Christopher Báthory was voivode of Transylvania from 1576 to 1581. He was a younger son of Stephen Báthory of Somlyó. Christopher's career began during the reign of Queen Isabella Jagiellon, who administered the eastern territories of the Kingdom of Hungary on behalf of her son, John Sigismund Zápolya, from 1556 to 1559. He was one of the commanders of John Sigismund's army in the early 1560s.
Christopher depicted in Franz Christoph Khevenhüller's Conterfet Kupfferstich
The Voivode of Transylvania was the highest-ranking official in Transylvania within the Kingdom of Hungary from the 12th century to the 16th century. Appointed by the monarchs, the voivodes – themselves also the heads or ispáns of Fehér County – were the superiors of the ispáns of all the other counties in the province.
Changes in the administration of Transylvania between 1300 and 1867
Restored Kőhalom Castle (Cetatea Cohalmului, Romania), held by the voivodes between 1324 and c. 1418
Ruins of Déva Castle (Cetatea Deva, Romania), a fortress of the voivodes from 1321 to c. 1443
Baron István Dobó of Ruszka, last voivode appointed by a king of Hungary (1553–1559)