Stephen VIII Báthory (, ) (1477–1534) was a Hungarian noble.

Biography

He was a son of Nicholas Báthory (1462–1500) of the Somlyó branch of the

Báthory family The House of Báthory () was an old and powerful Hungarian nobility, Hungarian noble family of the Gutkeled clan. The family rose to significant influence in Central Europe during the Late Middle Ages, holding high military, administrative and ...

, and his wife, Sophia Bánffy de Losoncz (b. 1477). He was appointed in 1521 adjoin (deputy) of the

Voivode of Transylvania The Voivode of Transylvania (;Fallenbüchl 1988, p. 77. ;Zsoldos 2011, p. 36. ; ) was the highest-ranking official in Transylvania within the Kingdom of Hungary from the 12th century to the 16th century. Appointed by the King of Hun ...

, and served under the Voivode

John Zápolya John Zápolya or Szapolyai (; ; ; ; 1487 – 22 July 1540), was King of Hungary (as John I) from 1526 to 1540. His rule was disputed by Archduke Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor, Ferdinand I, who also claimed the title King of Hungary. He wa ...

. After the

Battle of Mohács The Battle of Mohács (; , ) took place on 29 August 1526 near Mohács, in the Kingdom of Hungary. It was fought between the forces of Hungary, led by King Louis II of Hungary, Louis II, and the invading Ottoman Empire, commanded by Suleima ...

in 1526, Stephen supported Zápolya's claim to the Kingship of Hungary and in 1529 was made Voivode of Transylvania.

Personal life

He fathered eight children with his wife Catherine Telegdi. *Nicholas *Catharine *Andrew, father of

Stephen Stephen or Steven is an English given name, first name. It is particularly significant to Christianity, Christians, as it belonged to Saint Stephen ( ), an early disciple and deacon who, according to the Book of Acts, was stoned to death; he is w ...

, Balthasar and

Andrew Báthory Andrew Báthory (; ; 1562 or 1563 – 3 November 1599) was the Cardinal-deacon of Sant'Adriano al Foro from 1584 to 1599, Prince-Bishop of Warmia from 1589 to 1599, and Prince of Transylvania in 1599. His father was a brother of Stephen Báthor ...

*Sophia *Anna (? –1570), born after her father's death, the mother of

Elizabeth Báthory Countess Elizabeth Báthory of Ecsed (, ; ; 7 August 1560 – 21 August 1614) was a Hungarian noblewoman and alleged serial killer from the powerful House of Báthory, who owned land in the Kingdom of Hungary (now Slovakia). Báthory and fo ...

. *Elizabeth (? –1562), who apparently was born well after her father's death *

Christopher Christopher is the English language, English version of a Europe-wide name derived from the Greek language, Greek name Χριστόφορος (''Christophoros'' or ''Christoforos''). The constituent parts are Χριστός (''Christós''), "Jesus ...

(1530–1581), who governed Transylvania in the absence of his younger brother Stefan. *

(1533–1586), who became Voivode (and later Prince) of Transylvania and King of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

Literature

*Farin, Michael, ''Heroine des Grauens. Elisabeth Báthory''. Munich: P. Kirchheim, 2003. . * Wertner, Moritz, "Urgeschlechter in Siebenbürgen.", in ''Archiv des Vereins für siebenbürgische Landeskunde''. Neue Folge, Bd. 29, Heft 1 (1899), Hermannstadt 1899, p. 156–235. Voivodes of Transylvania Stephen 08 1477 births 1534 deaths 16th-century Hungarian people {{europe-noble-stub