1. The first Stephen Báthory (1477-1534) was a Hungarian noble and loyal adherent of King John Zápolya of Hungary. Thus in 1529 he was made governor of Transylvania.

2. Stephen Bathory's youngest son was also called Stephen Báthory (1533-1586). He succeeded John II Zapolya as prince of Transylvania and held this position from 1571-75, giving it to this brother Christopher Bathory (1530-81) afterwards. From 1575-86, he was king of Poland.

Stephen was elected to become king of Poland, after Henry III of Valois returned suddenly to become king of France. He married Anna, daughter of Sigismund II Jagiello.

The Hanse city Danzig Gdansk had backed emperor Maximilian II in his attempt to become king of Poland. Maximilian II had died before he could secure this position. Stephen Bathory, upon becoming king of Poland, attacked Danzig and tried to take it by military force. Danzig successfully defended against him and a compromise was reached: Bathory had to accept Danzig's continued status as a autonomy and Danzig recognised him as ruler of Poland and paid enormous sum in gold as "apology". Bathory verified the autonomous city state of Danzig in 1577. Danzig later funded military units when requested.

Bathory with his chancellor Jan Zamojski led the Polish army in a brilliant decisive campaign against the Baltic invaders of Ivan "the terrible" Vasleivich. The Russians had invaded Livonia and took Dorpat from the Teutonic Knights vassal, the Teutonic Brothers of the sword. The Poles under Bathory routed a Russian force at Vilnius and kept pushing the Russians back to their steppes and their forests. The Polish army took back Smolensk and Pleskov. The Russians abandonned Livonia soon after.

Stephen Bathory planned a Christian alliance against the Ottomans. He also tried to make Russia a vassal state of Poland. He considered this a necessary step for his anti-Ottoman crusade.

When Stephen Bathory died, there was a one year interregnum. Emperor Mathias's brother Maximilian III was elected king of Poland, but did not accept andSigismund III Vasa of Sweden followed Stephen Bathory's reign.