BETHLEN-GABOR (or, as he would be called in western Europe, GABRIEL BEmix 11EM or BErimEx, it being a common custom in Hungary and Transylvania to make the baptismal follow the family name) was descended from an ancient and distinguished Protestant family of upper Hungary, which also possessed important estates in Tran sylvania, and was born in 1580. lie rose to prominence during the troubles which dis tracted the principality in the reign of the two Bathories, Sigisnmnd and Gabriel; and on the death of the latter of these unfortunate princes, succeeded (1613), by the aid of the sultan, in being chosen sovereign prince of Transylvania, the house of Austria being at that time in no condition to offer effective opposition. In 1619, when the Bohemians rose in defense of their religious and political rights, they looked eagerly for support to B.. who had already gained a wide reputation as a warrior-and a champion of Protest autism; and the Transylvanian prince, too glad of such an opportunity to gratify his ambition at the expense of his enemy, Austria, eagerly proffered his Ile accordingly marched hito Hungary, took Kaschau, his advance more resembling a triumphal procession than a hostile invasion, and on arriving under the walls of Pres burg was greeted with every mark of joy by the citizens. With an army now swelled by Hungarian volunteers to nearly 100,000 men, he pursued his route towards Vienna, driving before him the Spaniards under 13nequoy, and the Austrians under Dampierre: and would doubtless have captured the capital had not the severity of the season and the want of provisions, combined with the reinforcement of his opponents. and the defeat of his lieutenant, ltagotski, in Ilungary, compelled him to retreat for a time. However, though he retired as far as Kaschau, lie did not relinguisl• his hold of Hungary. of which, by the assembled diet, he bad been crowned king at Presburg, 25th Aug., 1620: but, resuming the offensive, on the defeat and death of Bucquoy, before Neultansel, he recovered the fortresses which the imperialists had retaken. and spread devastation and
terror to the gates of Vienna. His allies, the Protestants of Germany, being apparently crushed, B. concluded peace with Ferdinand II., receiving the town of Kusehau, with seven Hungarian counties adjoining Transylvania, the principalities of Oppcln and Rat lbor in Silesia, and the dignity of prince of the empire. This treaty, however, was soon broken by the emperor, who thought so favorably of his own situation as to imagine he could violate his agreement with impunity; but he was soon undeceived, for B., raising an army of 60,000 men, invaded Moravia, obtained the solemn renewal of the former treaty, and then retreated homewards. Ills marriage with Catharine of Branduiburg in 1625 involved him once more in the thirty years' war; but he finally retired from the contest in the following year, and thenceforth devoted himself exclusively to the inter nal affairs of Transylvania. He died in 1629, after a lingering and painful illness. B.'s reign was a glorious and flourishing epoch in the history of the little principality; for not only did the great successes achieved through his military talents give a prestige to its arms, but his protection of science and letters, in hoth of which he was well accom plished, did much to aid the progress of learning. He founded the academy of Weiss emburg at Karlsburg, and installed there, as professors, Opitz, Alstedt, Bicsterfild, and Piscator.—His brother STEPHEN succeeded him. but was soon compelled to resign the throne.—To the same family of Pethlen belong Jolix and WOLFGANG, both chancellors of Transylvania, the former of whom is celebrated for his work, Reruns. Transigraniearum, libri iv. (Hermannstadt, 1683), which gives the history of the principality from 1629 to 1663; and the latter of whom wrote n history in 16 books, the NS. of which, from long neglect, had been much damaged, but was afterwards restored and completed. and published (6 vols,) at Hermannstadt in 1792, under the title of Wolfgapgi de Belden, Ifittoria de Rebus Transyleanicis (1526-1609).