Matthias Corvinus,Matei Corvin 1458-1490 AD Transylvania. Eagle. Baia Mare Mint

Description: Matthias Corvinus,Matei Corvin 1458-1490 AD Transylvania. Eagle. Baia Mare Mint. Matthias Corvinus, also calledMatthias I(Hungarian:Hunyadi Mtys,Romanian:Matia/Matei Corvin,Croatian:Matija/Matija Korvin,Slovak:Matej Korvn,Czech:Maty Korvn;23 February14436 April1490), wasKing of HungaryandCroatiafrom 1458 to 1490. After conducting several military campaigns, he was electedKing of Bohemiain 1469 and adopted the titleDuke of Austriain 1487. He was the son ofJohn Hunyadi,Regent of Hungary, who died in 1456. In 1457, Matthias was imprisoned along with his older brother,Ladislaus Hunyadi, on the orders of KingLadislaus the Posthumous. Ladislaus Hunyadi was executed, causing a rebellion that forced King Ladislaus to flee Hungary. After the King died unexpectedly, Matthias's uncleMichael Szilgyipersuaded theEstatesto unanimously proclaim the 14-year-old Matthias as king on 24 January 1458. He began his rule under his uncle's guardianship, but he took effective control of government within two weeks..As king, Matthias waged wars against the Czechmercenarieswho dominatedUpper Hungary(today parts ofSlovakiaandNorthern Hungary) and againstFrederick III, Holy Roman Emperor, who claimed Hungary for himself. In this period, theOttoman EmpireconqueredSerbiaandBosnia, terminating the zone ofbuffer statesalong the southern frontiers of theKingdom of Hungary. Matthias signed a peace treaty with Frederick III in 1463, acknowledging the Emperor's right to style himself King of Hungary. The Emperor returned theHoly Crown of Hungarywith which Matthias was crowned on 29 April 1464. In this year, Matthias invaded the territories that had recently been occupied by the Ottomans and seized fortresses in Bosnia. He soon realized he could expect no substantial aid from the Christian powers and gave up his anti-Ottoman policy. Matthias introduced new taxes and regularly set taxation at extraordinary levels. These measures caused a rebellion inTransylvaniain 1467, but he subdued the rebels. The next year, Matthias declared war onGeorge of Podbrady, theHussiteKing of Bohemia, and conqueredMoravia,Silesia, andLausitz, but he could not occupyBohemiaproper. The Catholic Estates proclaimed him King of Bohemia on 3 May 1469, but the Hussite lords refused to yield to him even after the death of their leader George of Podbrady in 1471. Instead, they electedVladislaus Jagiellon, the eldest son ofCasimir IV of Poland. A group of Hungarian prelates and lords offered the throne to Vladislaus's younger brotherCasimir, but Matthias overcame their rebellion. Having routed the united troops of Casimir IV and Vladislaus atBreslauinSilesia(now Wrocaw in Poland) in late 1474, Matthias turned against the Ottomans, who had devastated the eastern parts of Hungary. He sent reinforcements toStephen the Great,Prince of Moldavia, enabling Stephen to repel a series of Ottoman invasions in the late 1470s. In 1476, Matthias besieged and seizedabac, an important Ottoman border fort. He concluded a peace treaty with Vladislaus Jagiellon in 1478, confirming the division of theLands of the Bohemian Crownbetween them. Matthias waged a war against Emperor Frederick and occupiedLower Austriabetween 1482 and 1487. Matthias established one of the earliest professional standing armies of medieval Europe (theBlack Army of Hungary), reformed the administration of justice, reduced the power of the barons, and promoted the careers of talented individuals chosen for their abilities rather than their social statuses. Matthias patronized art and science; his royal library, theBibliotheca Corviniana, was one of the largest collections of books in Europe. With his patronage, Hungary became the first country to embrace theRenaissancefrom Italy. As Matthias the Just, the monarch who wandered among his subjects in disguise, he remains a popular hero of Hungarian and Slovak folk tales. Early life Thehouse where Matthias Corvinus was bornin Kolozsvr (present-dayCluj-Napoca, Romania) Matthias Corvinus as young monarch. Museum ofSforza Castle, Milan, Italy. Childhood (14431457) Matthias was born in Kolozsvr (nowCluj-Napocain Romania) on 23 February 1443.He was the second son ofJohn Hunyadiand his wife,Elizabeth Szilgyi.Matthias' education was managed by his mother due to his father's absence.Many of the most learned men of Central EuropeincludingGregory of SanokandJohn Vitzfrequented John Hunyadi's court when Matthias was a child.Gregory of Sanok, a former tutor of KingVladislaus III of Poland, was Matthias's only teacher whose name is known.Under these scholars' influences, Matthias became an enthusiastic supporter ofRenaissance humanism. As a child, Matthias learnt many languages and readclassical