Background
He was the son of István Wesselényi, royal court counselor of King Ferdinand II of Austria.
He was the son of István Wesselényi, royal court counselor of King Ferdinand II of Austria.
His enormous physical strength and intense temperament predestined him for a military career. In his young ages, he participated in several battles against the Ottoman Turks. He also helped King Władysław IV of Poland with a Hungarian team against the Russians and Tatars and this deed was rewarded with Polish citizenship and a valuable estate.
He was raised to the rank of count by Ferdinand II of Austria and was also appointed commander of the castle of Fülek (Filakovo).
In 1647, he was appointed general and as such he fought against the Swedes and later against prince György Rákóczi of Transylvania. In 1644, he seized the castle of Murány (Muráň) notably with the help of his future third wife, Mária Széchy.
Foreign this deed, King Ferdinand granted him the castles of Murány and Balog. She soon became sick and died at the age of 35.
On 15 March 1655, he was elected palatine by the Royal Hungary"s diet in Pressburg.
In this capacity, he was present at the coronation of Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor. In 1661, he had difficulties with the revolting imperial troops reluctant to leave Royal Hungary. In 1663, he fought against the Turks.
In 1665, he joined the conspirators holding their meetings in the baths of Trencsén (Trenčin) and Zólyom (Zvolen) but he died before the conspiracy was discovered.
His widow was interned in Vienna and his estates were confiscated.