Stephen VIII Báthory

Who was Stephen VIII Báthory?

Stephen VIII Báthory was a Hungarian noble.

He was a son of Nicholas Báthory of the Somlyó branch of the Báthory family.

In 1521, he was appointed Voivode of Transylvania, serving under the Voivode John Zápolya. After the Battle of Mohács in 1526, Stephen supported Zápolya's claim to the Kingship of Hungary and in 1529 was made Voivode of Transylvania himself.

With his wife Catherine Telegdi, he fathered eight children:

Nicholas

Catharine

Andrew

Sophia

Anna, who apparently was born well after her father's death, the mother of the "Blood Countess" Elizabeth Báthory.

Elizabeth, who apparently was born well after her father's death

Christopher, who governed Transylvania in the absence of his younger brother Stefan.

Stephen, who became Voivode of Transylvania and King of Poland.