Benigna was an educated and devout noblewoman, the daughter of the important Hungarian duke Blaise Magyar. Her father married her off to Pavol Kiniža, originally a rank-and-file soldier whom he met during his military expeditions. He liked him so much that he adopted him and later gave him his daughter’s hand in marriage despite their great age difference: Pavol was thirty years Benigna’s elder. During their marriage, a prayer book was produced – the Festetrich codex, written for Benigna by the Pauline monks from Nagyvázsony monastery, which was founded by Pavol Kiniža. On the death of her father in 1490, and after that of her husband four years later, Benigna gained extensive property. This included Strečno castle, where Benigna was responsible for several building modifications. The castle was not only expanded, but also adapted for more comfortable living. In 1495, Benigna married again. Her husband was the captain of Buda castle Marek Myslenovič. However, he died suddenly after falling from a horse. Her third marriage to Juraj Kereky did not have a happy end, either. Juraj was said to be very cruel and Benigna gave orders for him to be thrown off the castle tower. She was sentenced to death and the confiscation of her property for murder, but the king eventually pardoned her. Benigna decided to sell Strečno castle to John Zápolya.
