Francis II. Rákóczi

Prince Francis II. Rákóczi was born in 1676. He proceeded against the Habsburg with the help of France, but he was betrayed and therefore arrested on the 18th of April in 1701. Rákóczi was brought to Wiener Neustadt to court on 29th of May the same year. He was captured in the northeast tower of the castle. This part of the castle of Wiener Neustadt is still called Rákóczi tower.

Francis II. Rákóczi should be behind bars for life in castle Rattenberg in Tyrol, but he could flee with the help of his wife Charlotte Amalia of Hessen-Rheinfels and his followers. His wife challenged Francis' followers to help him out. One of the key figures was Captain Lehmann. He was responsible for the food in the castle. On the day of Rákóczis escape Captain Lehmann sent Francis' guard away, he would take the responsibility for Rákóczi While the guard was away, Francis took a uniform and left the castle by horse. This happened on the 7th of November in 1701. First he fled to Hungary, but soon he left the country and went to Poland.

Though some people said that the empress actually agreed to the escape of the prince, there was no pity for Captain Lehmann, who couldn't flee. Soon he was executed. The prince spent most of his remaining lifetime in Poland and finally died in 1735.