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Stephen Báthory
Stephen Báthory (Stefan Batory; 1533–1586) was a Hungarian-born king of Poland. He ruled as a voivode of his native Transylvania from 1571 until becoming, in 1576, the second king of Poland elected by the nobility. In the first years of his reign he focused on establishing power: defeating a fellow claimant to the throne, Maximilian II Habsburg, and quelling the Danzig rebellion. His signal achievement was his victorious campaign in Livonia in the mid part of his reign, when he won from Russia a highly favorable treaty at Yam-Zapolsky. He is considered one of the most successful kings of Poland, particularly in the military realm. (Full article...)