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For other people with the same name, seeStephen Báthory (disambiguation).
"Stefan Batory" redirects here. For the Polish ocean liner, seeTSS Stefan Batory.
The native form of thispersonal nameisBáthory István.This article usesWestern name orderwhen mentioning individuals.

Stephen Báthory
A 19th-century copy of a portrait attributed toMartin Koberrepresenting Stephen Báthory in decorativeSarmatian attire
King of Poland
Grand Duke of Lithuania
(jure uxoris)
Reign1 May 1576 – 12 December 1586
Coronation1 May 1576
Wawel Cathedral
PredecessorHenry of Valois
SuccessorSigismund III
Co-monarchAnna Jagiellon
Prince of Transylvania
Reign1576–1586
PredecessorJohn Sigismund Zápolya
SuccessorSigismund Báthory
Born27 September 1533
Szilágysomlyó,Eastern Hungarian Kingdom
Died12 December 1586(1586-12-12)(aged 53)
Grodno,Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
BurialMay 1588
Wawel Cathedral,Kraków
Spouse
​
(m.1576)​
HouseBáthory
FatherStephen Báthory of Somlyó
MotherCatherine Telegdi
ReligionRoman Catholicism
SignatureStephen Báthory's signature

Stephen Báthory(Hungarian:Báthory István;Polish:Stefan Batory;Lithuanian:Steponas Batorasⓘ;27 September 1533 – 12 December 1586) wasVoivode of Transylvania(1571–1576),Prince of Transylvania(1576–1586),King of PolandandGrand Duke of Lithuania(1576–1586).[1]

The son ofStephen VIII Báthoryand a member of the HungarianBáthorynoble family, Báthory was a ruler ofTransylvaniain the 1570s, defeating another challenger for that title,Gáspár Bekes.

In 1576 Báthory became the husband of QueenAnna Jagiellonand the thirdelectedking of Poland. He worked closely with chancellorJan Zamoyski.The first years of his reign were focused on establishing power, defeating a fellow claimant to the throne,Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor,and quelling rebellions, most notably, theDanzig rebellion.

He reigned only a decade, but is considered one of the most successfulkingsinPolish history,particularly in the military realm. His signal achievement was his victoriouscampaign in LivoniaagainstRussiain the middle part of his reign, in which he repulsed a Russian invasion of Commonwealth borderlands and secured a highly favorable treaty of peace (thePeace of Jam Zapolski).

Youth[edit]

Personal coat of arms

Stephen Báthory was born on 27 September 1533 inthe castleat Somlyó, also known as Szilágysomlyó (today'sȘimleu Silvaniei).[2]He was the son ofStephen VIII Báthory(d. 1534) of the nobleHungarianBáthory familyand his wifeCatherine Telegdi.[2]He had at least five siblings: two brothers and three sisters.[2]

Little is known about his childhood. Around 1549–1550, he briefly visited Italy and probably spent a few months attending lectures at thePadua University.[2]Upon his return, he joined the army ofFerdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor,and took part in his military struggle against theTurks.[2]Some time after 1553, Báthory was captured by the Turks, and after Ferdinand I refused to pay his ransom, joined the opposing side, supportingJohn II Sigismund Zápolyain his struggle for power in theEastern Hungarian Kingdom.[2]As Zápolya's supporter, Báthory acted both as a feudal lord, military commander and a diplomat.[2][3]During one of his trips toViennahe was put under house arrest for two years.[3]During this time he fell out of favor at Zápolya's court, and his position was largely assumed by another Hungarian noble,Gáspár Bekes.[3]Báthory briefly retired from politics, but he still wielded considerable influence and was seen as a possible successor to Zápolya.[3]

After Zápolya's death in 1571, the Transylvanian estates elected BáthoryVoivode of Transylvania.[3]Bekes, supported by the Habsburgs, disputed his election, but by 1573, Báthory emerged victorious in the resulting civil war and drove Bekes out of Transylvania.[3]He subsequently attempted to play the Ottomans and the Holy Roman Empire against one another in an attempt to strengthen the Transylvania position.[4]

