Will of Count János Pálffy

Abstract

In the study, by describing the life path of Count János Pálffy, I will show his character traits that helped him in reorganizing the management of the estates placed under guardianship and in repayment a debt. With precision, rationality and good economic sense, he flourished his estates and furnished them with rare art treasures bought abroad. In addition, he supported the Hungarian youth who wanted to study with a significant amount, and established various  support funds for them. He considered the Hungarian middle
class to be the cornerstone of bourgeois Hungary. He probably had this concept in mind at the time of drafting his will, because he supplemented the existing grants with new ones. And he divided the rights of entail into several parties and also created pro-seniority entails, with which he wanted to ensure the livelihood of several people (direct income for the male members of the family, private annuities for female family members due to upbringing and livelihood, orphanhood and widowhood, and other life circumstances, and providing benefits related to the right of entails for all family members). János Pálffy therefore hid behind the mask of a stone-hearted lord, but at the same time, contrary to popular belief, he possessed noble character traits.