literature, especially military treatises. According toAntonio Bonfini, Matthias "was versed in all the tongues of Europe", with the exceptions ofTurkishandGreek.Although this was an exaggeration, it is without doubt that Matthias spokeHungarian,Latin,Italian,Polish,Czech, andGerman.Bonfini also wrote that he needed an interpreter to speak with aPOWduring hisMoldavian campaign.On the other hand, the late 16th-century Polish historian Krzystoff Warszewiecki wrote that Matthias had been able to understand theRomanian languageof the envoys ofStephen the Great,Prince of Moldavia. According to a treaty between John Hunyadi andura Brankovi,Despot of Serbia, Matthias and the Despot's granddaughterElizabeth of Celjewere engaged on 7 August 1451. Elizabeth was the daughter ofUlrich II, Count of Celje, who was related to KingLadislaus the Posthumousand an opponent of Matthias's father. Because of new conflicts between Hunyadi and Ulrich of Celje, the marriage of their children only took place in 1455.[17]Elizabeth settled in theHunyadis' estates but Matthias was soon sent to the royal court, implying that their marriage was a hidden exchange of hostages between their families.Elizabeth died before the end of 1455. John Hunyadi died on 11 August 1456, less than three weeks afterhis greatest victoryover theOttomansinBelgrade.John's elder sonMatthias's brotherLadislausbecame the head of the family. Ladislaus's conflict with Ulrich of Celje ended with Ulrich's capture and assassination on 9 November.Under duress, the King promised he would never take his revenge against the Hunyadis for Ulrich's killing.However, the murder turned most baronsincludingPalatineLadislaus Garai,Judge royalLadislaus Plci, andNicholas jlaki,Voivode of Transylvaniaagainst Ladislaus Hunyadi. Taking advantage of their resentment, the King had the Hunyadi brothers imprisoned in Buda on 14 March 1457.The royal council condemned them to death for high treason and Ladislaus Hunyadi was beheaded on 16 March. Matthias was held in captivity in a small house in Buda.His mother and her brotherMichael Szilgyistaged a rebellion against the King and occupied large territories in the regions to the east of the riverTisza. King Ladislaus fled toViennain mid-1457, and from Vienna toPraguein September, taking Matthias with him.The civil war between the rebels and the barons loyal to the monarch continued until the sudden death of the young King on 23 November 1457.Thereafter theHussiteRegent of BohemiaGeorge of Podbradyheld Matthias captive. Election as king (14571458) King Ladislaus died childless in 1457. His elder sister,Anna, and her husband,William III, Landgrave of Thuringia, laid claim to his inheritance but received no support from theEstates.TheDiet of Hungarywas convoked to Pest to elect a new king in January 1458.Pope Calixtus III'slegateCardinalJuan Carvajal, who had been John Hunyadi's admirer, began openly campaigning for Matthias. The election of Matthias as king was the only way of avoiding a protracted civil war.Ladislaus Garai was the first baron to yield.At a meeting with Matthias's mother and uncle, he promised that he and his allies would promote Matthias's election, and Michael Szilgyi promised that his nephew would never seek vengeance for Ladislaus Hunyadi's execution.They also agreed that Matthias would marry the Palatine's daughter Annahis executed brother's bride. Michael Szilgyi arrived at the Diet with 15,000 troops, intimidating the barons who assembled in Buda.Stirred up by Szilgyi, the noblemen gathered on the frozen River Danube and unanimously proclaimed the 14-year-old Matthias king on 24 January.At the same time, the Diet elected his uncle as regent. Reign Early rule and consolidation (14581464) Peace Treaty of Wiener Neustadt George of Podbrady and Matthias Corvinusa painting byMikol Ale Matthias's election was the first time that a member of the nobility mounted the royal throne in Hungary.Michael Szilgyi sent John Vitz to Prague to discuss the terms of Matthias's release with George of Podbrady.Podbradywhose daughterKunigundaMatthias promised to marryagreed to release his future son-in-law for a ransom of 60,000 goldflorins.Matthias was surrendered to the Hungarian delegates inStrniceon 9 February.With Podbrady's mediation, he was reconciled withJohn Jiskra of Brands, the commander of the Czech mercenaries who dominated most ofUpper Hungary. Matthias made his state entry into Buda five days later.He ceremoniously sat on the throne in the Church of Our Lady, but was not crowned, because theHoly Crown of Hungaryhad been in the possession ofFrederick III, Holy Roman Emperorfor almost two decades.The 14-year-old monarch administered state affairs independently from the outset, although he reaffirmed his uncle's position as