House of Koháry
The House of Koháry was an ancient and wealthy Hungarian noble family with seats at Csábrág and Szitnya and the palace of Szentantal.
History
Origin
The origin of the family is in Zala County in Hungary. In 1470, a "Georg Koháry" is mentioned in the court of King Matthias I Corvinus. The first notable member of the family was Peter Koháry, who was rewarded as the Baron of Csábrág by Emperor Ferdinand II and became commander of the fortress of Érsekújvár. His son Stephan I Koháry fought against the Turks and died in the battle of Léva.Counts and generals
In 1685, Stephan II Koháry became the first count in his family. He fought against the Ottoman Empire and the Kuruc. After his death, his fortune went to his nephew Andreas Koháry. All Kohárys had been officers and generals of the Habsburg emperors.Princely title
On 15 November 1815, the head of the house, Ferenc József Koháry, who served as the Hungarian Chancellor, was given the title of Fürst von Koháry by Emperor Francis I of Austria.House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha-Koháry
Upon the death of Ferenc József, his only surviving child, a daughter named Mária Antónia, was proclaimed "heiress of the name". When she married in 1816, her husband Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha took the name Saxe-Coburg and Gotha-Koháry. Among the descendants of Mária Antónia and Ferdinand are the last emperor of Austria, the last four kings of Portugal, and the last three tsars of Bulgaria.Notable members of the family
- István Koháry
- Ferenc József Koháry, Fürst von Koháry de Csábrág et Szitnya
- Maria Antonia Koháry