Lajos Batthyány

Who was Lajos Batthyány?

Count Lajos Batthyány de Németújvár was the main county head of Győr, Governor of Fiume, and Győr parliamentary representative.

He was the eldest son of count Géza Batthyány and countess Emma Batthyány. Batthyány attended law studies at Budapest, Berlin and Paris, pursuing a diplomatic career, but later abandoned this plan. He married Gyula Andrássy's only daughter, Ilona Andrássy in 1882. When Károly Khuen-Héderváry, after serving as Győr county and city supreme count, was appointed Banus in Croatia on December 1, 1883, the King appointed Batthyány supreme count of Győr. Batthyány proved to be very successful in managing Győr by fostering industrial development. The bourgeoisie, therefore, highly respected him and he enjoyed popular support.

For this reason the Hungarian government in 1892 appointed him Governor of Fiume. After the resignation of the mayor of Fiume Giovanni de Ciotta, Batthyány resigned in turn in autumn 1896. In the same year Batthyány became a parliamentary representative of the city of Győr. In recognition of his qualities and achievements he become imperial and royal chamberlain, and royal intimate counselor.