Melinda Esterházy (born Melinda Ottrubay, May 24, 1920, in Budapest – August 27, 2014, in Eisenstadt) was a Hungarian-Austrian landowner and former ballet dancer. She was the wife of Prince Paul Esterházy, an Austro-Hungarian nobleman of the Esterházy family.
Esterházy inherited Paul's wealth after his death. Since she had no children, she created several foundations to preserve the cultural and historic heritage of the Esterházy family, with the historic family seat Schloss Esterházy in Eisenstadt as the centre of all activities.
Her parents were Dezsö (or Demeter) Ottrubay, president of the Budapest Higher Regional Court, and his wife Rose, née von Schmidt. She had a younger brother, Josef Ottrubay (1926–2015), who lived as a university lecturer in Lucerne.
Family tree of the Esterházy family
After high school, she starred in two feature films in 1939. At the age of 24 Melinda Ottrubay was appointed prima ballerina assoluta of the Budapest Opera.
On August 3, 1946, Melinda Ottrubay married Prince Paul V Esterházy de Galántha in Budapest.[1] The marriage remained childless.
Title and nameedit
In 1921, when today's Burgenland was added to the Republic of Austria, Paul opted for Hungarian citizenship. This left him with the Hungarian personal status and with it his princely title and his nobility name, which he would have had to do without if he had opted for Austrian citizenship due to the nobility in Austria that was repealed in April 1919. After the Hungarian monarchy ceased to exist at the beginning of 1947 and Hungary had become a people's democracy, the nobility and denominations in Hungary was abolished. Thus the names of the couple in Hungary and internationally became Paul Esterházy and Melinda Esterházy.[2]
Escape from Hungary and further lifeedit
In 1949 Paul Esterházy was sentenced to fifteen years in prison during the show trial of Cardinal József Mindszenty. It was only in 1954 that Melinda was allowed to visit her husband in Kőbánya prison after having been without news of him for over four years.[3] He was finally released on October 30, 1956, in the course of the Hungarian uprising. Paul and Melinda Esterházy fled to Austria on November 1, 1956, in a car disguised as a Red Cross vehicle via the Nickelsdorf border crossing. Her escape was planned and organized by the Viennese lawyer Kurt Werner and the Burgenland member of the National Council, Franz Strobl.[4] They traveled on to Switzerland, where they lived in Zurich until Paul's death in 1989.
Death and posthumous exhibitionedit
Esterházy died on August 27, 2014, in Eisenstadt in the presence of her family. On October 15, 2016, the exhibition Melinda Esterházy: "Life has given me a lot" opened at Esterházy Palace in Eisenstadt, showing both her career as a prima ballerina and her life at the side of Prince Paul V. Esterházy.
Careeredit
She started dancing as a young girl and later became a dancer with the Budapest Opera House.
Esterházy also acted in movies. She is best known for her role as Éva in Hungary's Revival (1939). She portrayed a ballet prima donna in the movie Pénz áll a házhoz (1939).
Princess Melinda Esterházy: Life Has Given Me So Much Biography.
April 10, 2024
melinda, esterházy, born, melinda, ottrubay, 1920, budapest, august, 2014, eisenstadt, hungarian, austrian, landowner, former, ballet, dancer, wife, prince, paul, esterházy, austro, hungarian, nobleman, esterházy, family, esterházy, inherited, paul, wealth, af. Melinda Esterhazy born Melinda Ottrubay May 24 1920 in Budapest August 27 2014 in Eisenstadt was a Hungarian Austrian landowner and former ballet dancer She was the wife of Prince Paul Esterhazy an Austro Hungarian nobleman of the Esterhazy family Esterhazy inherited Paul s wealth after his death Since she had no children she created several foundations to preserve the cultural and historic heritage of the Esterhazy family with the historic family seat Schloss Esterhazy in Eisenstadt as the centre of all activities Contents 1 Life 1 1 Early life and marriage 1 2 Title and name 1 3 Escape from Hungary and further life 1 4 Death and posthumous exhibition 2 Career 3 References 4 External linksLife editEarly life and marriage edit Her parents were Dezso or Demeter Ottrubay president of the Budapest Higher Regional Court and his wife Rose nee von Schmidt She had a younger brother Josef Ottrubay 1926 2015 who lived as a university lecturer in Lucerne nbsp Family tree of the Esterhazy familyAfter high school she starred in two feature films in 1939 At the age of 24 Melinda Ottrubay was appointed prima ballerina assoluta of the Budapest Opera On August 3 1946 Melinda Ottrubay married Prince Paul V Esterhazy de Galantha in Budapest 1 The marriage remained childless Title and name edit In 1921 when today s Burgenland was added to the Republic of Austria Paul opted for Hungarian citizenship This left him with the Hungarian personal status and with it his princely title and his nobility name which he would have had to do without if he had opted for Austrian citizenship due to the nobility in Austria that was repealed in April 1919 After the Hungarian monarchy ceased to exist at the beginning of 1947 and Hungary had become a people s democracy the nobility and denominations in Hungary was abolished Thus the names of the couple in Hungary and internationally became Paul Esterhazy and Melinda Esterhazy 2 Escape from Hungary and further life edit In 1949 Paul Esterhazy was sentenced to fifteen years in prison during the show trial of Cardinal Jozsef Mindszenty It was only in 1954 that Melinda was allowed to visit her husband in Kobanya prison after having been without news of him for over four years 3 He was finally released on October 30 1956 in the course of the Hungarian uprising Paul and Melinda Esterhazy fled to Austria on November 1 1956 in a car disguised as a Red Cross vehicle via the Nickelsdorf border crossing Her escape was planned and organized by the Viennese lawyer Kurt Werner and the Burgenland member of the National Council Franz Strobl 4 They traveled on to Switzerland where they lived in Zurich until Paul s death in 1989 Death and posthumous exhibition edit Esterhazy died on August 27 2014 in Eisenstadt in the presence of her family On October 15 2016 the exhibition Melinda Esterhazy Life has given me a lot opened at Esterhazy Palace in Eisenstadt showing both her career as a prima ballerina and her life at the side of Prince Paul V Esterhazy Career editShe started dancing as a young girl and later became a dancer with the Budapest Opera House Esterhazy also acted in movies She is best known for her role as Eva in Hungary s Revival 1939 She portrayed a ballet prima donna in the movie Penz all a hazhoz 1939 References edit Esterhazy Foundations commemorate 25 years Esterhazy https www ris bka gv at Dokumente BgblPdf 1999 75 1 1999 75 1 pdf bare URL PDF Molden S 240f Molden S 262External links editMelinda Esterhazy at IMDb Princess Melinda Esterhazy Life Has Given Me So Much Biography Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Melinda Esterhazy amp oldid 1172663116, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
