Andrássyovci a Rožňava
The Andrássy Family and Rožňava

Summary/Abstract: The authors provide information on the history and activity of the noble Andrássy family in the Gemer (Gömör) region and the town of Rožňava (Rozsnyó, Rosenau) from the end of the 16th to the 20th century by describing the activity of the most important members of the house. The article includes graphic documentation of buildings and memorials preserved in Rožňava up to this day. The relationship between the Andrássy family and the town were full of conflict for the first two centuries; they were in dispute over land ownership. The relationship became more peaceful in the 18th century; the Andrássy family as the administrators and later owners of Krásna Hôrka (Krasznahorka) castle carried out charitable and patronage activities in the town. The most significant house member in the 18th century was baron Antal Andrássy who served as bishop in Rožňava from 1780. He deserves credit for building a hospital, an episcopal residence and library and a grammar school that supported its students with scholarships, in the town. The Freemason, count Leopold Andrássy, a supporter of Enlightenment, a benefactor and patron of science and art also became famous. The significance of the Andrássy family grew from the 19th century: the dominance of the estate and house in the Gemer region gave a route for them to become the highest county officers and politicians in the Diet of Hungary and in addition multiple family members excelled as writers, artists and benefactors. The most prominent family members in the 19‎th and 20th centuries were the owner of Krásna Hôrka castle Dénes Andrássy with his wife Franciska, Géza I. Andrassy with wife Eleonora von Kaunitz-Rietberg, the owner of Betliar (Betlér) manor and politician in the Diet of Hungary. The majority of the preserved material monuments in Rožňava are related to Dénes and Franciska (orphanage, library, Catholic and Lutheran grammar schools), including memorial plaques and a memorial of Franciska Andrássy that was replaced in its original place in the main square in 1993.

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