Pál Esterházy of Galánta (7 September, 1635, Kismarton - 26 March, 1713, Kismarton)

Pál Esterházy 1
Son of Palatine Miklós Esterházy, who managed to continue his father's life work. First he was royal court master-in-chief (1661-1681) then he became the first man in Hungary, that is the Palatine of the country for a very long time (1681-1713). At the same time he was an outstanding soldier, he took part in the struggles against the Turks in 1663-1664, from 1668 he was the captain-in-chief of he Bányavidék fortresses - like his father. He was a follower of Emperor Leopold I and a keen supporter of the Catholic religion, who was also engaged in poetry and composing music. In 1687 he played a great role in making the Hungarian parliament accept the Habsburgs as permanent kings and the Hungarian order give up their right of rebellion laid in the Golden Bull. He had a great influence in Vienna, too. In spite of this fact he could only partly put forward the intention of the Hungarian orders. His castle built in his birthplace, Kismarton (today it is Einstadt in Burgenland, Austria) is one of the most beautiful buildings of 17th-century baroque architecture. His Diary written in his youth is a pleasant read in the genre of autobiography. His later work, the Latin Mars Hungaricus (1665-1668) described Zrínyi's winter campaign. In his poetic works he was a brilliant artist of forms. Harmonica caelestis (Vienna, 1711) was his famous church music.

PG-ÁP-SzJú