Regent.For instance, Matthias instructed the citizens of Nagyszeben (nowSibiuin Romania) to reconcile their differences withVlad Dracula,Prince of Wallachiaon 3 March. Jiskra was the first baron who turned against Matthias.He offered the throne toCasimir IV of Polandthe husband of King Ladislaus V's younger sisterElisabethin late March but theGeneral sejmof Poland rejected his offer.Matthias's commander Sebastian Rozgonyi defeated Jiskra's soldiers atSrospatakbut the Ottomans' invasion ofSerbiain April forced Matthias to conclude an armistice with the Czechs.They were allowed to keep Sros Castle (nowari Castle, Slovakia) and other fortified places in Upper Hungary.Matthias sent two prelatesAugust Salnki,Bishop of Gyr, and Vincent Szilasi,Bishop of Vcto Prague to crown George of Podbrady king. Upon their demand, the "heretic" Podbrady swore loyalty to theHoly See. Matthias's first Diet assembled in Pest in May 1458.The Estates passed almost fifty decrees that were ratified by Matthiasinstead of the Regenton 8 June.One decree prescribed that the King "must call and hold, and order to be held, a diet of all the gentlemen of the realm in person"every year onWhitsunday.Matthias held more than 25 Diets during his reign and convoked the Estates more frequently than his predecessors, especially between 1458 and 1476.The Diets were controlled by the barons, whom Matthias appointed and dismissed at will.For instance, he dismissed Palatine Ladislaus Garai and persuaded Michael Szilgyi to resign from the Regency after they entered into a league in the summer of 1458.The King appointedMichael Orszg, who had been his father's close supporter, as the new Palatine.Most of Matthias's barons were descended from old aristocratic families but he also promoted the careers of members of the lesser nobility, or even of skilful commoners.For instance, the nobleZpolyabrothersEmericandStephenowed their fortunes to Matthias's favour. Matthias's ordinary revenues amounted around 250,000 golden florins per year when his reign began. A decree passed at the Diet of 1458 explicitly prohibited the imposition of extraordinary taxes.However, an extraordinary taxone golden florinper eachportaor peasant householdwas levied late that year.The Ottomans occupied the fort ofGolubacin Serbia in August 1458; Matthias ordered the mobilization of all noblemen.He made a raid into Ottoman territory and defeated the enemy forces in minor skirmishes.KingStephen Thomas of Bosniaaccepted Matthias's suzerainty.Matthias authorized his newvassal's sonStephen Tomaevito take possession of the parts of Serbia that had not been occupied by the Ottomans. At the turn of 1458 and 1459, Matthias held a Diet atSzegedto prepare for a war against the Ottoman Empire.However, gossip about a conspiracy compelled him to return to Buda.The rumours proved to be true because at least 30 baronsincluding Ladislaus Garai, Nicholas jlaki, andLadislaus Kanizsaimet in Nmetjvr (nowGssingin Austria) and offered the throne to Emperor Frederick III on 17 February 1459. Even George of Podbrady turned against Matthias when Frederick promised him to make him governor of the Holy Roman Empire.Although the joint troops of the Emperor and the rebellious lords defeated a royal army atKrmendon 27 March, Garai had by that time died, jlaki and Sigismund Szentgyrgyvlgyi soon entered into negotiations with Matthias' envoys.jlaki became indifferent, Szentgyrgyvlgyi joined to Matthias.Skirmishes along the western borderlands lasted for several months, preventing Matthias from providing military assistance to Tomaevi against the Ottomans. The latter tookSmederevoon 29 June, completing the conquest of Serbia. Jiskra swore an oath of loyalty to Emperor Frederick on 10 March 1460.Pope Pius IIoffered to mediate a peace treaty between the Emperor and Matthias.Podedbrandy also realised he need to support Matthias or at least had to be indifferent. He sent his daughter to Buda also offered his assistance.The representatives of the Emperor and Matthias signed a truce in Olomouc in April 1460.The Pope soon offered financial support for an anti-Ottoman campaign.However, John Jiskra returned from Poland, renewing the armed conflicts with Czech mercenaries in early 1460.Matthias seized a newly erected fort from the Czechs but he could not force them to obey him.The costs of his five-month-long campaign in Upper Hungary were paid for by an extraordinary tax.Matthias entered into an alliance with the Emperor's rebellious brotherAlbert VI, Archduke of Austria.George of Podbrady sided with the Emperor, although the marriage of his daughterwho became known as Catherine in Hungaryto Matthias was celebrated on 1 May 1461(married 1461 to 1464).Relations between Matthias and his father-in-law deteriorated because of the Czech