Tamás Nádasdy (1489 - 2 June, 1562, Egervár)

He was the most influential Hungarian politician and the most generous patron of the middle of the 16th century. He originated from a common noble family. He studied in Italy (Bologna and Rome), then he served as King Louis II's secretary. From this position he rose to the highest Hungarian honours thanks to his talent, sense of diplomacy and successful marriage. He received big estates: he and his wife, Orsolya Kanizsai, received huge lands in Nagykanizsa, Sárvár and Kapuvár. He was a master general (1536-1543), then Croatian ban (1537-1548), then captain-in-chief in Transdanubia (1542-1546 and 1548-1552), the judge royal (1543-1554), then from 1554 until his death he was the first man in the country, that is the Palatine of Hungary. For a short period of time (1529-1533) he served on the side of János Szapolyai, but until his death he was one of the most influential supporters of King Ferdinand I. He was one of the few Hungarian politicians, who had power in Vienna. Besides these he was a great supporter of the Reformation and book printing. Originally he wanted to be a monk, but later - under Luther's influence - he was attracted to the renewal of the faith, although he never joined the Reformation overtly. He was a great supporter of Hungarian Erasmists. He had friendly relationship with the first generation of them. Miklós Oláh and Jacobus Piso. His Sárvár-Újsziget court was later turned into the workshop of Hungarian, Erasmist Bible translation: in his school he employed János Szilveszter and Mátyás Dévai Bíró, and in his printing house Benedek Abádi. Sebestyén Tinódi Lantos spent his last years in his court. His son, Ferenc Nádasdy, the famous Turk-fighter "black begh", supported the Lutheran church, his court preacher was István Magyari, the outstanding religious writer of the end of the century.

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