Ferenc Esterházy

Who is Ferenc Esterházy?

Ferenc Esterházy de Galántha was a Hungarian noble, who served as Vice-ispán of Pozsony County since 1579. He was the ancestor of the wealthy and prestigious House of Esterházy.

His parents were Benedek Zerhas de Zerhashaz, from the kindred of Salamon, and Ilona Bessenyei de Galántha. He was the first from his family who used the title of "Galántha" when he inherited the lordship of Galánta from his mother. He built a Renaissance-style mansion in 1600. Another, Neo-Gothic castle situated in the town built by two of his sons, Dániel and Pál in 1633.

Ferenc participated in the 1596 campaign against the Ottoman Empire. He served in the army under commander Count Miklós Pálffy. His son, István was killed in the Battle of Keresztes on 26 October 1596.