Photos

This is the castle where Haydn worked for almost 40 years in the servise of the Esterházy family. The impact of the Esterházys on the Hungarian history and (not only) Hungarian culture led me to upload this phot thus having the ocassion to tell you a few words about theme.

Though the first deed concerning the family was dated as early as in 1238 the first prominent member of the family was Ferenc Zerházy (1563–1594), who was elevated to the title of baron of Galántha (an estate his family had held since 1421) and took the name Esterházy. Family history since this time is described according to three lines of descent, each originating in one of Ferenc's sons: the Fraknó (or Forchtenstein) line, the Csesznek line, and the Zólyom line. I list here only a few prominent figures but not only of the Fraknó line.

Count Nikolaus [Miklós] (1583–1645): In 1625, Nikolaus was elected Palatine of Hungary, the King's chief lieutenant within Royal Hungary. Nikolaus laid out what became the long-term family strategy, allying himself with the Catholic religion and the Habsburg emperor. He fought against the Protestant champions Gábor Bethlen and György Rákóczi and sought to free Hungary from Turkish domination.

Prince Paul [Pál] (1635–1713): Elected Palatine in 1681 and created Prince of the Holy Roman Empire (since in Hungary the rank of prince was limited for the royal family) in 1687 by the Emperor. (There was only one dynasty of the same rank in Hungary, Batthyány-Strattmann) Paul was a poet, a harpsichordist, and a composer; a number of his cantatas survive. He also wrote a number of religious works. Under Paul the palace in Eisenstadt was rebuilt. Paul served as commander of troops in southern Hungary, during the struggle against the Turks, starting in 1667, and his troops were among the coalition that raised the siege of Vienna in 1683.

Prince Paul Anton [Pál Antal] (1711–1762): In his youth he studied in Leyden and also served as a soldier, rising to the rank of Field Marshall. He served as imperial ambassador to Naples from 1750–1752, and travelled extensively. Paul Anton was a musical prince; he played violin, flute and lute and compiled a large inventory of musical manuscripts. Paul Anton also played an important role as a patron of music, engaged Joseph Haydn to be his Vice-Kapellmeister in 1761, at the same time he upgraded the court orchestra, hiring several virtuosi who served under Haydn.

Prince Nikolaus "the Magnificent" ["fényes" Miklós József] (1714–1790): In his youth a decorated soldier, he was the primary patron of Haydn and builder of Eszterháza, an even larger and more elegant castle than this one but the main residence remained Eisenstadt.

Prince Nikolaus II [Miklós Ferdinánd] (1765–1833): A dramatic moment in Nikolaus's career occurred in 1809 when Napoleon made him an offer to become King of an independent Hungary. Nicholas helped save the Empire by rejecting Napoleon's invitation. Actually, he went further than this, and raised a regiment of volunteers to help defend the Empire, an action he had previously taken in 1797.

Prince Paul [Pál Maria Alois Antal Miklós Victor] (1901–1989): The lifetime of this prince witnessed momentous, often catastrophic changes for the Esterházy family. At the end of the First World War, the Austro-Hungarian Empire was split up, and the family's land holdings thus came to be located in several different countries. The Second World War, however, was far more disastrous: the family was scattered during the war years, and at the end of the war the new Hungarian government carried out a comprehensive land reform, "confiscating the land of gentry with estates of more than 50 hectares". Only the land in Austria remained in the family's possession. Further, in the years after 1945 Hungary came under the rule of an authoritarian Communist regime sponsored by the Soviet Union. Prince Paul endured a show trial and was imprisoned in solitary confinement for 15 years.

Count János Esterházy (1901-1957): The only member of the Slovakian Parliament who refused to vote for the deportation of Jews in 1942. Pursued by both the Nazis and Soviets, died in prison.

The renowned contemporary Hungarian writer Péter Esterházy (Herder Prize, Peace Prize of the German Book Trade among others) is the grandson of Count Móric Esterházy (1881–1960), prime minister of Hungary and one of the five biggest landowners of Hungary. After the regime change in 1989, Péter Esterházy refused to accept the return of any land or valuables nationalised by the communists.

Well, big family, long story. Take my advice: read the book "Harmonia Celestis" from Péter Esterházy.