George I Rákóczi

George I Rákóczi (8 June 1593 – 11 October 1648) was Prince of Transylvania from 1630 until his death in 1648. Prior to that, he was a leader of the Protestant faction in Hungary and a faithful supporter of Gabriel Bethlen, his predecessor as Prince. When Bohemian nobles requested military support in their struggles against the Habsburg monarchy, Rákóczi persuaded Bethlen to help and commanded Transylvanian forces in several battles. Rákóczi was elected prince after Bethlen's death, after short reigns by Bethlen's wife Catherine of Brandenburg (reigned 1629–1630) and brother Stephen Bethlen (reigned September – December 1630).

Rákóczi's reign was notable for his involvement in the Thirty Years War, with a 1644–45 campaign against Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor. After Rákóczi held Upper Hungary and most of Lower Hungary at one point, the fighting was ended by the Treaty of Linz, under which seven counties of Upper Hungary – Abaúj, Bereg, Borsod, Szabolcs, Szatmár, Ugocsa and Zemplén were annexed by Transylvania. Five of these were handed back to the Habsburg monarchy after Rákóczi's death with Szabolcs and Szatmár remaining Transylvanian.