# János Bethlen

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**János Bethlen de Bethlen** (1613 – 13 February 1678)[1] was a [Hungarian](/source/Hungary) noble in the [Principality of Transylvania](/source/Principality_of_Transylvania_(1570%E2%80%931711)), who served as [Chancellor of Transylvania](/source/Chancellor_of_Transylvania) from 1659 to 1678.

## Life

János was the only son of Farkas Bethlen, [Ispán](/source/Isp%C3%A1n) (Count; *comes*) of [Küküllő County](/source/Kis-K%C3%BCk%C3%BCll%C5%91_County) and Anna Kemény de Magyargyerőmonostor, sister of [John Kemény](/source/John_Kem%C3%A9ny_(Prince)), [Prince of Transylvania](/source/Prince_of_Transylvania). He had three sisters. His parents died during his youth, he grew up in the court of Ferenc Macskási. Under the influence of his stepfather, he converted to [Calvinism](/source/Calvinism) from [Unitarianism](/source/Unitarianism). His educator was Pál Keresztúri.

He studied for several years in the [University of Frankfurt](/source/Viadrina_European_University) until September 1630 when returned to home. He married Borbála Várady (d. 1661) in 1637, they had two sons, including [Miklós](/source/Mikl%C3%B3s_Bethlen), future Chancellor of Transylvania, and two daughters. His second wife was Klára Fekete de Frics (since 1662), they had a son.

### Political career

Bethlen was a member of the Royal Court of Justice from March 1648 to 1658. He served as Ispán of [Torda County](/source/Torda_County) (1651–1656), Küküllő County (1656–1662; alongside Ferenc Pekry between 1658 and 1659) and [Fehér County](/source/Feh%C3%A9r_County) from September 1662 until his death.

He functioned as envoy of [George II Rákóczi](/source/George_II_R%C3%A1k%C3%B3czi) to the [Kingdom of Poland](/source/Kingdom_of_Poland_and_the_Grand_Duchy_of_Lithuania) in 1653. He participated in the failure campaign of Rákóczi against Poland in 1657. He was the military commander of the occupied [Kraków](/source/Krak%C3%B3w). He was a member of the Royal Countil since 1658 until his death. The new prince [Ákos Barcsay](/source/%C3%81kos_Barcsay) appointed Bethlen as Chancellor in 1659. He had a significant role in the election of John Kemény in 1660. However he became a supporter of [Michael I Apafi](/source/Michael_I_Apafi) after the Battle of Nagyszőlős (1662). He served as Captain General of [Udvarhelyszék](/source/Udvarhelysz%C3%A9k) between June 1660 and 1667 (except the short period of Kemény's rule). He founded the Calvinist College in [Székelyudvarhely](/source/Odorheiu_Secuiesc) (today: *Odorheiu Secuiesc, Romania*). He reinstated the [Gabriel Bethlen](/source/Gabriel_Bethlen) College from [Kolozsvár](/source/Cluj-Napoca) (today: *Cluj-Napoca, Romania*) to [Nagyenyed](/source/Aiud) (today: *Aiud, Romania*).

In 1676, he accused of having participated in the conspiracy of Pál Béldi, as a result he was deprived from his positions. The Chancellor rights were exercised by his distant relative [Farkas Bethlen](/source/Farkas_Bethlen_(1639%E2%80%931679)) until the next year when János regained his office. However he completely lost his political influence.

## Works

- *Rerum Transylvanicarum libri quator* (Nagyszeben, 1663) and ([Amsterdam](/source/Amsterdam), 1664). Translated into German by Johannes Tröster. The work confirmed the Turkish-friendly policy of Transylvania.

## References

1. Markó 2006, p. 102.

## Sources

- Markó, László: A magyar állam főméltóságai Szent Istvántól napjainkig – Életrajzi Lexikon *p. 102.* *(The High Officers of the Hungarian State from Saint Stephen to the Present Days – A Biographical Encyclopedia)* (2nd edition); Helikon Kiadó Kft., 2006, Budapest; ISBN 963-547-085-1.
- Trócsányi, Zsolt: Erdély központi kormányzata 1540–1690. Budapest, Akadémiai Kiadó, 1980. ISBN 963 05 2327 2

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [János Bethlen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C3%A1nos_Bethlen) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C3%A1nos_Bethlen?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.