John Zapolya

John Zápolya refers to a father and son who were kings of Hungary in the 16th century.

John I Zápolya (Zápolya/Szapolyai János in Hungarian) was the king of Hungary between 1526 and 1540.

Zápolya was the leader of groups of Hungarian nobles claiming no foreign ruler should be chosen King of Hungary (the foreign pretender was Ferdinand of Habsburg). Zápolya claimed the throne with support of many Hungarian nobles, and later the Ottoman Sultan. In this, Zapolya was centuries ahead of his time in expressing the desire for self rule, and independance from outside rulers, which ultimately resulted in a free Hungary. He is widely regarded as a hero in his native Hungary, despite the association with the Ottomans which tainted him at the time.

Zápolya's wife Isabel (Izabella in Hungarian) claimed the throne after John's death in the period of 1556-1559.

John II Sigismund Zápolya (Zápolya/Szapolyai János Zsigmond in Hungarian) was the son of John Zápolya and the king of Hungary from 1540-1571. He was also the Prince of Transylvania (Erdély in Hungarian).