The Angel of Szendrö, the Saint of Sztrecsnó. These are the most common attributes history has awarded to Zsófia Bosnyák. Hundreds of years ago, she became famous for her philanthropy, as well as her bread, the so-called bosnyak.
She might have lived all the way back in the 17th century, but her story and stances inspire many generations of Slovaks to this day. The end of April marked 380 years since her death, and she will be “celebrating” her 415th birthday on the 2nd of June. Who was this woman, praised not only in legend and song, but also by Hungarian and Slovak poets and publicists alike for decades now? Even though Zsófia Bosnyák was born into one of the richest Hungarian aristocratic families of the 17th century, she had plenty of social conscience, deep spirituality, and a sense of justice to spare. Her figure was tied not only to Szendró, Vágtapolca, and Sztrecsnó Castle, but she also left a trail in Moravia. She was a fief vassal of the Archbishop of Olomouc, one of the owners of the Veselí na Moravě castle, and heiress to the Serényi share of the Vlachovice estate. However, fate wasn’t exactly kind to her...
Nový Světlov Castle in Moravia became her home for a time
Widowed after six months
She was born June 2, 1609, into the family of Baron Tamás Bosnyák, a captain serving at the Fülek and Szendró castles, who enjoyed the emperor’s favor. Zsófia was growing up to be a beautiful woman, and aside from exercising piety, she also attained a solid education, which she would soon end up using in the management of her husband’s estate. She was introduced into society in 1624 at the Esterházy wedding, her father presenting her like a prized possession for sale. She was a great match, and both her marriages benefited her father’s “dynastic” policies. The 17-year-old Zsófia’s first husband was Mihály Serényi. After getting married, the couple lived at Nový Světlov Castle, close to Bojkovice. This is where her legendary sense of charity first presented itself. She was widowed not even six months after the wedding. She returned home because her husband’s family chased her out of Moravia. After the death of her mother, she was in charge of raising her younger sisters. At the advice of a family friend, the Esztergom Archbishop Péter Pázmány, she married a second time. Her husband was Count Francis Wesselényi, a future palatine.
The Wesselényi era
At one time, Wesselényi served her father. He helped him defend Szendr???? Castle against the Turks. Aside from Szendró, they lived in a mansion in Vágtapolca close to Žilina, and the impregnable Sztrecsnó Castle. Since her husband became the captain of Fülek after his father-in- law’s death, Zsófia was left to deal with everything on her own, including her three children. The personalities of the peaceful and kind-hearted Zsófia, and the bohemian brawler Francis weren’t a good match. She won the favor of the people spanning generations across Vágtapolca, Szendró, and Sztrecsnó. She was not only educated and empathetic, but also decisive. Her charitable activities also no doubt contributed to the peaceful re-Catholicization of Vágtapolca. This is where she founded an almshouse and hospital and supported the existence of patronage churches. To the Teplice parish church, she gave the gift of a hand- embroidered altar cloth, a vestment, and other objects that remain in the St. Martin Church to this day.
Francis Wesselényi
An unusual find
In 1644, a class uprising broke out, headed by the Prince of Transylvania George Rákóczi. Zsófia and her children left Vágtapolca and took refuge in Sztrecsnó Castle, where she died on April 28, 1644. She was buried in the castle crypt, but in 1674, Emperor Leopold I ordered seizures of property, pogroms, and even the demolition of Sztrecsnó Castle. He took the Teplice estate and Sztrecsnó away from Zsófia’s son László, and placed it all in the hands of a new owner, one J. J. Lowenburg. His people found the remarkably well- preserved body of Zsófia under the castle chapel. They transported it to Vágtapolca, where it “enjoyed” public respect starting in 1728. Public interest in Zsófia’s life continues to this day. Many events in her memory are held not only in her hometown of Szendró, but also Vágtapocla, or the museum at Sztrecsnó Castle.
BOSNYAKS
Zsófia Bosnyák had a sense of justice and truth. She stood in court many times defending her subjects, or really anyone suffering a wrong. On top of that, she took care of her subjects, not only in times of hunger and epidemics, which was a rare sight at the time. She was a woman with a strong social conscience. She helped the poor, the sick, orphans and widows, but also the elderly. Even though she herself lived modestly, she was known for her generosity and neighborliness to all who approached her. She handed out food to her subjects, including the famous round bread - bosnyak. Traditional Slovak restaurants serve it with different kinds of soups, mainly cream-based ones. Zsófia was already respected by the people while she was alive. It’s no wonder that they called her an angel.
Sztrecsnó Castle
reklama
