The Sztáray family (counts of
Nagymihály
Michalovce (; , , Romani: ''Mihalya'', Yiddish: מיכאלאָווצע ''Mikhaylovets'' or ''Mykhaylovyts''; ) is a town on the Laborec river in eastern Slovakia. Originally named after the Archangel St Michael, it is the second-largest city ...
and
Sztára) is an ancient Hungarian family, which takes its origin from the
Kaplon genus.
Origins[A Pallas nagy lexikona – Sztáray](_blank)
/ref>
The first traceable ancestor of the family was
Jákó, who lived around the first half of the
13th century
The 13th century was the century which lasted from January 1, 1201 (represented by the Roman numerals MCCI) through December 31, 1300 (MCCC) in accordance with the Julian calendar.
The Mongol Empire was founded by Genghis Khan, which stretched ...
, in the time of
King Béla IV of Hungary. Jákó's wife was Kata Szoboszlai, from whom two sons are known:
András,
Lord-lieutenant
A lord-lieutenant ( ) is the British monarch's personal representative in each lieutenancy area of the United Kingdom. Historically, each lieutenant was responsible for organising the county's militia. In 1871, the lieutenant's responsibility o ...
of
Ung County, and
Jákó, Lord-lieutenant of
Zemplén County
Zemplén (, , , ) was an administrative county (Comitatus (Kingdom of Hungary), comitatus) of the Kingdom of Hungary. The northern part of its territory is now situated in eastern Slovakia (Zemplín (region), Zemplín region), while a smaller so ...
and
Master of the cupbearers
The master of the cupbearers or master of the cup-bearers (, , and ) was one of the high officials of the royal household in the Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary was a monarchy in Central Europe that existed for nearly a millennium, ...
.
The family received their Nagymihályi estate around 1249, and Sztára was given to them in 1273. The use of their old
coat of arms
A coat of arms is a heraldry, heraldic communication design, visual design on an escutcheon (heraldry), escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the last two being outer garments), originating in Europe. The coat of arms on an escutcheon f ...
was confirmed by
King Sigismund
Sigismund of Luxembourg (15 February 1368 – 9 December 1437) was Holy Roman Emperor from 1433 until his death in 1437. He was elected King of Germany (King of the Romans) in 1410, and was also King of Bohemia from 1419, as well as prince-elect ...
on 29 March 1418.
The extant branch of the Sztáray family is descended from Lőrinc IV, son of András. The family became
baron
Baron is a rank of nobility or title of honour, often Hereditary title, hereditary, in various European countries, either current or historical. The female equivalent is baroness. Typically, the title denotes an aristocrat who ranks higher than ...
s on 23 June 1725 and
count
Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...
s on 6 April 1747.
Notable members
* Count
Anton Sztáray
Anton Sztáray de Nagy-Mihály (, 1732 or 1740, Kassa, Hungary – 23 January 1808, Graz, Austrian Empire) was a Hungarian count in the Habsburg military during Austria's Wars with the Ottoman Empire, the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napole ...
(1740–1808) – decorated
Habsburg military commander during the
Austro-Turkish War (1788–1791)
The Austro-Turkish War, also known as the Habsburg–Ottoman War, was fought from 1788 to 1791, between the Habsburg monarchy and the Ottoman Empire. During the conflict, Habsburg armies succeeded in taking Belgrade (1789) and liberating much o ...
, the
French Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars () were a series of sweeping military conflicts resulting from the French Revolution that lasted from 1792 until 1802. They pitted French First Republic, France against Kingdom of Great Britain, Great Britain, Habsb ...
, and the
Napoleonic Wars
{{Infobox military conflict
, conflict = Napoleonic Wars
, partof = the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars
, image = Napoleonic Wars (revision).jpg
, caption = Left to right, top to bottom:Battl ...
* Count Mihály Vincent Sztáray (1749–1798) –
composer
A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music.
Etymology and def ...
and
violin
The violin, sometimes referred to as a fiddle, is a wooden chordophone, and is the smallest, and thus highest-pitched instrument (soprano) in regular use in the violin family. Smaller violin-type instruments exist, including the violino picc ...
ist
* Count Albert Sztáray (1785–1843) –
Conservative Party politician
** Count Anton Sztáray (1839–1893) (son of Albert) – National Party politician
* Countess
Irma Sztáray
Countess Irma Sztáray de Sztára et Nagymihály (10 July 1863 – 3 September 1940) was a Hungarian courtier and memoirist. She was the last lady-in-waiting of Empress Elisabeth of Austria, and the sole companion traveling with the empress when ...
(1863–1940) – courtier and memoirist,
lady-in-waiting
A lady-in-waiting (alternatively written lady in waiting) or court lady is a female personal assistant at a Royal court, court, attending on a royal woman or a high-ranking nobility, noblewoman. Historically, in Europe, a lady-in-waiting was o ...
of
Empress Elisabeth of Austria
Elisabeth (born Duchess Elisabeth Amalie Eugenie in Bavaria; 24 December 1837 – 10 September 1898), nicknamed Sisi or Sissi, was Empress of Austria and List of Hungarian consorts, Queen of Hungary from her marriage to Franz Joseph I of Austri ...
, present during her assassination
* Count István Sztáray (1858–1896) – politician and diplomat, his murder is still unsolved
* Count János Nepomuk Sztáray (1840–1900) – politician and
jockey
A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase (horse racing), steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used ...
Properties (selection)Štátny Archív Prešov – Rod Stárai z MIchaloviec
(sk)
File:Zemplínske múzeum.jpg, Nagymihály
File:Kaštieľ vinné.jpg, Vinna
File:Vinnacivertanlegi1.jpg, Vinna castle
File:Staré kaštieľ (leto) manor house (summer) 05.jpg, Sztára
File:Sztáray Mansion, Verpelét.JPG, Verpélet
References
Sources
*
{{refend
Hungarian noble families