Born: 1490, Hungary
Died: 1532
Country most active: Hungary
Also known as: Dorottya
The following is excerpted from “400 Outstanding Women of the World and the Costumology of Their Time” by Minna Moscherosch Schmidt, published in 1933.
Dorothea Kanizsay was one of the greatest Hungarian ladies of the XVth century. Her husband was Imre Perenyi who was Palatine, he had been appointed by King Wladislaw Ranus of Croatia and Slovenia in 1512 and later by Emperor Maximilian promoted to the rank of Prince of the Holy Roman Empire in 1517. The high positions held by her husband required many activities from Dorothea Kanizsay and gave her ample opportunity for charitable actions. Imre Perenyi died in 1519, but Dorothea had to keep the title conferred on her by King Louis and as ‘‘The first lady of the Country” she received King Louis’ bride at the frontier. Archduchess Maria and later the bride of Palatine Stephen Bathory. As the only woman of her time she participated at the request of her king in all the legislative assemblies.
She built the first printing shop of the country in Sarvar and erected several churches in Transdanubia. But all the sacrifices she brought for those living was insignificant compared to those she brought for the dead. In 1526 after the fatal battle of Mohacs, Dorothea Kanizsay appeared on the battlefield and had the heroes buried by her own men at her own expense. She provided generously in her will for the poor, for the orphans, for the churches and orders and for all of her faithful servants. She died in 1534.