Krisztina Nyáry


Baroness Krisztina Nyáry de Bedegh was the daughter of Baron Pál Nyáry and Katalin Várday de Kisvárda. She was the second wife of Palatine Nikolaus, Count Esterházy. Her son, among others, was Paul I, Prince Esterházy.

Life

She was born on 31 October 1604 as the youngest child of Pál Nyáry, the castellan of Várad, Ispán of Bihar and Közép-Szolnok Counties.

First marriage

Baroness Krisztina married to Count Imre Thurzó, only son of Palatine György Thurzó. Imre was the last male member of the Thurzó family. Their wedding was held in Helmec on 15 November 1618. The marriage was highly luxurious during that time, which was celebrated by Péter Alvinci. They had two daughters:

Second marriage

Count Imre died suddenly in 1621, and as a result, the House of Thurzó became extinct in the male line. Krisztina converted to Roman Catholicism from Lutheranism. The widow, promising a rich heritage, married Count Nikolaus (Miklós) Esterházy in Szucsány on 21 July 1624. The wedding ceremony was celebrated by Péter Pázmány, the Archbishop of Esztergom. The marriage produced the following children:
The family's court chaplain was the Jesuit Mátyás Hajnal, who recommended his devotional book of Jesus' Heart, published in Vienna, 1629, to Krisztina Nyáry. That work is a precious memorial of the beginning of the Hungarian Baroque literature. Krisztina's diary is also a work of literary value.
Baroness Krisztina died on 17 February 1641, survived by her husband who did not remarry.