Borsos Tamas was born in Tirgu Mures in 1566 and was an important politician of his time. Between 1594 and 1613 he was judge and counsellor of the city. His main objective as leader of the city was to protect the rights of its inhabitants, fight for their wellbeing and for the city to be granted a favourable legal status. Thus, at the Alba Iulia Dieta of 1603 he obtains the right to erect defence walls around the city. He also had the initiative for the inhabitants of Tirgu Mures to buy the surrounding land which had been left by serfs. In 1613 he began his diplomatic career as a member of Prince Bathory's delegation that was sent to Constantinople to regain the friendship of the Turks. The political situation was not at all in Bathori”™s favour as the Turks supported his rival Gabriel Bethlen who was going to take the throne. Due to his qualities as politician, Borsos Tamas would earn the respect of the new prince.  Furthermore, in 1616, due to Borsos Tamas”™ efforts, the prince granted Tirgu Mures the status of city (civitas). Borsos Tamas”™ most delicate diplomatic mission was between 1618 and 1620, as he himself confesses in his travel logs. The mission consisted of negotiations with the Turks, this time on behalf of Bethlen, in order to defend the fortress of Ineu. The extremely complex historic context at the beginning of the 17th century put Borsos in a position to defend Transylvania not only from the Otoman Empire but also from the Hapsburg Empire whose expansionist intention had become a real threat.  His friendly or hostile relationships with the rulers of the Romanian countries evolved as a result of these general directives. An important moment in this regard was the accession to the throne of Moldavia of Gaspar Gratiani in 1619, whose pro-Hapsburg orientation would lead to a deterioration of his relationship with Borsos and implicitly of the relation between Moldavia and Transylvania. Another of Borsos Tamas”™s pursuits was commerce. During his travels he bought horses, tents, rugs, jewellery and traded mercury. His third diplomatic mission in Constantinople took place between 1626 and 1628. His task was to obtain the Turks's support for Bethlen's campaign against the Hapsburgs and their acknowledgement of Catherine of Brandemburg, the prince's wife, as princess of Transylvania. Even though his diplomatic mission was not fully accomplished, his prestige among the Otomans reached its highest point. This was also confirmed by British and French diplomats who described him as capable, intelligent and loyal to his master. After the death of Gabriel Bethlen in 1629, Borsos offered his services to his successor, Bethlen Istvan, but the accession to the throne of Rakoczy Gyorgy I a year later determined Borsos to organize a plot against him. In the spring of 1634, Borsos died of the plague.