János Bethlen


János Bethlen de Bethlen was a Hungarian noble in the Principality of Transylvania, who served as Chancellor of Transylvania from 1659 to 1678.

Life

János was the only son of Farkas Bethlen, Ispán of Küküllő County and Anna Kemény de Magyargyerőmonostor, sister of John Kemény, Prince of Transylvania. He had three sisters. His parents died during his youth, he grew up in the court of Ferenc Macskási. Under the influence of his stepfather, he converted to Calvinism from Unitarianism. His educator was Pál Keresztúri.
He studied for several years in the University of Frankfurt until September 1630 when returned to home. He married Borbála Várady in 1637, they had two sons, including Miklós, future Chancellor of Transylvania, and two daughters. His second wife was Klára Fekete de Frics, they had a son.

Political career

Bethlen was a member of the Royal Court of Justice from March 1648 to 1658. He served as Ispán of Torda County, Küküllő County and Fehér County from September 1662 until his death.
He functioned as envoy of George II Rákóczi to the Kingdom of Poland in 1653. He participated in the failure campaign of Rákóczi against Poland in 1657. He was the military commander of the occupied Kraków. He was a member of the Royal Countil since 1658 until his death. The new prince Ákos Barcsay appointed Bethlen as Chancellor in 1659. He had a significant role in the election of John Kemény in 1660. However he became a supporter of Michael I Apafi after the Battle of Nagyszőlős. He served as Captain General of Udvarhelyszék between June 1660 and 1667. He founded the Calvinist College in Székelyudvarhely. He reinstated the Gabriel Bethlen College from Kolozsvár to Nagyenyed.
In 1676, he accused of having participated in the conspiracy of Pál Béldi, as a result he was deprived from his positions. The Chancellor rights were exercised by his distant relative Farkas Bethlen until the next year when János regained his office. However he completely lost his political influence.

Works