Bethlen Naptár, 1981 (Ligonier)

Gábor Bethlen

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BETHLEN NAPTAR

1981

GABOR BETHLEN

— 400th Anniversary —

Gábor Bethlen, Prince of Transylvania, one of the greatest men in the history of the Reformed Church in Hungary, was born in 1580 in Marosillye. He was born into a noble family. His father died when he was still very young. According to the customs of those days, he was raised in the prince’s court, and this is where he received his education. When he was a young man, he was sent on a mission to Turkey by Gábor Báthory, Prince of Transylvania. Here he became well acquainted with the Turkish Court. Due to the war, the Turkish Sultan deposed Prince Báthory, and on May 1, 1613, named Gábor Bethlen in his stead as Prince of Transylvania. The National Assembly meeting in Kolozsvár on October 23, 1613, elected Bethlen Prince of Transylvania and he ruled until his death in Gyulafehérvár on November 15, 1629.

Between the Austrian and Turkish Empire, Bethlen secured a semi-independent principality for the Hungarian Transylvania.

He took part in the 30 Years War, invaded upper Hungary and was elected King of Hungary in 1620 in Besztercebánya. He initiated four military campaigns against Ferdinand II, and in Nikolsburg, secured a peace treaty in favor of religious and political liberty. During his 16 year rule, he never lost a battle, and with his army and personal diplomacy, he made a haven for his people, and for his country, sercured peace and honor.

He attained fame, industrial, financial and educational progress for his homeland. He established a college in the capital city of Gyulafehérvár, and supported the education of students. He was of the Reformed faith, but he did not discriminate against other religions. He accorded nobility to the ministers of his faith in a decree on July 13, 1629. His motto “If God is for us, who is against us?” (Romans 8:31) appears in the coat-of-arms of our Church.

Gábor Bethlen is remembered by the Hungarian nation and especially by the Reformed Church as one of the greatest rulers, and a faithful member and patron of the Church.

F.V.