The Esterházy family belongs to the ancient Hungarian nobility, known since the 12th century. The oldest historically proven ancestor was Mocud Magister Comes de Genere Salamon et Watha in 1186. He was the owner of a settlement called Watha (today's Zlaté Klasy). His descendant, Benedikt de Eesterháza, married into the Galanta estate in 1421. Galanta thus became the seat of the Esterházy family, and all his descendants began to use "de Galantha" as their noble predicate. The important palatine Mikuláš Gróf Esterházy also came from Galanta. He was greatly influenced by his uncle, palatine Štefan I. Gróf Illésházy de Illésháza, who as palatine was the direct representative of the King of Hungary. In 1601, the family acquired the Strečno estate, in 1614 the Zvolen and Dobrá Niva estates, and in 1626 Bytča with parts of the Orava and Lietava estates. In 1642, the Esterházy family acquired Šintava and Bernolákovo, in 1675 the castle estate of Levice, in 1690 Vígľaš and other properties and property shares in the territory of present-day Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania. In 1626, Count Mikuláš Esterházy acquired a hereditary count title for his descendants. The family always leaned toward piety; several members of the family became Catholic clergymen and religious writers. In particular, Imrich Gróf Esterházy, Archbishop of Esztergom and Primate of Hungary, who crowned Maria Theresa as Queen of Hungary in Bratislava, then the capital of Hungary. As Grand Master of the Order of St. Paul the Hermit and Archbishop of Esztergom, he built around 70 new churches in the Hungarian archdiocese. He himself donated more than 2 million gold coins for religious and cultural purposes. In the past, the family had successful and unsuccessful periods, good times and bad times. The willingness not to give up their convictions is characteristic of the Esterházys; the family motto is: "DUM SPIRO SPERO" (while I breathe, I hope). The members of the Esterházy family proved their courage by participating in battles when the Ottoman Turks repeatedly invaded their Hungarian homeland. They fought as defenders during the siege of Vienna and the liberation of Buda. During the Austro-French War in 1809, Napoleon I offered the Kingdom of Hungary independence after the planned division of the Austrian Empire and offered the Hungarian crown to Duke Anton Esterházy. Later, he also offered the crown to Duke Miklós Esterházy, but he did not accept the offer either. The Esterházy family always remained loyal to the King of Hungary, even though part of the nobility sympathized with Napoleon. The Esterházys were Hungarian palatines, marshals, Croatian bans, royal advisors, politicians, diplomats, bishops of Jager and Esztergom, and talented artists.