Elected king[edit]

Stephen Báthory as King of Poland with aManneristcrown from about 1584, most probably created for him inGdańskafterWillem van den Blocke's design.[5]

In 1572, the throne of thePolish–Lithuanian Commonwealth,at the time the largest and one of the most populous states in Europe, was vacated when KingSigismund II Augustusdied without heirs.[4]TheSejmwas given the power toelecta new king, and in the1573 Polish–Lithuanian royal electionchoseHenry of France;Henry soon ascended the French throne and forfeited the Polish one by returning to France.[4]Báthory decided to enter into the election; in the meantime he had to defeat another attempt by Bekes to challenge his authority in Transylvania, which he did by defeating Bekes at theBattle of Kerelőszentpál.[4]

On 12 December 1575, after aninterregnumof roughly one and a half years,primate of PolandJakub Uchański,representing a pro-Habsburg faction, declaredArchduke Maximilian IIIas the new monarch.[4]However, chancellorJan Zamoyski,Piotr Zborowskiand other opponents of Habsburgs argued against a Habsburg king, fearing the political power of a native Polish king.[4][6][7]Zborowski in particular supported electing aprincelyorducalruler. Bathory also pledged several bribes, including 200,000florinsand ransoms for Polish captives taken by theTatars.[8]After a heated discussion, it was decided thatAnna Jagiellon,sister of the former KingSigismund II Augustus,should be elected 'king' and marry Stephen Báthory.[9]In January 1576 Báthory passed the mantle of voivode of Transylvania to his brotherChristopher Báthoryand departed for Poland.[9]On 1 May 1576 Báthory married Anna and was crownedking of Polandandgrand duke of Lithuania.[9]After being chosen as king in the1576 Polish–Lithuanian royal election,Báthory also began using the title of theprince of Transylvania.[3]

Establishing power[edit]

Seal of King and Grand Duke Stephen Báthory, circa 1576–1586
Blade of theblessed swordreceived by Stephen Báthory in 1580 fromPope Gregory XIIIas a fifth ruler of Poland and Lithuania for his struggles against Turks and Tatars.[10][11]The sword bears the papal insignia, theBoncompagnifamily coat of arms and an inscription:GREGORIVS·XIII·PONT·MAX·ANNO·VII.Presented with the cap in Vilnius by the Samogitian bishopMerkelis Giedraitisin the presence of papal nuncioGiovanni Andrea Caligari[it],it was deposited in the royal treasury inKraków.[12][13]

Báthory's position was at first extremely difficult, as there was still some opposition to his election. Emperor Maximilian, insisting on his earlier election, fostered internal opposition and prepared to enforce his claim by military action.[14]At first the representatives of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania refused to recognize Báthory as grand duke, and demanded concessions - that he return the estates of his wife Anne to the Lithuanian treasury, hold Sejm conventions in both Lithuania and Poland, and reserve the highest governmental official offices in Lithuania for Lithuanians. He accepted the conditions.[15]In June Báthory was recognized asGrand Duke of Lithuania.[a][9][14]On 29 May 1580 a ceremony was held in theVilnius Cathedralduring which bishopMerkelis Giedraitispresented Báthory adecorated sword and a hat adorned with pearls(both were sanctified byPope Gregory XIIIhimself), while this ceremony manifested the sovereignty of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and had the meaning ofelevation of the new Grand Duke of Lithuania,this way ignoring the stipulations of theUnion of Lublin.[16][17][18][failed verification][19]The Báthory's ceremony of 29 May 1580 coincided with the nobles of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (e.g.Mikołaj "the Red" Radziwiłł,Eustachy Wołłowicz,Jan Karol Chodkiewicz,Konstanty Ostrogski) initial demands before the Union of Lubin to have a separate declaration act of the Grand Duke of Lithuania in Vilnius.[20]