mercenaries' continued presence in Upper Hungary.Matthias launched a new campaign against them after the Diet authorized him to collect an extraordinary tax in mid-1461.However, he did not defeat Jiskra, who even capturedKsmrk(now Kemarok, Slovakia). The envoys of Matthias and Emperor Frederick agreed the terms of peace treaty on 3 April 1462.According to the agreement, the Emperor was to return the Holy Crown of Hungary for 80,000 golden florins, but his right to use the title King of Hungary along with Matthias was confirmed. In accordance with the treaty, the Emperor adopted Matthias, which granted him the right to succeed his "son" if Matthias died without a legitimate heir.Within a month, Jiskra yielded to Matthias.He surrendered all the forts he held in Upper Hungary to the King's representatives; as compensation he received a large domain near the Tisza and Arad and 25,000 golden florins.[It happened before peace treaty with Frederick]To pay the large amounts stipulated in his treaties with the Emperor and Jiskra, Matthias collected an extraordinary tax with the consent of the Royal Council.The Diet, which assembled in mid-1462, confirmed this decision but only after 9 prelates and 19 barons promised that no extraordinary taxes would be introduced thereafter.Through hiring mercenaries among Jiskra's companions, Matthias began organizing a professional army, which became known as the "Black Army" in following decades.The peace treaty made in Wiener-Neustadt 19 July 1463. TheOttoman SultanMehmed IIinvadedWallachiain early 1462.He did not conquer the country but theWallachian boyarsdethroned the anti-Ottoman Vlad Dracula, replacing him with the Sultan's favorite,Radu the Fair.The new Prince was willing to grant concessions to theTransylvanian Saxonmerchants, who had come into bitter conflict with Vlad Dracula.The latter sought assistance from Matthias and they met in Brass (nowBraov, Romania) in November.However, the Saxons presented Matthias with a letter allegedly written by Vlad Dracula to Sultan Mehmed, in which the Prince offered his support to the Ottomans.Convinced of Vlad Dracula's treachery, Matthias had him imprisoned. In preparation for a war against the Ottomans, Matthias held a Diet atTolnain March 1463.Although the Estates authorized him to levy a one-florin extraordinary tax, he did not intervene when Mehmed II invaded Bosnia in June.In a month, the Ottomans murdered King Stephen Tomaevi and conquered the whole country.Matthias only adopted an offensive foreign policy after the terms of his peace with Emperor Frederick were ratified inWiener Neustadton 19 July 1463.He led his troops to Bosnia andconqueredJajceand other forts in its northern parts. The conquered regions were organized into new defensive provinces, the banates ofJajceandSrebrenik.Matthias was assisted byStjepan Vuki Kosaa,Grand Duke of Bosnia, who controlled the area ofmodernandOld Hercegovina. A former vassal to the Bosnian kings, Stjepan accepted Matthias's suzerainty. Queen Catherine died in early 1464 during preparations for her husband's coronation with the Holy Crown, which had been returned by Emperor Frederick.The ceremony was carried out in full accordance with thecustomary lawof Hungary on 29 March 1464;Archbishop of EsztergomDnes Szcsiceremoniously put the Holy Crown on Matthias's head inSzkesfehrvr.At the Diet assembled on this occasion, the newly crowned King confirmed the liberties of the nobility.Hereafter the legality of Matthias's reign could not be questioned. the Lands of the Bohemian Crown (14681479) Bohemian War (14681478) Renaissance portrait of Matthias Corvinus, King of Hungary, (marble relief byGiovanni Dalmata(attributed to),Benedetto da Maiano(previous attribution) 1476) Matthias's former brother-in-lawVictor of Podbradyinvaded Austria in early 1468.Emperor Frederick appealed to Matthias for support, hinting at the possibility of Matthias's election asKing of the Romansfirst step towards the imperial throne.Matthias declared war on Victor's father King George of Bohemia on 31 March.He said he also wanted to help the Czech Catholic lords against their "heretic monarch" whom the Pope hadexcommunicated.Matthias expelled the Czech troops from Austria and invaded Moravia andSilesia.He took an active part in the fighting; he was injured during the siege ofTebin May 1468 and was captured atChrudimwhile spying out the enemy camp in disguise in February 1469.On the latter occasion, he was released because he made his custodians believe he was a local Czech groom. The Diet of 1468 authorized Matthias to levy an extraordinary tax to finance the new war, but only after 8 prelates and 13 secular lords pledged on the King's behalf that he would not demand such charges in the future.Matthias also exercisedroyal