[2] After the Ottomans occupied the fortress on 24 April 1556, Márkházy was accused of treachery and his estates were confiscated in Royal Hungary.
[3] In the spring of 1575, he went to the Ottoman capital to buy horses and also to conduct business on behalf of Zápolya's successor, Stephen Báthory.
[3] The influential Koca Sinan Pasha proposed Márkházy to achieve his appointment to rule Transylvania if he were willing to increase the annual tribute payable to the Sublime Porte, but the rumor proved false.
[4] Fearing of Márkházy's ambitions, the Diet of Transylvania elected the ailing Christopher Báthory's minor son, Sigismund, his co-ruler.
[4] Sinan Pasha had not returned from a military campaign against Safavid Persia and the Imperial Council decided to confirm Sigismund Báthory's accession in his absence in early July.
[6] Sinan Pasha accepted the offer and Márkházy entered into negotiations with the Phanariote bankers about a loan to finance the transaction.
[7] The Diet refused to increase the annual tribute, but the Sultan's envoy handed over the princely insignia to Sigismund Báthory.
[8] Sinan Pasha's opponents knew that Stephen Báthory who ruled the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth would not allow to expel his nephew from Transylvania and they wanted to avoid an armed conflict with him.