Hungarian Heritage Review, 1988 (17. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1988-01-01 / 1. szám
iri JMtleBimtea ^3ln ^Hungarian jMtstorjj ÉÜ-°y-ROGER B. GOODMAN Part Twenty-Three: STEPHEN BOCSKAY - PRINCE OF HUNGARY The Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries were marked by universal turmoil and war throughout Europe. All of this, naturally, had its effect upon Hungary, suffering under Ottoman oppression, and upon the Principality of Transylvania, which, using a combination of guile, diplomacy and military prowess, steered the course of preserving its own independence and, ultimately, that of Hungary itself. And, as we have seen, much of Transylvania’s success was the result of the appearance of the three remarkable leaders — Báthory, Bocskay and Bethlen. While Prince István Báthory was ruler of Transylvania, his chief and most capable advisor was Stephen Bocskay. STEPHAN VS BOCf 1 KAY DE KIS MARIAPRINCEFS TRANSSYLYA jNIAR.PAR riVM RFX3NI HVNGARLVEDOM KVS,KT PICVL()RV^M CiMEívANNO MDCV. István Bocskay, Prince of Transylvania and elected Prince of Hungary. Bocskay, whose father had occupied a minor position at Court, was familiar with the life of Prague and Vienna. Impressed by what he observed of the Habsburgs — but not blinded by their opulence — he developed a strong conviction that Hungary’s salvation lay in cooperation with the Habsburgs and the Empire rather than with the Ottomans. Part of this reasoning was shaped by the fact that the Habsburg Emperor also wore the Crown of St. Stephen. Disillusion and Revolt After the final abdication of Báthory in 1598, Bocskay, because of his orientation towards the Habsburgs, became somewhat unpopular among the Magyars. After having actually been banished from the Court he withdrew from the active political scene. This would not have had any particular effect upon the course of Transylvanian and Hungarian history had things continued on a smooth course. This, however, —continued next page 18 HUNGARIAN HERITAGE REVIEW JANUARY 1988