With Lithuania secure, the other major region refusing to recognize his election wasPrussia.[14]Maximilian's sudden death improved Báthory's situation, but the city ofDanzig(Gdańsk) still refused to recognize his election without significant concessions.[14]TheHanseatic Leaguecity, bolstered by its immense wealth, fortifications, and the secret support of Maximilian, had supported the Emperor's election and decided not to recognize Báthory as legitimate ruler. The resulting conflict was known as theDanzig rebellion.Most armed opposition collapsed when the prolongedSiege of Danzigby Báthory's forces was lifted as an agreement was reached.[14][21]The Danzig army was utterly defeated in a field battle on 17 April 1577.[22]However, since Báthory's armies were unable to take the city by force, a compromise was reached.[22][23]In exchange for some of Danzig's demands being favorably reviewed, the city recognised Báthory as ruler of Poland and paid the sum of 200,000zlotysin gold as compensation.[21][23]Tying up the administration of the Commonwealth's northern provinces, in February 1578 he acknowledgedGeorge Frederickas the ruler ofDuchy of Prussia,receiving his feudal tribute.[21]

Policies[edit]

King Stephen inOttomanclothes, 1585

After securing control over the Commonwealth, Báthory had a chance to devote himself to strengthening his authority, in which he was supported by hischancellorJan Zamoyski,who would soon become one of the king's most trusted advisers.[7][23]Báthory reorganised the judiciary by formation of legal tribunals (theCrown Tribunalin 1578 and theLithuanian Tribunalin 1581).[24]While this somewhat weakened the royal position, it was of little concern to Báthory, as the loss of power was not significant in the short term, and he was more concerned with the hereditary Hungarian throne.[21][24]In exchange, the Sejm allowed him to raise taxes and push a number of reforms strengthening the military, including the establishment of thepiechota wybraniecka,an infantry formation composed of peasants.[21]Many of his projects aimed to modernize the Commonwealth army, reforming it in a model of Hungarian troops of Transylvania.[25]He also founded theAcademy of Vilnius,the third university in the Commonwealth, transforming what had been aJesuitcollege into a major university.[26]He founded several other Jesuit colleges, and was active in propagatingCatholicism,while at the same time being respectful of the Commonwealth policy ofreligious tolerance,issuing a number of decrees offering protection toPolish Jews,and denouncing anyreligious violence.[25]

In external relations, Báthory sought peace through strong alliances. Though remaining distrustful of the Habsburgs, he maintained the tradition of good relations that the Commonwealth enjoyed with its Western neighbor and confirmed past treaties between the Commonwealth and Holy Roman Empire with diplomatic missions received by Maximilian's successor,Rudolf II.[27]The troublesome south-eastern border with theOttoman Empirewas temporarily quelled by truces signed in July 1577 and April 1579.[27]TheSejmof January 1578 gathered inWarsawwas persuaded to grant Báthory subsidies for the inevitable war againstMuscovy.[21]

A number of his trusted advisers were Hungarian, and he remained interested in Hungarian politics.[25]In his last years, Báthory, withPope Gregory XVIII's approval, made a plan withAntonio Possevinofor the liberation ofOttoman Hungaryby a well organized (mostly Polish) Christian army, and the creation of a strong and independent Hungarian-Polish union under his rule. However, the unfavorable international situation did not allow him significantly to advance any of his plans in that area.[28]In addition to Hungarian, he was well versed inLatin,and spoke Italian and German; he never learned the Polish language.[25]

In his personal life, he was described as rather frugal in his personal expenditures, with hunting and reading as his favorite pastimes.[25]

War with Muscovy[edit]

