Ákos Barcsay

It occurred during the end of Transylvania's "golden age" and saw the renewal of Ottoman power under an energetic new grand vizier, Mehmet Köprülü.

Analysis of his career by Hungarian historians shows him to have been a weak character prone to taking the easy option best suited to his self-interests.

His father, Sándor (Alexander) Barcsay, Vice-Comes (Alispan) of Hunyad County, had been a courtier, envoy, and soldier.

On both sides, Ákos Barcsay was the descendant of prominent Transylvanian and Hungarian families — Bogathy, Zalasdy, Seredy, Fanchy, and Varday among others.

When Rákóczy was killed in battle in June 1660, Barcsay was reinstated , but a new pretender to the throne appeared in the person of János Kemény.