Editing Gabriel Bethlen (section)

=== Bocskai's supporter ===

Gabriel decided to persuade the wealthy Stephen Bocskai to rise up against Rudolph's commissioners.{{sfn|Barcza|1987|p=21}} After royal troops attacked the refugees' camp near Temesvár on 13 September 1604, rumours about the capture of a secret correspondence between Bethlen and Bocskai began circulating.{{sfn|G. Etényi|Horn|Szabó|2006|p=162}} Fearing reprisals, Bocskai withdrew to his fortress at Sólyomkő (now Şoimeni in Romania) and make preparations to resist.{{sfn|G. Etényi|Horn|Szabó|2006|p=162}} He hired irregular [[Hajduk (Kingdom of Hungary)|Hajdú]] troops and defeated a royal army on 15 October.{{sfn|G. Etényi|Horn|Szabó|2006|pp=167-169}}{{sfn|Barta|1994|p=298}}

Bocskai took possession of Kassa (now [[Košice]] in Slovakia) on 11 November.{{sfn|Barta|1994|p=298}} Soon after, Gabriel gave the ''[[ahidnâme]]'' (or charter) in which the [[Ottoman Sultan]], [[Ahmed I]], styled Bocskai as prince of Transylvania.{{sfn|Barta|1994|p=298}} The delegates of the noblemen and the [[Székelys]] elected Bocskai prince on 21 February 1605.{{sfn|G. Etényi|Horn|Szabó|2006|p=191}} According to a letter of Bethlen, Bocskai ordered him to capture "certain castles", for which he had to postpone his marriage in May.{{sfn|Barcza|1987|p=21}}

Gabriel finally married his bride, Zsuzsanna [[Károlyi]], in August 1605.{{sfn|Barcza|1987|p=21}} Bocskai granted the domain of Vajdahunyad (now [[Hunedoara]] in Romania) to him.{{sfn|Barcza|1987|p=21}} The prince also made him the [[perpetual ispán]] (or head) of [[Hunyad County]].{{sfn|Barcza|1987|p=21}}

Bethlen was a [[Calvinism|Calvinist]]. He helped [[György Káldy]], a [[Society of Jesus|Jesuit]], translate and print the [[Bible]]. He composed hymns and from 1625, employed [[Johannes Thesselius]] as kapellmeister.