The events leading to the Treaty of 1626

We have to talk about the previous treaty signed on December 31st, 1621 between Prince Bethlen Gábor and King Ferdinand II in Nikolsburg. The village is now called Mikulov, it is in the Czech Republic. Bethlen Gábor, Prince of Transylvania, led the first campaign against King Ferdinand II between 1619 and 1621, together with the allied Bohemian Estates.

In the early years of the Thirty Years’ War, Bohemia and Transylvania proved insufficient to defeat the mighty Habsburg Empire, although they were at the gates of Vienna by the end of 1619. In November of the following year, however, Ferdinand’s forces defeated the Bohemian Estates at White Mountain, forcing Bethlen to fight on alone. Read more about Bethlen’s life here:

https://www.hungarianottomanwars.com/essays/prince-bethlen-gabor-of-transylvania/

He found that the Estates and the people of the country were growing weary of war and that his ally, the Sublime Porte, was only waiting to increase the territory of its empire at the expense of Hungary, but he was relieved to find that the Imperial Court was inclined to peace. Ferdinand’s real enemies were not tiny Transylvania, but the principalities of the Protestant Union allied against him, supported by Denmark, Sweden, and France, which were ever jealous of the Habsburgs’ European power.

Ferdinand was therefore willing to make concessions to keep his eastern adversary at peace. The military setbacks also made Bethlen understand the need for an agreement, so from the summer of 1621 he sent his messages to Vienna more frequently and even released the Jesuit monks, including Káldi György, who had been imprisoned in Nagyszombat. Their mission was to promote peace.

As a result, the peace delegation met in October. Bethlen sent Thurzó Imre, while the imperialists were represented by Esterházy Miklós, later Palatine, and Pázmány Péter, Archbishop of Esztergom. They were accompanied by Archbishop Dietrichstein, the owner of the castle of Nikolsburg. Thurzó was one of the main promoters of peace, but unfortunately, he died a few days later at a very young age. His place was taken by his relative, Thurzó Szaniszló.

In the course of the negotiations, Bethlen paid a high price. He had to give up his Hungarian royal title, which he had won by election in 1620, and the coronation jewels he owned. The positions were slowly reconciled, and the future of Bethlen’s part of the Kingdom of Hungary was in question, as the prince tried to keep as much of it as possible. Perhaps this was the reason why he did not push for the inclusion of an article guaranteeing the rights of the Protestants in the peace treaty.

He did, however, obtain the right to hire as many specialists from the Holy Roman Empire as he wished. In doing so, he allowed persecuted Anabaptist Christians, who were excellent craftsmen, to leave for Transylvania, where they could enjoy religious freedom. You can read more about them here:

https://www.hungarianottomanwars.com/essays/who-were-the-habans-the-swiss-immigrants-fleeing-to-hungary/

The peace secured Bethlen’s right to the Transylvanian principality, which had previously been disputed between Vienna and Pozsony (Pressburg, Bratislava). For the rest of his life, he was granted seven counties in Upper Hungary (Szatmár, Szabolcs, Bereg, Ugocsa, Zemplén, and Abaúj) together with the city of Kassa (Kosice, Kaschau).

In addition, he was raised to the rank of German imperial prince, his family was granted the dukedoms of Opole and Ratibor, and he received the castle of Munkács (Munkacevo) by hereditary right and Ecsed by pledge. He received 50,000 forints for the maintenance of the outlying castles in his territory.

Thus, Bethlen gained a lot from the peace: instead of the uncertain royal title, he received territories and dignities, he could strengthen his treasury and his army, and he made Transylvania a player in European power politics. The Peace of Nikolsburg was confirmed by the Peace of Vienna (1623) and the Peace of Pozsony (1626), which ended his two campaigns.

The Treaty of 1626 of Pozsony