Thurzó family

The Thurzos or Turzo (also:. Thurzos of Bethlenfalva (German village of Bethel, slow z Betlanoviec ); Hungarian Thurzó; Slovak Thurzos / Turzo ) were a wealthy merchant family in the central European early modern period.

History

The name first appears in a Bavarian certificate on from the mid-12th century. George I Thurzos († 1460 ) was called since 1430 Lord of Bethel village. The family belonged to the oldest of the " sedes decem lanceatorum " ( nobilitas lanceati ) in the Zips, who was from 1412 to 1772 pledged by the Kingdom of Hungary to Poland. Your ancestors came originally from Lower Austria. My headquarters was in 1430 in the mountain town Leutschau ( slovak: Levoča, Hungarian: Lőcse, Polish: Lewocza ). From there John I Thurzos ( Ján Thurzos ) in 1464 moved to the Polish Krakow, where he in 1465 acquired the rights of citizenship, soon held the office of alderman and later mayor was.

John and some of his sons operated a comprehensive commodity trading throughout Europe, especially with copper, silver and lead. Extensive they engaged in mining, mainly in what is today Slovakia, Transylvania, Bohemia and Silesia. From mining their surname Thurzos is derived.

Financial and trading partner Thurzos were next to wealthy Krakow councilors especially the Fuggers of Augsburg, which also extends to the area dedicated commercial and stepped through marriages with the Thurzos in family relations. 1495 "Hungarian trade " with Jakob Fugger was founded, the copper and silver mining and trading dominated in the Danube region until 1526. It created a business empire that extended to the west of the continent far. The Thurzos were among the richest merchants in Europe. They dominated at times of economic life in cities like Mrs. Bach (Romanian: Baia Mare; Hungarian: Nagybánya ), Banska Bystrica ( Slow: Banská Bystrica; Hungarian: Besztercebánya ) and Kutna Hora ( Kutná Hora ), but also in the Lower Silesia region of Reichensteiner Mountains. Johann's sons Alexius Thurzos ( Alexei Thurzos; Aleksy Thurzos ) and Georg Turzo ( Juraj Thurzos ) extended the empire from as far as Little Poland, acquired at times the Principality of Pless in Upper Silesia and developed close ties with the Polish royal court. Destined for the clergy sons John and Stanislaus were bishops.

The family also stepped down as patron of the arts and culture in appearance, including through close contact with humanism.

The increasing Polonization of the Krakow bourgeoisie seems to have the Thurzos persuaded to return to their Hungarian homeland. After 1525, the shops seem to have deteriorated, the connection with the Fuggers was dissolved. In addition, the Ottoman occupation of Hungary today after the Battle of Mohács altered the geo-strategic position in Central Europe decisively. In the first half of the 17th century, the main line of the family died out.

Coat of arms

Divided; At the top of a golden red, increasing lion; Down in gold three ( 2, 1) red rose petals; Helm: a crowned tournament helmet; Crest: a golden, growing lion. Helmet covers: gold, red.

Significant members of the family

- All names are written in German as " Turzo ". -

• John I Thurzos (1437-1508), Kraków merchant and patron of the arts

John's sons:

• Johann (es) / Hans V. Thurzos ( 1466-1520 ), professor and rector of the Kraków Academy, Prince-Bishop of Breslau
• George I Thurzos ( Juraj Thurzos, György Thurzó ) ( 1467-1521 ), married. Anna Fugger, daughter of Ulrich Fugger. Supreme Master of the Mint of Hungary; ran the business in Hungary on.
• Stanislaus Thurzos ( Stanislav Thurzos ) ( 1470-1540 ), Bishop of Olomouc
• Alexius Thurzos ( Alexei Thurzos, Aleksy Thurzó ) ( 1490-1525 ), Hofrichter at the Hungarian court; ran the business in Krakow on.
• Johann (es) / Hans Thurzos (* 1492), Count of Zips, chamber prefect and Count on the Kremnitz, Freiherr von Pless, Pawn Lord of Wohlau with Raudten and Steinau

Nephew of Johann:

• Sigismund Thurzos († 1512), Catholic bishop and humanist. He studied in Padua. 1503 Bishop of Neutra, from 1506 Bishop of Transylvania and Oradea. His name is connected with the construction of the episcopal palace in Oradea in Renaissance style.

Great-grandnephew of John:

• Francis I. Thurzos († 1557), Bishop of Neutra George III. Thurzos (1567-1616), Count Palatine of Hungary and. Thurzos Emmerich (1598-1621), last male Thurzos