George I Rákóczi

György Rákóczi I (Born Szerencs, 1593. June 8. – Died Gyulafehérvár, 1648. October 11.) was elected Hungarian prince of Transylvania from 1630 until his death. During his influence Transylvania grew politically and economically stronger.

Biography

In 1605 he was given to the service of Stephen Bocskay. After Bockskay's death in 1606, he moved back to his father who was elected prince.

He joined Gabriel Bethlen in 1619 in an immediate attack against King Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor. On 1619 November 23 Bethlen gave up his siege and turned back to Hungary. This correspond with Battle of Humenné, where Rákóczi was defeated by Polish-Lithuanian cavalry called Lisowczycy and Bethlen needed to secure North Transylvania against them.

On 1 December 1630, the Sighisoara parliament elected Rákóczi as Prince. In 1644 he warred against King Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor. He took the whole of Upper Hungary and joined the Swedish army besieging Brno to march against Vienna. The sultan, however, stopped the campaign. 1645 in the Tisza River in Linz, At the peace treaty of Linz, he received seven counties [partium].

Family

He was a son of Prince Sigismund Rákóczi and his second wife Anna Gerendi. His wife Susanna Lorántffy gave birth to four sons:

• Samuel (1617–1618);
• George II Rákóczi (1621–1660);
• Sigismund (1622–1652); and
• Frank (1624–1632).

References

• Sandor Szilagyi I. Rákóczy György 1593-1648. Budapest: Magyar Tudományos Akadémia, 1893. Rákóczy George 1593-1648. Budapest: Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 1893.
• Nagy László: A "bibliás őrálló" fejedelem: I. László Nagy: The bibliás őrálló "Prince: I Rákóczi György a magyar históriában. Budapest: Magvető, 1984. The history of Hungarian Rákóczi. London: Sower, 1984.
• Péter Katalin: A fejedelemség virágkora (1606–1660). Katalin Peter: The golden age of the principality (1606–1660). In: Makkai László - Szász Zoltán (szerk.): Erdély története II. In: Makkai, László - Szász, Zoltán (ed.): History of Transylvania II. 1606-tól 1830-ig. Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1988. From 1830 until 1606. London: Academic Publisher, 1988. p. p. 617-783. 617-783.
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