7. Prominent members of Zichy ancestry

This chapter provides, in alphabetical listing, essential information about the life and achievements of the more known and/or noteable personalities of the family. The information is taken from various Hungarian, Austrian and international lexica as well as from reliable family sources.

Zichy Ádám III, baron, (of the ‘noble line’: N-2-a-31112244314), in 1723 deputy lord-lieutenant of Bács county, judge of Pannonia, 1730 prothonotary at the palatin’s office; was granted the title of baron 29.09.1732 for himself and his descendants. However his line has died out.

Zichy Ágost, count (1852-1925) (18.OR-ve-se-12a.4), statesman, doctor juris, brother of Joseph with whom, starting 1875, he undertook extensive travels in Europe, Asia and Northern America. Held lectures in the Hungarian Geographic Society. Governor of Fiume, member of the Hungarian Academy of Science, member of the Upper House. Scolar of art.

Zichy Aladár, count (1864-1937), (19.PA-lá-33423), statesman, son of Nándor (“The statesman”), father of János and Gyula, also a member of the Catholic People’s Party, was minister of the royal household in the Wekerle cabinet of 1906. Noted promotor of the cooperative movement. Link 1,

Zichy Antal, noble (1826-1898), (N-2-a-311122443123211), brother of Michael (“The Painter”), writer (historical, political and literary works), politician, member of parliament, member of the Hungarian Academy of Science. Picture 1,

Zichy Antónia, countess (17.OR-ve-czi-166) wife of count Lajos Battyhány, the first prime-minister of Hungary, very active organiser and animator of social and political debate in the pre-March period and exemplary supporter of her husband in difficult times. Picture 1,

Zichy Béla, count (1816-1883), (17.OR-vá-li-329), son of the “beauté céleste”, ‘máltai nagykeresztes fogadalmi lovag’, after successful military carrier (huszár) member of the Hungarian Table of Magnates, president of the Hungarian Automobil Club, initiator and sponsor of an innovative settlement/urbanisation scheme at Fonyód.

Zichy Domonkos, count (1808-1879), (16.OR-ve-19), “the bishop of Veszprém”, elder brother of Ödön (the Maecenas) and Jenő (the Martyr), founder of the ‘majorat of Zákány’, doctor of theology, priest 1831, “Domherr des fürstlichen Hoch- und Erzstiftes Olmütz”, 1840 bishop of Veszprém, member of the Upper House pursuing the conservative political line. Resigned when the liberals got the upper hand that led to the events of 1848-1849. He withdrew to his castle Naszód, in Transsylvania, and earned much respect for his philantropic activities. He had a particularly pretty pravoslav church constructed for the rumanian orthodox population.

Zichy Ferenc, count (1811–1900), (17.OR-ve-se-12a.), statesman, was secretary of state for commerce and transport in the Széchenyi ministry of 1848, but retired on the outbreak of the revolution, joined the imperial side, and acted as imperial commissary in 1849; from 1874 to 1880 he was Austro-Hungarian ambassador at Constantinople and representative at the 1876-1877 Constantinople Conference. Before 1848 he was councillor at the court in Vienna, head of various commissions and president of the regency in absence of the palatin (= the king’s representative).

Zichy Ferenc, count (1702-1783) (….), “the Bishop of Győr” , great-grandson of the “Founder”; son of the “Settler”; after studies in Olmütz, Bécs and Rome doctor of philosophy and theology, ‘vicar’ in Nagyvárad (1725), in Gran (1727), provost in Érsekújvár (Nové Zámky, 1737), bishop in Győr (from 1743), lord-lieutant of Győr county (starting 1744), received the big cross of the Order of St.Steven from the Hungarian Queen Mária Terézia (1774). Established various foundations for the poor, widows and orphans; reorganised religious institutions such as the seminar in Győr, constructed the bishop residence in Győr and in Szany, the cathedral in Győr as well as 7 other churches, refurbished the cathedral in Szombathely, provided for the well-functioning of parishes under his responsibility. He attracted architects and artists, promoted education.He is burried in the cathedral of Győr.

Zichy Géza, count (1849-1924), (18.OR-ve-se-1264), (“The Pianist”) world-famous one-handed concert pianist, studied law and music; pupil of Mayrberger, Volkmann and Liszt, later friend of the latter, developed the technique for left-hand piano and gave - exclusively charity - concerts in many European countries; in 1891 he became intendant of the Hungarian National Opera House (where Gustav Mahler got into conflict with his national-Hungarian orientation) and also head of the Conservatoire at Budapest. He composed various types of music, including operas for which he wrote the scenario himself. He further wrote poems, novels and his memoires. Picture 1, Picture 2, Picture 3,

