Louis Batthyány

Lajos Ernő Batthyány (; 17 March 1696 - 26 October 1765) was a Hungarian noble, Court Chancellor and Palatine of Hungary.

Early life Lajos Batthyány was the eldest son of Adam II. Batthyány (1662–1703) and Eleonore Batthyány-Strattmann. Károly József Batthyány was his only brother. Like his father and brother, he first pursued a military career by joining the Habsburg Army.

Career Initially known as a captain, Batthyány fought in 1716 at the Battle of Peterwardein and at the Siege of Temesvár under the command of Prince Eugene. He then switched to the civil service. In 1737 he became the Hungarian Court Chancellor in Vienna. As such, he took part in the Diet in Pressburg in 1741 and supported Empress Maria Theresa in a memorable speech. The investigation led to a number of reforms aimed at improving peasant conditions in Hungary most notably the land registry patent of 1767.

Personal life On 27 May 1717 he married in Vienna Countess Therese Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau (1700–1775), daughter of Wenceslaus Norbert, Count of Kinsky. Together, they had five sons and four daughters, including:

Countess Maria Antonia Batthyány (1720–1797), who married her paternal uncle Károly József Batthyány, whom Empress Maria Theresa elevated to the rank of Imperial Prince in 1764. Ádám Wenzel, 2nd Prince Batthyány-Strattmann (1722–1787), who married Countess Mária Terézia Illésházy de Illésháza. Count József Batthyány (1727–1799), a Cardinal and Prince-primate of Hungary. Count Tódor "Theodor" Batthyány (1729–1812), an industrial; he married Countess Philippine Esterházy de Galántha, a daughter of Count Ferenc Esterházy. Count Fülöp "Philipp" Batthyány (1734–1795), who also joined the military.

Lajos Batthyány died in 1765 and was buried in the family crypt of Güssing Castle.