The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-30
COUNT LONIAl.
Descent and Present circumstances or
Candidate for S0rwuy's Crown.

To THE EDITOR or The Sun Sir: In con-
nection with the announcement In The Sun
of June - that the Crown OF Norway has Deeh
offered to Count Eener lonyny. son-iti- law
OF the King Of the Bel gians, these facts about
the Count and his wife. Princess Stephahie'
may be Of interest to your readers.
The l,onyays belong to the Oldest stock IN
Hungary. being the direct descendants OF one
OF the Dukes who. with Arpad. conquered
Hungary In the ninth century. They are
therefore Of more ancient and glorious
lineage than the prlncely families OF Ester
hazy and Batthany and other Hungarian
noble families we'll known In this country.
The high position they occupied In the lana
In Its earliest period can be Judged by the Iaot
that In the eleventh century one OF their an
oestors married Sofia, the sister OF King 81.
Ladlslaus. and later In the thirteenth century
another noble scion Of the House Of Lonyay
married Elizabeth. cousin Of Andress H..
the famous Hungarian King who granted tho
Golden Bull or Constitution to Hungary
In the year 1929 after his return from the Holy
War. where he was the chosen leader OF the
Crusaders. At later period In the history
OF the country one Of the Lonyays was sp-
pointed TO the high post Of Palatine OF Hun
gary and Viceroy Of Slavonia and Croatia,
The family were granted numerous villages
and vast domains by King Bella ". in l2A5. and
subsequent rulers have shown them like
favor and bestowed upon them special rights
and privileges almost equivalent to royal
rights. In those distant days they organized
legion Of soldiers at their own expense and
under their own family banner who were sub
Ject to their own will and pleasure only. and
the decision rested also with them whether
the Kings cause was deserving OF their sup
port, They. however. never abused this prtvi-
lege. for they have furnished the stanchest
supporters Of the throne and Fatherland from
those times to the present day.
The Lonyays especially distin gulshed them
selves at the time OF the Turkish invasion OF
Hungary. when their ancestors. the Bsthorys.
Wesselenyis and kemenys. who were ruling
princes OF Transylvanla. were considered the
main pillars Of the Hungarian Crown and were
possessed Of considerably more wealth and
territory than the German ruling princes OF
that day.
They were also related by blood and mar
rage with the Rhedeys. the maternal ances-
tors Of the late Duke Of Teck. and thus both
the, Princess Stephane., who Is through her
father cousin 70 King Edward. end her hu.1
Faithful as the Lonyays always were to
sdered by them first; thus the grandfather
OF the present Count was. q peTsonal friend
and stanch supporter OF Louis Kossuth and
National War Of Independence In the. year
1913. More recently an uncle Of Count Elemer
Lonyay. In his capacity OF Prime Minister
rendered the greatest services to his country.
Interest the politics and welfare OF Hungary,
to which he Is attached with alial love and
devotion.
Princess Stephanie has always been the
object Of the highest esteem and generation
her wldowhood she commanded the SYM
pathes OF the entire civilized world.
There Is no truth whatever In the abatement
that Count Lonyay and the Countess Princess
Stephanie. have decided to settle permanently
IN E3sspd They Ia, have rented M ln! Adsdssan
the expiration Of their tenancy they mean TO
spend the rest OF this summer In England.
but they certainly will not desert Austria
Both the Count and the Princess have
numerous friends in England. The Princess
is very fond OF the English and their ways
and speaks the language fuently. Lately
che has taken to motoring and ID an expert
driver
the old English style. surrounded by vast
grounds and gardens and wooded lands, and
commands lovely views Of Chichester. Arun-
del and the Solent. IT Ia an ideal spot for
those fond o. sport and country fe az aas ne
sumptuously fitted up with many artistic
objects Of Hungarian origin and interest, and
a number Of photographs. signed and un,
signed. OF the Emperor Francis Joseph and
his family lwSuld SEEM too that TIE prln
between her and her royal father. has lost
none OF her nlial affection. for her boudoir
is covered with portraits OF her father and
mother, and a variety OF other mementoS
that hS sua IL f b. ds Lana
her BIRTH Belgium. JOHN SKoTTHr.
NEW YORK., June 20.