Polish coin with likeness of Báthory

Before Báthory's election to the throne of the Commonwealth,Ivan the Terribleof Russia had begun encroaching on its sphere of interest in the northeast, eventually invading the Commonwealth borderlands inLivonia;the conflict would grow to involve a number of nearby powers (outside Russia and Poland-Lithuania, alsoSweden,theKingdom of LivoniaandDenmark-Norway). Each of them was vying for control of Livonia, and the resulting conflict, lasting for several years, became known as theLivonian War.[29]By 1577, Ivan was in control of most of the disputed territory, but his conquest was short-lived.[29]In 1578, Commonwealth forces scored a number of victories in Liviona and begun pushing Ivan's forces back; this marked the turning point inthe war.[27]Báthory, together with his chancellor Zamoyski, led the army of the Commonwealth in a series of decisive campaigns takingPolotskin 1579 andVelikiye Lukiin 1580.[27]

In 1581, Stephen penetrated once again intoRussiaand, on 22 August,laid siege to the city of Pskov.While the city held, on 13 December 1581 Ivan the Terrible began negotiations that concluded with theTruce of Jam Zapolskion 15 January 1582.[30]The treaty was favorable to the Commonwealth, as Ivan cededPolatsk,Velizand most of theDuchy of Livoniain exchange for regainingVelikiye LukiandNevel.[30]

Final years[edit]

Bathory's tomb monument in theWawel Cathedral

In 1584, Báthory allowed Zamoyski to executeSamuel Zborowski,whose death sentence for treason and murder had been pending for roughly a decade.[24][31]This political conflict between Báthory and theZborowski family,framed as the clash between the monarch and the nobility, would be a major recurring controversy in internal Polish politics for many years.[24][31]In external politics, Báthory was considering another war with Russia, but his plans were delayed to the lack of support from the Sejm, which refused to pass the requested tax raises.[31]

Báthory's health had been declining for several years.[31]He died on 12 December 1586.[32]He had no legitimate children, though contemporary rumours suggested he might have had several illegitimate children. None of these rumours have been confirmed by modern historians.[32]His death was followed by an interregnum of one year. Maximilian II's son,Archduke Maximilian III,was elected kingbutwas contestedby the SwedishSigismund III Vasa,who defeated Maximilian at theByczynaand succeeded as ruler of the Commonwealth.[33]

Remembrance[edit]

Báthory actively promoted his legend, sponsoring many works about his life and achievements, from historical treatises to poetry.[25]In his lifetime, he was featured in the works ofJan Kochanowski,Mikołaj Sęp Szarzyńskiand many others.[25]He became a recurring character in Polish poetry and literature and featured as a central figure in poems, novels and drama byJakub Jasiński,Józef Ignacy Kraszewski,Julian Ursyn Niemcewicz,Henryk Rzewuskiand others.[34]He has been a subject of numerous paintings, both during his life and posthumously. Among the painters who took him as a subject wereJan MatejkoandStanisław Wyspiański.[34][35]

A statue of Báthory byGiovanni Ferrariwas raised in 1789 inPadua,Italy, sponsored by the last king of the Commonwealth,Stanisław August Poniatowski.[35]Other monuments to him include one in theŁazienki Palace(1795 by Andrzej Le Brun) and one inSniatyn(1904, destroyed in 1939).[35]He was a patron of theVilnius University(then known as the Stefan Batory University) and several units in thePolish Armyfrom 1919 to 1939.[35]His name was borne by two 20th-century passenger ships of thePolish Merchant Navy,theMS BatoryandTSS Stefan Batory.[35]In modern Poland, he is the namesake of theBatory Steelmill,a nongovernmentalStefan Batory Foundation,thePolish 9th Armored Cavalry Brigade,and numerous Polish streets and schools.[35]One of the districtsof the town ofChorzówis named after him.[35]

