Ferenc Esterházy de Galántha (; 1533–1604) was a Hungarian noble, who served as Vice-ispán (Viscount; ''vicecomes'') of

Pozsony County Pozsony county was an administrative county (Comitatus (Kingdom of Hungary), comitatus) of the Kingdom of Hungary. Its territory is now mostly part of Slovakia, while a small area belongs to Hungary. In 1969, the three villages that remained in H ...

since 1579. He was the ancestor of the wealthy and prestigious

House of Esterházy A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air c ...

. His parents were Benedek Zerhas de Zerhashaz (or Eszterhas), from the kindred of Salamon, and Ilona Bessenyei de Galántha. He was the first from his family who used the title of "Galántha" (''galánthai'') when he inherited the lordship of

Galánta Galanta (, ) is a town with about 15,000 inhabitants in the Trnava Region of Slovakia. It is situated 50 km due east of the Slovak capital Bratislava. Etymology The name is derived from a Slavic name ''Golęta'' (initially a collective name ...

(today: ''Galanta, Slovakia'') from his mother. Following his father's death in 1553, he built a Renaissance-style mansion in 1600. Another,

Neo-Gothic Gothic Revival (also referred to as Victorian Gothic or neo-Gothic) is an architectural movement that after a gradual build-up beginning in the second half of the 17th century became a widespread movement in the first half of the 19th century ...

castle situated in the town built by two of his sons, Dániel and

Pál Pál is a Hungarian masculine given name, the Hungarian version of Paul (given name), Paul. It may refer to: * Pál Almásy (1818–1882), Hungarian lawyer and politician * Pál Bedák (born 1985), Hungarian boxer * Pal Benko, Pál Benkő (1928– ...

in 1633. Ferenc participated in the 1596 campaign against the Ottoman Empire. He served in the army under commander Count

Miklós Pálffy Nikolaus VI Graf Pálffy von Erdőd () (1 March 1657 – 20 February 1732) was a Hungarian nobleman, Imperial Field marshal and Palatine of Hungary. Early life He was the eldest son of Count Miklós IV Pálffy von Erdőd (1619–1679) and Ma ...

. His son,

István István () is a Hungarian language equivalent of the name Stephen or Stefan. It may refer to: People with the given name Nobles, palatines and judges royal * Stephen I of Hungary (c. 975–1038), last grand prince of the Hungarians and first k ...

was killed in the

Battle of Keresztes The Battle of Keresztes (also known as the Battle of Mezőkeresztes) () took place on 24–26 October 1596. It was fought between a combined Habsburg monarchy, Habsburg-Principality of Transylvania (1571–1711), Transylvanian force and the Ot ...

on 26 October 1596.

Family

Ferenc Esterházy married to Zsófia Illésházy de Illésháza (1547–1599), sister of

Palatine A palatine or palatinus (Latin; : ''palatini''; cf. derivative spellings below) is a high-level official attached to imperial or royal courts in Europe since Roman Empire, Roman times.

István Illésházy Count of Illésháza (formerly Baron) István Illésházy (March 1541 - Vienna, May 5, 1609) was a Protestant nobleman, chieftain, palatine of Hungary between 1608 and 1609. Life The Illésházy family of the noble houses of Illésházy. His fa ...

, in 1566. They had several children: * Magdolna (26 January 1567 – 1 September 1616), married to László Kubinyi de Felsőkubin et Nagyolaszi (died 1598) * Ferenc I (b. 18 July 1568), died young *

Tamás Tamás () is a Hungarian, masculine given name. It is a Hungarian equivalent of the name Thomas. The given name may refer to: * Tamás Adamik (born 1937), Hungarian linguist and professor * Tamás Bognár (born 1978), Hungarian footballer * Tamá ...

(8 May 1570 – 1615 or 1616) *

(4 March 1572 – 26 October 1596), died in the

* János (born 1574), died young * Ferenc II (born 1576), died young * Farkas (1577 – 25 August 1643) * Zsófia (29 October 1578 – 7 May 1620), married to Márton Révay de Riva et Trebosztó (1565–1630), who served as Vice-ispán of

Turóc County Turóc (Hungarian language, Hungarian, historically also spelled ''Túrócz''), , /''comitatus Thurociensis'', ) was an administrative county (Comitatus (Kingdom of Hungary), comitatus) of the Kingdom of Hungary. Its territory is now in north-we ...

* Gábor (8 October 1580 – 28 December 1626), received the title of Baron in 1613 *

Miklós Miklós (, ) is a given name or surname, the Hungarian form of the Greek (English ''Nicholas''), and may refer to: In Hungarian politics * Miklós Bánffy, Hungarian nobleman, politician, and novelist * Miklós Horthy, Regent of the Kingdom of H ...

(8 April 1583 – 11 September 1645), received the title of Baron in 1613, the title of Count in 1626, founder of the ''Fraknó branch'', Palatine of Hungary (1625–1645), ancestor of the Princely House of Esterházy * Dániel (26 July 1585 – 14 June 1654), received the title of Baron in 1613, founder of the ''Csesznek branch'' *

(1 February 1587 – 17 January 1645), received the title of Baron in 1613, founder of the ''Zólyom branch'' * Anna (22 May 1590 – 1638), married Count János Kéry de Kiskér, who served as Vice-ispán of

Zólyom County Zvolen (; ; ) is a city in central Slovakia, situated on the confluence of Hron and Slatina River (Slovakia), Slatina rivers. It is famous for several historical and cultural attractions. It is surrounded by Poľana Protected Landscape Area, Po� ...

References

Sources

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Esterhazy, Ferenc 1533 births 1604 deaths

Ferenc Ferenc () is a given name of Hungarian origin. It is a cognate of Francis, Francisco, Francesco, François, Frank and Franz. People with the name include: * Ferenc Batthyány (1497–1566), Hungarian magnate and general * Ferenc Bene (1944–20 ...

16th-century Hungarian nobility