Rhédey Mária grófnő végrendelete(i)

The Countess wrote her first will in 1842, when her first child was born. Examples within her own family proved that a mother is not always able to guide her child through life, as women often died during childbirth regardless of age or social status. Mária Rhédey’s words provide insight into the life of a Transylvanian aristocratic family in the 19th century, including family ties, the valuables in the Countess’s possession, as well as their staff. The latter is particularly interesting, because her correspondence with her husband from 1848 reveals that after seven years, these same people still served her loyally. Her will written in 1849 can be defined as a “farewell letter”, as it doesn’t include the formal elements of a will. However, it reveals the changes in the family’s relations, and we can learn about her ideas about raising children.