Báthory atPskov,by Jan Matejko

Immediately after his death, he was not fondly remembered in the Commonwealth. Many nobles took his behavior in the Zborowski affair and his domestic policies as indicating an interest in curtailing the nobility'sGolden Freedomsand establishing anabsolute monarchy.[32]His contemporaries were also rankled by his favoritism toward Hungarians over nationals of the Commonwealth.[31]He was also remembered, more trivially, for his Hungarian-style cap and saber (szablabatorówka).[34]

His later resurgence in Polish memory and historiography can be traced to the 19th-century era ofpartitions of Polandwhen the Polish state lost its independence.[34]He was remembered for his military triumphs and praised as an effective ruler by many, includingJohn Baptist Albertrandi,Jerzy Samuel Bandtkie,Michał Bobrzyński,Józef Szujskiand others.[34]Though some historians likeTadeusz Korzon,Joachim LelewelandJędrzej Moraczewskiremained more reserved, in 1887,Wincenty Zakrzewskinoted that Báthory is "the darling of both the Polish public opinion and Polish historians".[34]During the interwar period in theSecond Polish Republiche was a cult figure, often compared - with the government's approval - to the contemporary dictator of Poland,Józef Piłsudski.[34]After theSecond World War,in the communistPeople's Republic of Poland,he became more of a controversial figure, with historians more ready to question his internal politics and attachment to Hungary.[34]Nonetheless, his good image remained intact, reinforced by the positive views of a popular Polish historian of that period,Paweł Jasienica.[34]

See also[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related toStefan Batory.

Notes[edit]

  1. ^The lands and territories he ruled were usually named one after another in written sources:Stephanus Dei gratia rex Poloniae et magnus dux Lithuaniae, Russiae, Prussiae, Masoviae, Samogitiae, Kiioviae, Voliniae, Podlachiae, Livoniaeque, necnon. princeps Transylvaniae.inLatin.

References[edit]

