Gáspár Bekes de Kornyát (alsoGáspár de Corniath Bekes,Kornyáti Bekes Gáspár, orKaspar Bekes,Caspar Bekesh; 1520 – 7 November 1579) was a Hungarian nobleman who foughtStephen Báthory for the throne ofTransylvania after the death ofJohn II Sigismund Zápolya in 1571. Allied withMaximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor, and theSzékelys, Bekes organized two rebellions against Báthory, but was defeated. After Báthory becameKing of Poland andGrand Duke of Lithuania in 1576, Bekes reconciled with Báthory, becoming his close adviser. Bekes also fought in theDanzig rebellion and theLivonian War.
Bekes was treasurer forJohn II Sigismund Zápolya,King of Hungary (died 1571), and gained considerable power and favor with him. In his testament, Zápolya, who had no legal heir, designated Bekes asVoivode of Transylvania.[1] However, the Hungarian nobles did not honor the will and electedStephen Báthory as their voivode while Bekes was away on a diplomatic mission in the court ofMaximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor.[2] Supported by Maximilian, who opposed Báthory for the throne of thePolish–Lithuanian Commonwealth,[3] Bekes gathered his army and organized a rebellion against Báthory, but was defeated. Bekes lost all of his possessions and was forced to seek asylum with Maximilian inVienna. When Poland–LithuaniaelectedHenry of Valois as its monarch, Maximilian and Báthory ceased hostilities. Bekes unsuccessfully traveled to theOttoman Empire seeking allies.[3] His hopes were revived again when in 1574 Henry of Valois abdicated the Polish throne for that of France and the Maximilian–Báthory rivalry resumed. Bekes, supported bySzékelys, started another rebellion, but his forces were defeated in theBattle of Kerelőszentpál in 1575.[4] Supporters of Bekes were brutally suppressed and privileges for the Székelys were suspended.[5]
In 1576, Báthory waselected and crowned aKing of Poland and later became aGrand Duke of Lithuania (the nobility in Lithuania were at first reluctant to Bathory and preferredMaximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor),[6] thus becoming the ruler of thePolish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. Maximilian died in 1576, and Bekes lost any hopes of reclaiming Transylvania.[1] Bekes decided to reconcile with Báthory and became his loyal ally and close adviser despite differences in their religions.[7] During theDanzig rebellion, Bekes commanded Hungarian troops, sent to assist Báthory in establishing his control over the Commonwealth, and gained special recognition for his defense ofElbląg (Ebling).[1] During theLivonian War againstIvan IV of Russia, Bekes joined theexpedition to reconquer Polatsk (1579). For his service Báthory assigned himLanckorona and other lands. On his way toHrodna Bekes caught cold, fell ill, and died later in Hrodna.[1] His body was transported toVilnius for burial, but none of the city's Christian cemeteries agreed to accept him because of hisUnitarian faith. Therefore, he was buried on a hill, which later became known as the Bekes Hill. His grave was marked by an octagonal tower, 20 metres (66 ft) in height and 6 metres (20 ft) in diameter. The hill and his grave were washed away by theVilnia River in the mid-1800s.[8] The territory is now within theKalnai Park.
