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Auction 58 11 Jan 2023
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Transylvania. Sigismund Rákóczi (1607-1608). Gold 10 Ducats, 1607. Kolozsvár (Klausenburg, Cluj-Napoca) mint. Armored half-figure right holding sword hilt and scepter over shoulder. Reverse: Six-line Latin central legend, an excerpt from Saint Paul's Letter to the Romans - "So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God Who has mercy". 34.98 g (Resch 1, Huszár 218, Herinek 218, Fr 323, Montenuovo 416). Very rare. Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $150,000 - UP
The son of a lesser nobleman with estates in Upper Hungary, Sigismund began his military career as a sword-bearer and soon began amassing estates. He was made captain of the stronghold of Eger in 1588, and two months later was granted the title of baron by King and Emperor Rudoph. In that year he also garnered great fame after routing the Ottoman forces near Szikszó. When the noble Stephen Bocskai rose up against Rudolph in October 1604, Sigismund attempted to mediate a reconciliation, but six months later joined Bocskai who made him governor of Transylvania, albeit with limited authority.
In the spring of 1606, Bocskai began feeling unwell. In December he made his last will urging his successors to preserve the independence of Transylvania as long as the Hapsburg reigned in Royal Hungary, and named Sigismund's former son-in-law Bálint Drugeth as his heir. Bocskai died on the 29th of December. His sudden death gave rise to rumors of foul play. Bocskai's mercenary soldiers, the Hajdús accused the chancellor Mihály Káthay of poisoning him and claimed that Káthay tampered with Bocksai's will and testament in order to keep Bocksai's young grand-nephew Gabriel Báthory from taking the throne. Inflamed by suspicions, the Hajdús attacked and cut the chancellor into pieces in the main square of Kassa. A month later, the Transylvania Diet snubbed Bocksai's named successor and on February 11 in Kolozsvár proclaimed Sigismund Rákóczi as Prince. Bemoaning his age and the gout from which he suffered, Sigismund did not wish to accept the election, but was persuaded by the delegates to take the princely oath.
However, Rudolph did not acknowledge Sigismund's election and the nobles of Upper Hungary urged him to abdicate in favor of Bálint Drugeth. The Hajdús, meanwhile, who had been unpaid since Bocskai's death rose in rebellion in October 1607 and moved to place Drugeth on the throne. Further complicating the matter, the Hajdús movement was supported by `Ali Pasha, Ottoman governor of Buda. Drugeth, though, refuse to ally himself with the Hajdús, which enabled Gabriel Bathory to entreat with them.
To avoid civil war, Sigismund abdicated at the Diet of Kolozsvár on the fifth of March, 1608. Two days later, Báthory was elected Prince, and Sigismund and his wife left for Upper Hungary. There, he tried to seize command, but was not supported by the most influential royal councilors. He planned to go to Pressburg for the Diet which had been summoned to elect Matthias II as King of Hungary, but fell gravely ill. On December 5, 1608, Sigismund died in Felsövadász, and was buried in Szerencs that January.
Ex: Stack's "The George Gund III Collection" Sale, New York, January 15, 2007, lot 3218; Ex: Heritage, New York, January 6, 2014, lot 25205 (NGC slabbed AU 55).
The son of a lesser nobleman with estates in Upper Hungary, Sigismund began his military career as a sword-bearer and soon began amassing estates. He was made captain of the stronghold of Eger in 1588, and two months later was granted the title of baron by King and Emperor Rudoph. In that year he also garnered great fame after routing the Ottoman forces near Szikszó. When the noble Stephen Bocskai rose up against Rudolph in October 1604, Sigismund attempted to mediate a reconciliation, but six months later joined Bocskai who made him governor of Transylvania, albeit with limited authority.
In the spring of 1606, Bocskai began feeling unwell. In December he made his last will urging his successors to preserve the independence of Transylvania as long as the Hapsburg reigned in Royal Hungary, and named Sigismund's former son-in-law Bálint Drugeth as his heir. Bocskai died on the 29th of December. His sudden death gave rise to rumors of foul play. Bocskai's mercenary soldiers, the Hajdús accused the chancellor Mihály Káthay of poisoning him and claimed that Káthay tampered with Bocksai's will and testament in order to keep Bocksai's young grand-nephew Gabriel Báthory from taking the throne. Inflamed by suspicions, the Hajdús attacked and cut the chancellor into pieces in the main square of Kassa. A month later, the Transylvania Diet snubbed Bocksai's named successor and on February 11 in Kolozsvár proclaimed Sigismund Rákóczi as Prince. Bemoaning his age and the gout from which he suffered, Sigismund did not wish to accept the election, but was persuaded by the delegates to take the princely oath.
However, Rudolph did not acknowledge Sigismund's election and the nobles of Upper Hungary urged him to abdicate in favor of Bálint Drugeth. The Hajdús, meanwhile, who had been unpaid since Bocskai's death rose in rebellion in October 1607 and moved to place Drugeth on the throne. Further complicating the matter, the Hajdús movement was supported by `Ali Pasha, Ottoman governor of Buda. Drugeth, though, refuse to ally himself with the Hajdús, which enabled Gabriel Bathory to entreat with them.
To avoid civil war, Sigismund abdicated at the Diet of Kolozsvár on the fifth of March, 1608. Two days later, Báthory was elected Prince, and Sigismund and his wife left for Upper Hungary. There, he tried to seize command, but was not supported by the most influential royal councilors. He planned to go to Pressburg for the Diet which had been summoned to elect Matthias II as King of Hungary, but fell gravely ill. On December 5, 1608, Sigismund died in Felsövadász, and was buried in Szerencs that January.
Ex: Stack's "The George Gund III Collection" Sale, New York, January 15, 2007, lot 3218; Ex: Heritage, New York, January 6, 2014, lot 25205 (NGC slabbed AU 55).