Editing Christopher Báthory (section)

== Career ==
Christopher entered the service of John Zápolya's widow, Isabella Jagiellon, in the late 1550s.{{sfn|Szabó|2012|p=182}} At the time, Isabella administered the eastern territories of the Kingdom of Hungary on behalf of her son, John Sigismund Zápolya.{{sfn|Barta|1994|pp=258–259}} She wanted to persuade [[Henry II of France]] to withdraw his troops from three fortresses that the Ottomans had captured in [[Banat]], so she sent Christopher to France to start negotiations in 1557.{{sfn|Markó|2006|p=101}}{{sfn|Szabó|2012|p=182}}

John Sigismund took charge of the administration of his realm after his mother died on 15 November 1559.{{sfn|Barta|1994|p=259}}{{sfn|Keul|2009|p=99}} He retained his mother's advisors, including Christopher who became one of his most influential officials.{{sfn|Keul|2009|p=99}} After the rebellion of [[Melchior Balassa]],{{sfn|Barta|1994|p=259}} Christopher persuaded John Sigismund to fight for his realm instead of fleeing to Poland in 1562.{{sfn|Szabó|2012|p=182}} Christopher was one of the commanders of John Sigismund's troops during the ensuing war against the Habsburg rulers of the western territories of the Kingdom of Hungary, [[Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor|Ferdinand]] and [[Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor|Maximilian]], who tried to reunite the kingdom under their rule.{{sfn|Markó|2006|p=101}}{{sfn|Barta|1994|p=259}} Christopher defeated Maximilian's commander, [[Lazarus von Schwendi]], forcing him to lift the siege of Huszt (now [[Khust]] in Ukraine) in 1565.{{sfn|Markó|2006|p=101}}

After the death of John Sigismund, the [[Diet of Transylvania]] elected Christopher's younger brother, Stephen Báthory, voivode (or ruler) on 25 May 1571.{{sfn|Barta|1994|p=260}} Stephen made Christopher captain of Várad (now Oradea in Romania).{{sfn|Markó|2006|p=101}} The following year, the [[Ottoman Sultan]], [[Selim II]] (who was the overlord of Transylvania), acknowledged the hereditary right of the [[Báthory family]] to rule the province.{{sfn|Barta|1994|p=260}}