Editing Sigismund Báthory (section)

=== Abdications and returns ===

[[File:4k ref portre bocskai.jpg|thumb|left|alt=A bearded middle-aged man wearing a hat|Sigismund's maternal uncle, [[Stephen Bocskai]], who urged Sigismund to return to Transylvania]]
[[File:John Smith's coat of arms - geograph.org.uk - 1161196.jpg|thumb|Window in St Helena's Church ([[Willoughby, Lincolnshire|Willoughby]], England) displaying the coat of arms that Sigismund Báthory granted to Sir [[John Smith (explorer)|John Smith]].]]

The failure of his marriage and the defeats of the Holy League diminished Sigismund's self-confidence.{{sfn|Szabó|2012|p=186}} He sent his envoys to Rudolph{{nbsp}}II and again offered to abdicate in September 1597.{{sfn|Nagy|1984|p=135}}{{sfn|Granasztói|1981|p=417}} An agreement regarding his abdication was signed on 23{{nbsp}}December 1597.{{sfn|Granasztói|1981|p=418}} Rudolph{{nbsp}}II granted Sigismund the Silesian duchies of [[Duchy of Racibórz|Racibórz]] and [[Duchy of Opole|Opole]] and a yearly subsidy of 50,000 [[thalers]].{{sfn|Nagy|1984|p=135}} The agreement was kept secret for months.{{sfn|Granasztói|1981|p=418}}

The Diet of Transylvania acknowledged Sigismund's abdication on 23{{nbsp}}March 1598.{{sfn|Granasztói|1981|p=418}} Maria Christierna took charge of the government until the arrival of Maximilian of Habsburg, whom Rudolph{{nbsp}}II had appointed to administer Transylvania.{{sfn|Nagy|1984|p=135}} Sigismund went to Silesia, but he did not like his new duchies.{{sfn|Nagy|1984|p=136}}{{sfn|Szabó|2012|p=186}} Bocskai, who had been dismissed after Sigismund's abdication, urged him to return.{{sfn|Barta|1994|p=295}}

Sigismund came to Kolozsvár on 21 August.{{sfn|Nagy|1984|p=136}} On the following day, Bocskai convoked the Diet to his military camp at Szászsebes (now [[Sebeș]] in Romania), and the delegates proclaimed Sigismund prince.{{sfn|Nagy|1984|p=136}} Most Transylvanians accepted the decision, but György Király, the deputy captain of Várad, remained loyal to Rudolph{{nbsp}}II.{{sfn|Nagy|1984|p=137}} In September an Ottoman army invaded the principality, capturing the fortresses along the Maros.{{sfn|Granasztói|1981|p=419}} Sigismund sent his envoys to the commander of the army, Mehmed, convincing him to attack Várad instead of breaking into Transylvania proper.{{sfn|Nagy|1984|p=137}}

All of Sigismund's attempts to make peace with the sultan failed.{{sfn|Barta|1994|p=295}} He sent his envoys to Prague to negotiate with Rudolph{{nbsp}}II,{{sfn|Granasztói|1981|p=419}} while his confessor, Carillo, started negotiations with Jan Zamoyski in Poland.{{sfn|Barta|1994|p=295}} At Sigismund's invitation, his cousin, Andrew Báthory, returned from Poland.{{sfn|Granasztói|1981|p=419}} Sigismund abdicated at the Diet in Medgyes (now [[Mediaș]] in Romania) on 21{{nbsp}}March 1599.{{sfn|Granasztói|1981|p=419}} Eight days later, the Diet proclaimed Andrew Báthory prince, hoping that Andrew could make peace with the Ottomans with the assistance of Poland.{{sfn|Granasztói|1981|p=419}}{{sfn|Barta|1994|pp=295–296}} Sigismund left Transylvania for Poland in June.{{sfn|Nagy|1984|p=137}}{{sfn|Granasztói|1981|p=420}} His marriage with Maria Christierna was declared invalid in Rome in August.{{sfn|Horn|2002|p=215}}

Andrew Báthory lost his throne and his life fighting against Michael the Brave and his Székely allies in autumn.{{sfn|Barta|1994|p=296}} Michael the Brave administered Transylvania as Rudolph{{nbsp}}II's governor, but his rule was unpopular among the noblemen, especially because of the pillaging raids made by his unpaid soldiers.{{sfn|Barta|1994|p=296}}{{sfn|Pop|2009|p=296}} As early as 9{{nbsp}}February 1600 Sigismund announced that he was ready to return to Transylvania.{{sfn|Granasztói|1981|p=421}} [[Moses Székely]], a commander-in-chief during Michael the Brave's campaign against Moldavia in May, deserted Michael and came to Poland to meet Sigismund.{{sfn|Granasztói|1981|p=421}}

[[Image:Hans von Aachen - Allegory of the Turkish war - The Battle of Gorossló.jpg|thumb|left|alt=A captured woman sits before flags, surrounded by captured men and a half naked woman holding a spear with the imperial twin-headed eagle|Allegory of the [[Battle of Goroszló]]]]

The elected leader of the Transylvanian noblemen, István Csáky, sought assistance from Rudolph{{nbsp}}II's military commander, [[Giorgio Basta]], against Michael.{{sfn|Barta|1994|p=296}}{{sfn|Pop|2009|pp=296–297}} Basta invaded Transylvania and expelled Michael the Brave in September.{{sfn|Barta|1994|p=296}}{{sfn|Pop|2009|pp=296–297}} Basta's unpaid soldiers regularly pillaged the principality, while Ottoman and [[Crimean Tatars|Tatar]] marauders made frequent incursions across the frontiers.{{sfn|Barta|1994|p=296}} Sigismund returned to Transylvania across Moldavia at the head of a Polish army on 24{{nbsp}}March 1601.{{sfn|Barta|1994|p=296}}{{sfn|Granasztói|1981|p=422}} The Diet proclaimed him prince in Kolozsvár on 3{{nbsp}}April.{{sfn|Granasztói|1981|p=422}} Basta and Michael the Brave invaded Transylvania in summer.{{sfn|Barta|1994|p=296}} They routed Sigismund's army in the [[Battle of Goroszló]] on 3{{nbsp}}August 1601.{{sfn|Barta|1994|p=296}} After the battle, Sigismund fled to Moldavia, but he returned on 6{{nbsp}}September.{{sfn|Granasztói|1981|p=423}}

The sultan's envoy confirmed Sigismund's position as Prince of Transylvania in Brassó (now [[Brașov]] in Romania) on 2{{nbsp}}October.{{sfn|Granasztói|1981|p=423}} At the head of an army which also included Ottoman and Tatar soldiers, Sigismund expanded his rule over most regions of the principality,{{sfn|Barta|1994|p=297}} but he could not capture Kolozsvár in late November.{{sfn|Granasztói|1981|p=423}} He started new negotiations with Basta over his abdication in March 1602, because he did not trust his own supporters.{{sfn|Granasztói|1981|p=423}}{{sfn|Barta|1994|p=297}}{{sfn|Nagy|1984|p=141}} He referred to them as "intoxicated and brutish sons of a bitch" and asked István Csáky to help him to leave their camp on 2{{nbsp}}July.{{sfn|Nagy|1984|p=141}} He left Transylvania for the last time on 26{{nbsp}}July 1602.{{sfn|Granasztói|1981|p=424}}