The war of the griffin and the leopard: the separation and trials of Éva Thököly and Pál Esterházy

Abstract

Pál Esterházy, the Palatine of the Kingdom of Hungary, had his second marriage with Éva Thököly in 1682. However, the couple's initial good relationship soon deteriorated, mainly due to property problems. In 1692 they separated for a short time. In 1700, Pál Esterházy accused his wife in the Lower Austrian court of trying to poison him. At the end of the trial, Eva Thököly was imprisoned in a convent. This ended their marriage, and they were separated from bed and table. After a long struggle, the princess managed to secure her release and was fully rehabilitated by Emperor Joseph I.