: Compendium; Romanian Cultural Institute (Center for Transylvanian Studies). . Pop, Ioan-Aurel (2009). Michael the Brave and Transylvania. In: Pop, Ioan-Aurel; Nägler, Thomas; Magyari, András; The History of Transylvania, Vol. II. (From 1541 to 1711); Romanian Academy, Center for Transylvanian Studies; .