Ferenc Wesselényi

Franz Wesselényi of Hadad (Hungarian: Ferenc Wesselényi; * 1605, † March 27, 1667 in Slovak Liptsch ) was a Hungarian Palatine and one of the ringleaders of the conspiracy magnate.

Life and work

He was the son of Stephan Wesselényi, Royal Councillor of Ferdinand II of Austria and became a Catholic educated at the Jesuit school in Trnava. In his early years he participated in several battles against the Ottomans. Franz also helped King Władysław IV of Poland with a Hungarian army against the Russians and Tataren0 this act was rewarded with Polish citizenship and a valuable asset. He was appointed by Ferdinand II to the rank of Count and became the commander of the castle of Fülek. In 1647 he was appointed general and as such he fought against the Swedes and later against György Rákóczi prince of Transylvania. In 1644, he attacked the castle of Bottom uranium. For this act, King Ferdinand granted him the castles of Murany and Balog. On March 15, 1655 he was elected to Pressburg to the Palatine.

In 1662 he took an active role in the political debates on Protestant affairs in favor of the Protestant nobility. On December 19, 1666, he joined the Federation, which became known as the Wesselényi or magnate conspiracy in history. The meetings took place in the Baths of Trencin and Zvolen, Wesselényi died before the conspiracy was discovered. His widow was interned in Vienna and his estates were confiscated.