Born: 1602, Hungary
Died: 1660
Country most active: Hungary
Also known as: Susanna Lorantffy
The following is excerpted from “400 Outstanding Women of the World and the Costumology of Their Time” by Minna Moscherosch Schmidt, published in 1933.
Susanna Lorantffy was born in 1600 and she died in 1660. At the age of sixteen she became the wife of George Rakoczi, Prefect of Borsod, this powerful, rich and highly respected aristocrat found in her a fitting companion. Susanna Lorantffy developed in intellect, and in will power to be an exceptional individuality.
She became the economical and financial head of the family; she managed the estates, through her personal influence she acquired many friends and with her many mobilized for the aim of her husband. George Rakoczi II owes Susanna Lorantffy to a great extent for becoming Prince of Transylvania in 1636. Sarospatak became his official residence and it was here that Susanna Lorantffy began the great work of her life: the unselfish and systematic development of Hungarian cultural life.
She founded the Reformed College of Sarospatak. She established boarding schools, founded scholarships and endowment funds and invited outstanding scientists from other countries as professors. She endowed similarly the Reformed College of Debrecen, Nagyvarad, Gyulafehervar and Kolozsvar. She established printing presses in Sarospatak and Gyulafehervar. She met the expenses of several authors’ publications. Aside from being very kind and generous she was also very devout and did a great deal for better morals.
She often assembled her scientists and arranged discussions about religious matters. During the warfare of 1644-45 she was the organizer of the army. She supervised the military operations, she took care of the defense of fortresses, of the care of prisoners.
After the death of her husband in 1648 she retired with her son, George Rakoezi II to Sarospatak and later witnessed his election to the Principality of Transylvania.