Stephen I Lackfi

Stephen (I) Lackfi
Lord of Simontornya
File:Seal of Stephen I Lackfi.PNG Seal of Stephen I Lackfi, 1348
Voivode of Transylvania
Reign	1344–1350
Predecessor	Nicholas Sirokai
Successor	Thomas Gönyűi
Born	c. 1305
Died	1353
Noble family	House of Lackfi
Spouses	1, unidentified (died 1343) 2, Agnes Puchaim (since 1346)
Issue	(1) Denis II (1) Nicholas II (1) Emeric II (1) Stephen II (2) Ladislaus II (2) Catherine
Father	Lack Hermán

Stephen (I) Lackfi (Hungarian: Lackfi (I.) István, Croatian: Stjepan I. Lacković; c. 1305 – 1353) was an influential Hungarian nobleman and a successful military leader in the Kingdom of Hungary. He played a significant role in the Neapolitan campaigns of Louis the Great.

Early life

Stephen was the eldest son of Lack, or Ladislaus, of the Hermán kindred, who was Count of the Székelys from 1328, and his first unidentified wife. Stephen was born around 1305. He had seven younger brothers, including his strong ally and military co-leader Andrew, Voivode of Transylvania and Denis I, Archbishop of Kalocsa.

According to Simon of Kéza's Gesta Hunnorum et Hungarorum and the 14th-century Illuminated Chronicle, which was written in the 1350s, when Stephen's political career reached its peak and the Lackfis became the most powerful family in the royal court, the Hermán kindred descended from a knight Herman (Hermán), who originated from Nuremberg and settled down in the Kingdom of Hungary after escorting Gisela of Bavaria in 996, who became the wife of Stephen I of Hungary, the future first King of Hungary.