Giorgio Martinuzzi

Giorgio Martinuzzi known as ( the monk György ) . Regent of Transylvania of 1540 with 1551

Giorgio Martinuzzi is born in Dalmatie in 1482. Its true name is Juraj Utjesenovic. His/her father, of Croatian origin, is killed in a combat against the Turks. His/her mother, originating in Venice, was called Martinuzzi and had a brother bishop: for this reason, the Giorgio young person chooses this patronym to make career in the Church while becoming monk. It should be stressed that its adversaries, the Hungarian Protestants, generally named it the monk György , the texts of the French historians also calling it " Georges" brother;.

It meets the king János Ier Szapolyai (for the French: Jean Zapolya) in 1527. It becomes one of its more skilful advisers and is named with the royal council with the load of Treasurer, then, in 1535, bishop of Oradea (Hungarian Nagyvárad ) (German Grosswardein ). With died of Jean Zapolya, he assumes with the queen Isabelle Jagellon (1519 - 1559) the regency of his new-born son Zsgimond János - in French: Jean-Sigismond.

G. Martinuzzi follows a complex policy: in 1543, it must be solved with the first payment with the Sultan by Transylvania - or more exactly, by the Eastern areas of Hungary to the hands of the family Zapolya, the center being occupied by the Turks and West by Habsbourg - of an annual tribute of 10.000 guilders. In spite of its hostility with the Protestants, the Réforme makes of rapid progress under its government and becomes majority in Transylvania, where the goods of the Church are secularized. One in addition tries on both sides to reunify the country, which involves conflicts with the queen-mother Isabelle Jagellon: after the recognition in 1549 of the suzerainty of competitor king de Hongrie Ferdinand on Transylvania and the territories attached to it, the Convention of Nyirbator, a second treaty signed with Nagyvárad in 1551 envisages the renunciation of the throne of Hungary of Jean II, with the help of a territorial financial equalization and - by the attribution of another stronghold -, and the recognition of Ferdinand Ier like only sovereign elected official of Hungary. The Isabelle queen denounces the treaty and reaffirms shortly after the rights of her minor son, but it must abdicate on June 19th, and be withdrawn with Jean-Sigismond in Silesia while the diet of Kolozsvár of the July 26th 1551 recognizes Ferdinand Ier like only sovereign.

Martinuzzi, always concerned of the unit of the country, fact call to the future emperor Ferdinand Ier of the Holy roman Empire supported by his/her brother Charles-Quint, whose troops from 6 to 7.000 men ordered by Giovanni Battista Castaldo occupy Transylvania in order to prevent a violent reaction of the Turks. In exchange, the Martinuzzi ex-regent is named voïvode, continuing to control Is of reunified Hungary. Quickly, forces of Castaldo " too much many for a guard of honor, not many enough for a armée" , prove to be of no help for the country: main actors of the Transylvanian internal policy, " Three Nations" (Hungarian nobility, Saxons and Sicules), worry dully about the strategy of the voïvode, which means serious threat for the life of this one. Choosing to waver, Martinuzzi gives pledges to the Sublime Door in same time that he affirms the faithful servant of Habsbourg, then about to make him give by the pope the cardinal's hat. Its actions in writing pad near the Othomans are however discovered and regarded as a treason: he is assassinated the December 17th 1551 in his palate of Alvinc, in the middle of the voïvodat of Transylvania, by the Italian hired killers of Sforza Pallavicini. Murder of a prince of the Church which appears to imply the brother of the Emperor of the Holy roman Empire, this end contributes largely to the reputation of the governor, on the death of which it pope himself requires an investigation in times when the spirit of crusade still nourishes curiosity and admiration towards the heroes forced to fight against the Turkish tide with the margins of Christendom!

Category: History of Transylvania Category: Prince de Transylvanie Category: Death in 1551

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