1. Hungary After Moháč notes

After the Battle of Moháč, the Hungarian throne had two primary claimants:
- Ferdinand Habsburg
- John Zápolya (Ján Zápoľský)

Background: He was the Voivode of Transylvania.
- Definition of Voivode: A local governor or ruler in central or eastern Europe, specifically referring to a semi-independent ruler of Transylvania.
Support: Strongly supported by the Hungarian nobility.
Coronation: Crowned in $1526$ in Belgrade.

Support: Primarily backed by the Bohemian nobility.
Treaty Basis: His claim was strengthened by the Habsburg-Jagiellon mutual-succession treaty, which granted him the right to reign in both Hungary and Bohemia.
Coronation: Crowned in $1527$ in Belgrade.

The period was characterized by a perilous combination of civil war and ongoing Ottoman invasion.
Ferdinand's Campaign: Ferdinand entered Hungary via Bratislava with his mercenary army.
- His forces divided, moving east (towards the mining regions of what is now central Slovakia) and south (towards Buda, a major city).
Ferdinand's Demands: Ferdinand offered all supporters of John Zápolya the choice to swear allegiance to him or be branded as traitors.
John Zápolya's Retreat and Ottoman Alliance:
- John Zápolya initially retreated to Poland, although parts of Hungary (such as Orava, Spiš, and Liptov) remained under his influence.
- In $1528$ , John Zápolya secured crucial support from the Ottoman Sultan, Suleiman the Magnificent, effectively becoming his vassal.

Conquest of Buda: The Ottomans, supporting Zápolya, pushed Hungarian forces north and successfully conquered Buda.
Siege of Vienna (1529): The Ottomans attempted to besiege Vienna in $1529$ but were unsuccessful and subsequently returned home.
Ferdinand's Counter-attack: Ferdinand then launched attacks against John Zápolya, primarily in Slovakia.
- He conquered key cities and regions including Trenčín, Spiš, and Košice.
- Despite these gains, several castles (e.g., Muráň, Lietava) remained under the control of John Zápolya's supporters.

$1533$ Peace with Ottomans: A temporary peace was established between Ferdinand and the Ottoman Sultan in $1533$ , as the Sultan needed to address conflicts with Persia. However, hostilities against John Zápolya continued.
Treaty of Nagyvárad (Mier vo Veľkom Varadíne) - $1538$ :
- Initial Terms: The treaty stipulated that both parties would retain their conquered lands. Crucially, it stated that upon John Zápolya's death (he was heirless at the time), all his lands would revert to Ferdinand.
- Unexpected Turn: Contrary to the treaty's premise, John Zápolya's son was born before his death.
Post-Treaty Developments ( $1541$ ) and Final Division:
- Suleiman the Magnificent intervened by force to defend the hereditary rights of John Zápolya's son.
- In $1541$ , the Ottomans conquered Buda and established a new province known as the Province of Budin/Buda or Pashalik of Budin (Budínsky pašalík).
- Transylvania became a separate entity, belonging to the House of Zápolya (as an Ottoman vassal).
- Ferdinand retained the remaining portion of Hungary, which largely comprised present-day Slovakia.
- Bratislava was designated as the new capital city of the Hungarian kingdom under Habsburg rule.

Centralization Efforts: Ferdinand I embarked on efforts to build a centralized realm, aiming to limit the power and influence of the Bohemian and Hungarian nobility and subject them to taxation.
Religious Policy: He was a strong supporter of the Counter-Reformation.
Administrative Centers:
- Bratislava: Served as the capital city, housing the seat of the court council, a chancellery, a treasury, a collections office, and the War Council.
- Trnava: The Archbishop and chapter from Esztergom relocated to Trnava. For nearly $300$ years, Trnava remained a significant cultural capital of the Kingdom of Hungary.
Later Role and Legacy:
- Ferdinand I eventually became the Holy Roman Emperor after his brother Charles V abdicated.
- His policies, particularly the limitations imposed on the Hungarian nobility, later contributed to the outbreak of Anti-Habsburg uprisings.