Trenčín at the time of the Hapsburgs

After the defeat of the Turks (the battle of Moháč), Slovakia became part of the Hapsburg monarchy and the throne was given to Ferdinand I. However, he had to win his title through a lengthy, intra-dynasty conflict with a local candidate called Ján Zápoľský who had his main camp at the Trenčín castle. Ferdinand sent armies headed by Ján Katzianer to Trenčín. Trenčín was conquered after the initial siege of the castle and the city. This was an act of betrayal. As it was later discovered, one of Trenčín townsmen, Juraj Kupec, showed the Hapsburg army access roads to the castle and the fortification’s weakest points. Having done this he fled to Kroměříž. However, the castle commanders played their part in the treason as well. Following this, the castle was left in ruins; the city was plundered and burnt down. Later a plague erupted in the city in 1585. Since the Hapsburg monarchy also included the region of Moravia, Trenčín lost its former importance as the border city. Many owners would come and go, until the castle ended up in the hands of Stephen of Ilešházi. This family retained their property until the half of the nineteenth century.