  1. ^"Ungarische Adelshäuser".www.ungarische-adelshauser.com.Archived fromthe originalon 14 February 2023.Retrieved13 February2023.
  2. ^abcdefgBesala and Biedrzycka (2005), p.114
  3. ^abcdefgBesala and Biedrzycka (2005), p.115
  4. ^abcdefBesala and Biedrzycka (2005), p.116
  5. ^Marcin Latka."Detail of portrait of Stephen Bathory".artinpl.Retrieved28 July2019.
  6. ^Daniel Stone (2001).The Polish-Lithuanian State, 1386-1795.University of Washington Press. p. 122.ISBN978-0-295-98093-5.Retrieved5 September2013.
  7. ^abHalina Lerski (30 January 1996).Historical Dictionary of Poland, 966-1945.ABC-CLIO. p. 678.ISBN978-0-313-03456-5.Retrieved2 July2012.
  8. ^Roşu, Felicia (2017).Elective monarchy in Transylvania and Poland-Lithuania, 1569-1587.Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.ISBN978-0-19-878937-6.OCLC990854634.
  9. ^abcdBesala and Biedrzycka (2005), p.117
  10. ^Besala, Jerzy (1992).Stefan Batory.pp. 295–296.
  11. ^Petrus, Jerzy T. (1977). "Miecze poświęcane królewicza Władysława Zygmunta i króla Jana III" [Blessed swords of Prince Władysław Zygmunt and King Jan III.].Biuletyn Historii Sztuki.39:157.
  12. ^Petrus, Jerzy T. (1977). "Miecze poświęcane królewicza Władysława Zygmunta i króla Jana III" [Blessed swords of Prince Władysław Zygmunt and King Jan III.].Biuletyn Historii Sztuki.39:157.
  13. ^Żygulski, Zdzisław (1978)."Miecz i kapelusz poświęcany króla Jana III Sobieskiego".Studia do Dziejów Wawelu.4:356.
  14. ^abcdeBesala and Biedrzycka (2005), p.118
  15. ^Masha Greenbaum (1 January 1995).The Jews of Lithuania: a history of a remarkable community, 1316-1945.Gefen Publishing House Ltd. p. 22.ISBN978-965-229-132-5.
  16. ^"Vavelio pilies lobyne – ir Lietuvos, Valdovų rūmų istorija".Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania(in Lithuanian).Retrieved6 November2023.
  17. ^Bues, Almut (2005).The year-book of Lithuanian history(PDF)(in Lithuanian). Lithuanian Institute of History. p. 9.Retrieved6 November2023.
  18. ^Stryjkowski, Maciej (1846).Kronika polska, litewska, żmódzka i wszystkiéj Rusi Macieja Stryjkowskiego. T. 2(in Polish). Warsaw. p. 432.Retrieved6 November2023.
  19. ^Ragauskienė, Raimonda; Ragauskas, Aivas; Bulla, Noémi Erzsébet (2018).Tolimos bet artimos: Lietuvos ir Vengrijos istoriniai ryšiai(PDF)(in Lithuanian). p. 67.Retrieved6 November2023.
  20. ^Jasas, Rimantas."Liublino unija".Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija(in Lithuanian).Retrieved8 November2023.
  21. ^abcdefBesala and Biedrzycka (2005), p.119
  22. ^abKrzysztof Jabłonka (2007).Wielkie bitwy Polaków: 40 potyczek, batalii i kampanii decydujących o losach Polski.Rosikon Press. p. 49.ISBN978-83-88848-43-8.Retrieved5 September2013.
  23. ^abcDaniel Stone (2001).The Polish-Lithuanian State, 1386-1795.University of Washington Press. p. 123.ISBN978-0-295-98093-5.Retrieved5 September2013.
  24. ^abcdDaniel Stone (2001).The Polish-Lithuanian State, 1386-1795.University of Washington Press. p. 125.ISBN978-0-295-98093-5.Retrieved5 September2013.
  25. ^abcdefgBesala and Biedrzycka (2005), p.124
  26. ^Daniel Stone (2001).The Polish-Lithuanian State, 1386-1795.University of Washington Press. p. 126.ISBN978-0-295-98093-5.Retrieved5 September2013.
  27. ^abcdBesala and Biedrzycka (2005), p.120
  28. ^Entz, Géza; Benda, Kálmán; Péter, Katalin; Kahler, Frigyes; Takács, Péter; Jenei, Károly; Bán, Imre (1986). "Báthory István tervei Magyarország egységének helyreállitására" [István Báthory's plans for the restoration of Hungary's unity]. In Dám, László (ed.).Tanulmányok Nyírbátor és a Báthori család történetéhez.Báthori István Múzeum.ISBN963017782X.ISSN0237-8779.
  29. ^abDavid R. Stone(2006).A Military History of Russia: From Ivan the Terrible to the War in Chechnya.Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 15–17.ISBN978-0-275-98502-8.Retrieved6 September2013.
  30. ^abBesala and Biedrzycka (2005), p.121
  31. ^abcdeBesala and Biedrzycka (2005), p.123
  32. ^abcBesala and Biedrzycka (2005), p.125
  33. ^Daniel Stone (2001).The Polish-Lithuanian State, 1386-1795.University of Washington Press. pp. 131–132.ISBN978-0-295-98093-5.Retrieved6 September2013.
  34. ^abcdefghiBesala and Biedrzycka (2005), p.126
  35. ^abcdefgBesala and Biedrzycka (2005), p.127

Bibliography[edit]

External links[edit]

Stephen Báthory
Born:1533 27 SeptemberDied:1586 12 December
Regnal titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Stephen Dobó
Francis Kendi 		Voivode of Transylvania
1571–1576 		Succeeded by
Vacant
Title last held by
John Sigismund Zápolya 		Prince of Transylvania
1576–1586 		Succeeded by
Preceded byas sole monarch King of Poland
Grand Duke of Lithuania
1576–1586
withAnne 		Succeeded by
Notes and references
1.Regnal Chronologies
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stephen_Báthory&oldid=1230821649"