Zichy Gyula, count (1871- 1942), (19.PA-lá-33245), “ the archbishop of Kalocsa”, brother of János, (minister), son of Aladár, (minister) and grandson of Nándor, (the Stateman); studied theology in Székesfehérvár, Innsbruck and Rome. Since 1901 chamberlain of pope Leo XIII. From 1905 bishop of Pécs, where he established an important secondary school and college, various foundations and was instrumental in translocating to Pécs the Pozsony University that just became homeless due to the Trianon agreements. He was most active during WW I in the field of military health. In 1925 pope Pius XI appointed him to archbishop of Kalocsa. Picture 1,

Zichy Hermann, count (1814-1880), (17.OR-vá-327), statesman, educated for public service, held various posts in Vas county and Bihar county, 1863 administrator (= ad interim lord-lieutant) of Vas county, 1864 Hungarian chancellor at the Court.

Zichy Hippolyt, count (1814-1888) (17.OR-ve-se12b.) priest, canon of Vác, succeeded courageously in convincing the Russian military to save Vác.

Zichy István, baron, count (1616-1693) (“the Founder”), son of Pál “the Fighter”, chamberlain in the court of Ferdinand III, commandant of Győr, lieutnant general, 1655 baron, president of the Hungarian Treasury, 1661 keeper of the crown, 1676 count with all his descendants, 1681 lord lieutenant of Moson county, later ‘főajtónálló’, 1690 lord chief treasurer; he obtained most of the family possessions and the predicat “vásonkeö”, he founded the family seniorate! Picture 1,

Zichy István, count (1879-1951), (19.PA-ad-51151), festő és grafikus, viselettörténeti és néprajzi érdeklődésű művelődéstörténész, magyar őstörténetkutató, member of the Hungarian Academy of Science (MTA), az Országos Magyar Történeti Múzeum föigazgatója (1934-1944), Magyar Néprajzi Társaság elnöke.

Zichy János, count (…), (…), botanist Picture 1,

Zichy János, count (1868-1944), (19.PA-lá-33243), statesman, ………. (miniszter, MTA ig.tag, a Keresztény Gazdasági és Szociális Párt elnöke),

from 1896 to 1906 a member of the Catholic People's Party in the Lower House, and after 1906 attached to Andrássy's Constitutional Party, was of importance as the confidant of the heir to the throne, the Archduke Francis Ferdinand.

Zichy Jenő, count [= Eugen], “the Martyr”, (1809-1848), (16.OR-ve-1a.) frequently and erroneuously referred to as ‘Ödön’ [‘Edmund’] that was in fact his younger brother. Administrator (=acting lord-lieutenant) of the county of Veszprém, was hanged on the 30th of September 1848 by order of a Hungarian court-martial, presided over by Görgey, for reportedly acting as Jellasich's emissary to the imperial general Roth. For further information refer to the family stories. Picture 1,

Zichy Jenő, count [=Eugen], (1837-1906), (17.OR-ve-szm-1b.4), “the ipargróf” (= industry count) by his nickname, doctor juris, economist, inherited his father's (“the maecenas’”) notable collections, and followed him in his economic activities; he pioneered systematisation of industrial professional training (86 institutions by the mid 1880s), initiated, promoted and sponsored various industrial production, railway and channel projects, organised exhibitions; moreover, he three times organised, financed and led expeditions to the Caucasus and Central Asia, including Peking, to investigate the origins of the Hungarians, publishing as the result Voyages au Caucase (2 vols., Budapest, 1897) and Dritte asiatische Forschungsreise (6 vols., in Magyar and German; Budapest and Leipzig, 1900–1905). People called him also “the red count” for his reddish hair or a “democratical aristocrat” for his political approach. Picture 1, Picture 2, (állva, balról az első)

Zichy-Woinarski John, (……………), internationally renowned ornitologist

Zichy József, count (1841-1924), (18.OR-ve-se-12a.1), statesman, doctor juris, repeatedly member of the Hungarian parliament, interested particularly in trade, economics and budget, since 1870 governor of Fiume, 1872-74 minister of agriculture, industry and trade, 1873-75 minister of public works and transport. Travelled extensively with his brother Ágoston, in Europe, North-America and Asia including Ceylon, Indonesia, China and Japan.

Zichy Károly I, count (1753-1826), (15.OR-3), (“the political Peak”), statesman, military education, 1772 Assistant of the Governor of Fiume, 1775 aulic councillor, 1786 administrator of Békés County, 1787 lord-lieutenant of Györ County, 1788 judex curiae, (the chief judge, that is the highest post in Hungary at that time after the king as the post of the palatin was kept vacant in those years), successful mediator in Hungarian and monarchy affairs, 1808 state and conference-minister, 1809 minister of war, 1813-14 minister of home affairs; president of the ‘allgemeinen Hofkammer” (corresponds to ministerpresident); also some literary activities; “Ritter des goldenen Vliesses” (= highest monarchy decoration).

