Andrew Báthory

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Andrew Báthory

Andrew Báthory (Hungarian: Báthory András or Báthory Endre; 1562 or 1566 – November 3, 1599) was a Hungarian Roman Catholic Cardinal, a Prince-Bishop of Warmia (1589-99), and Prince of Transylvania (1598-99). He was also Grand Master of the Order of the Dragon.

Báthory was born in Somlyó, Transylvania. After the death of his uncle, King Stephen Báthory of Poland, Andrew was a candidate to the Polish throne, and was supported by the Great Crown Chancellor, Jan Zamoyski.

Though Andrew had been a cleric, he was propelled to the rule of Transylvania in 1598, when his cousin Sigismund, Prince of Transylvania, abdicated. Sigismund first abdicated in favor of Emperor Rudolf II, who also was King of Hungary and as such overlord of Transylvania. However, Sigismund reversed his decision and made his cousin Andrew the beneficiary of his abdication.

Andrew's accession was supported by the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, where the cardinal had stayed before, and also accepted by the Ottoman Empire. This arrangement, however, threatened the anti-Ottoman coalition in the Long War, leading to a joint attack by Michael of Wallachia and Habsburg troops commanded by Giorgio Basta. Andrew's army was defeated on 28 October 1599 and he himself was killed by anti-Bathory Székely on 3 November as he retreated at Pásztorbükk near Csíkszentdomokos.