THOKOLY, IMRE (EMERICH), Prince (1657-1705), Hun garian statesman, was born at Kesmark on the 25th of September 1657. He lost both parents while still a child. In 1670, fleeing from the dangers of Upper Hungary, where the Protestants and Imperialists were constantly in arms against each other, he took refuge with his kinsman Michael Teleki, the chief minister of Michael Apafy, prince of Transylvania. Here he came into con tact with the Magyar refugees, who had great hopes of the high born, high-gifted youth who was also a fellow sufferer, a large portion of his immense estates having been confiscated by the emperor. The discontent reached its height when Leopold (Feb. 27, 1673) suspended the Hungarian constitution, appointed Johan Gaspar Ampringen dictator, deprived 450 Protestant clergy of their livings and condemned 67 more to the galleys. Encouraged by promises of help from Louis XIV., the Magyars now rose pro libertate et justitia, and chose the youthful Thokoly as their leader.
The war began in 1679. Upper Hungary and the mining towns were soon in Thokoly's possession. In 1681, reinforced by 1 o,000 Transylvanians and a Turkish army under the pasha of Nagy varad, he compelled the emperor to grant an armistice. Thi5kiily's distrust of the emperor induced him to turn for help to the sultan. In the same year Thokoly captured fortress after fortress from the emperor and extended his dominions to the Waag. He refused the title of king offered to him by the Turks. He was buried at Nicomedia but in 1906 his relics were transferred to Hungary.