Zichy Károly II, count (1778-1834) (15.OR-…..), statesman, son of … …, father of Ferdinand “savior of Venice”. Picture 1,

Zichy Mihály, noble (1827-1906) (…) worldfamous painter, brother of Antal, one of the most conspicuous Hungarian artists, upon recommendation of his teacher Waldmüller was appointed court painter at St.Petersburg in 1847. He resigned in protest against the Russian military intervention in Hungary, worked in Paris, Vienna and in Hungary bevor he returned to Russia again after the coronation of czar Alexander. …….He is best known for his illustrations of the works of the great Magyar writers Arany, Madách etc., the illustration of the national epos of Georgia, some of his oil paintings (e.g. “the saving boat”), his many historic paintings and his masterly pornographic drawings and aquarelles. Picture 1,

Zichy Miklós, count, (…-1758), son of Peter the Settler, Lord Lieutenant of Szabolcs county, builder of the Zichy castle including an opera and an orangery at Óbuda, sponsor of art and music, played violin himself, continued his fathers settling policy particularly in the Danube-knee region, built with his wife Berényi the Óbuda church. Picture 1,

Zichy Nándor, count [Ferdinand], (1783-1862) (16.OR-vá-35) “the savior of Venice”was the Austrian field-marchal, military commandant of Venice condemned to ten years imprisonment for surrendering Venice to the insurgents in 1848; he was pardoned in 1851; he was - just like the composer Rossini - a passionate cook.

Zichy Nándor, count (1829-1911), (18.PA-lá-3342), ( “the Statesman”) vice-president of the Hungarian stateholdership under the Mailath regime, was condemned in 1863 under the press law to the loss of his possession, titles and to imprisonment. In 1867 he was elected to the Hungarian parliament, at first joining the party of Deák, and subsequently becoming one of the founders and leaders of the Catholic People’s Party. Picture 1, Picture 2, Picture 3, Picture 4, Picture 5,

Zichy Nándor, count (1907-…), (19.OR-ve-szm-1b.454), dr.rer.oec., Teleki kormány idején az Országos Magyar Idegenforgalmi Hivatal igazgatója (helyettes államtitkári rang ), katonai repülős, tanácsos, klubelnök (?), kis-ázsiai sportrepülős bravourjáért, mint a sivatagkutató Almásy László (“the English patient”) társa/pilótája) világhíres.

Zichy Ödön [Edmund], count (1811–1894), (17.OR-ve-1b), “the Maecenas”, brother of Jenő (“the martyr”), and of Domonkos (“the Veszprém bishop) and father of Jenö (“the ipargróf”), was remarkable for his great activity in promoting art and industry in Austria-Hungary; has founded the Oriental Museum in Vienna and was co-founder of the famous “Künstlerhaus” also in Vienna. He travelled extensively in France, Spain , Italy and in the Near East. He worked on the development of turkish railways in situ and on their connection with Europe. He was the chief organiser and second biggest sponsor of the Austro-Hungarian North Pole Expedition discovering eventually the now Franz Josef Land, of which the central archipelago is called “Zichy Land” in his honour. Prior to 1848, when he, after a Pre-March political conflict with the liberals (Batthyány, Kossuth, Szemere and Teleki) resigned from his post as ‘oberststallmeister-stellvertreter”of Hungary, he served in the military. His economic initiatives included also the promotion of exhibitions and the development of agricultural products (e.g. flour, hanf, wool) For the latter he received a price in the world exhibition in Paris. Picture 1,

Zichy Pál, noble (1598-1638), (“the Fighter”) ancestor of all Zichy counts, father of István (the “Founder” of the count line), 1619 commandant of Veszprém, lieutant general of Györ and its region, knight of the golden spurs, he obtains most of the Zichy possessions in Veszprém and Fejér counties in fight against the Turks.

Zichy Péter, count, (1674-1726) (….) (“the Settler”), father of the “bishop of Györ”, kamarás (=…), lord-lieutenant of Szabolcs county, kaiserlicher Truchsess, geheimer Rat, Septemvir. He arranged the settlement of foreigners, especially Swabians, in the depopulated regions of Pannonia ; poet (poems to his wife and prayers) and musician;

Rubido-Zichy Iván, de Zich et Zagorje, baron (1874-1964), Hungarian chief of protocol, Ambassador in London.

Zichy-Woinarski George-Gustave, count (1825-1891), son of János, Hungarian emigrant to Poland (Cieczyn), as such 2^nd generation Pole, studied law at Lvov, secretary to prince Woroniecki with whom he joins the Polish Legion fighting 1848-49 for Hungary during the revolution (Bem, Dembinski, Kossuth). Flight to Turkey with 5.000 soldiers, and Hungarian/Polish flag, prisoner. Upon release emigration to Australia (1852), various jobs including gold digging, marriage, 11 children, dies respected in Melbourne.