Michael I Apafi

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Michael Apafi (1632–15 April 1690) was Prince of Transylvania.

He was elected by the nobles of Transylvania on 14 September 1661, with the support of the Ottoman Empire, as a rival to the Habsburg-backed ruler Janos Kemény. Kemény died in 1662 leaving Apafi as uncontested ruler of Transylvania.

Opposed to the Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I, he supported the Ottomans and Hungarian rebels until the Ottoman defeat at the Battle of Vienna on 12 September 1683. Following this, Michael opened talks with Leopold and concluded a treaty with the Austrians on 27 September 1687, obtaining their recognition of his authority in Transylvania.

He died at Székesfehérvár in 1690 and was succeeded by his son Michael II Apafi.