prerogativesto increase his revenues.For instance, he ordered a Palatine'seyrein a county, the cost of which were to be covered by the local inhabitants but soon authorized the county to redeem the cancellation of this irksome duty. The Czech Catholics, who were led byZdenk of ternberk, joined forces with Matthias in February 1469. Their united troops were encircled atVilmovby George of Podbrady's army.In fear of being captured, Matthias opened negotiations with his former father-in-law.They met in a nearby hovel, where Matthias persuaded George of Podbrady to sign an armistice promising that he would mediate a reconciliation between themoderate Hussitesand the Holy See. Their next meeting took place in Olomouc in April.Here the papal legates came forward with demands including the appointment of a Catholic Archbishop to theSee of Prague, which could not be accepted by George of Podbrady.The Czech Catholic Estates elected Matthias King of Bohemia in Olomouc on 3 May but he was never crowned.Moravia, Silesia andLusatiasoon accepted his rule but Bohemia proper remained faithful to George of Podbrady.The Estates of Bohemia even acknowledged the right ofVladislaus Jagiello, the eldest son of Casimir IV of Poland, to succeed king George of Podbrady. Conquests of Matthias Corvinus in Central Europe Matthias's relations with Frederick III had in the meantime deteriorated because the Emperor accused Matthias of allowing the Ottomans to march through Slavonia when raiding the Emperor's realms.TheFrangepanfamily, whose domains in Croatia were exposed to Ottoman raids, entered into negotiations with the Emperor and the Republic of Venice.In 1469, Matthias sent an army to Croatia to prevent the Venetians from seizing the Adriatic coastal townSenj. Matthias expelled George of Podbrady's troops from Silesia. Matthias's army was encircled and routed atUhersk Brodon 2 November, forcing him to withdraw to Hungary.Matthias soon ordered the collection of an extraordinary tax without holding a Diet, raising widespread discontent among the Hungarian Estates.He visited Emperor Frederick in Vienna on 11 February 1470, hoping the Emperor would contribute to the costs of the war against Podbrady.Although the negotiations lasted for a month, no compromise was worked out.The Emperor also refused to commit himself to promoting Matthias's election as King of the Romans.After a month, Matthias left Vienna without taking formal leave of Frederick III. Having realised the Hungarian Estates' growing dissatisfaction, Matthias held a Diet in November.The Diet again authorized him to levy an extraordinary tax, stipulating that the sum of all taxes payable perportacould not exceed one florin.The Estates also made it clear that they opposed the war in Bohemia.George of Podbrady died on 22 March 1471.The Diet of Bohemia proper elected Vladislaus Jagiello king on 27 May.The papal legate Lorenzo Roverella soon declared Vladislaus's election void and confirmed Matthias's position as King of Bohemia, but theImperial Dietrefused Matthias's claim. Matthias was staying in Moravia when he was informed that a group of Hungarian prelates and barons had offered the throne toCasimir, a younger son of King Casimir IV of Poland.The conspiracy was initiated by Archbishop John Vitz and his nephewJanus Pannonius,Bishop of Pcs, who opposed war against the Catholic Vladislaus Jagiellon.Initially, their plan was supported by the majority of the Estates, but nobody dared to rebel against Matthias, enabling him to return to Hungary without resistance.Matthias held a Diet and promised to refrain from levying taxes without the consent of the Estates and to convoke the Diet in each year.His promises remedied most of the Estates' grievances and almost 50 barons and prelates confirmed their loyalty to him on 21 September.Casimir Jagiellon invaded on 2 October 1471.With Bishop Janus Pannonius's support, he seized Nyitra (nowNitrain Slovakia), but only two barons,John Rozgonyiand Nicholas Pernyi, joined him.Within five months Prince Casimir withdrew from Hungary, Bishop Janus Pannonius died while fleeing, and Archbishop John Vitz was forbidden to leave his see.Matthias appointed the SilesianJohann Beckensloerto administer theArchdiocese of Esztergom.Vitz died and Beckensloer succeeded him in a year. The Ottomans had meanwhile seized the Hungarian forts along the river Nertva.Matthias nominated the wealthy baron Nicholas jlaki as King of Bosnia in 1471, entrusting the defence of the province to him.Uzun Hassan, head of theAq QoyunluTurkmens, proposed an anti-Ottoman alliance to Matthias but he refrained from attacking the Ottoman Empire.Matthias supported the Austrian noblemen who rebelled against Emperor Frederick in 1472.The following year, Matthias, Casimir IV and Vladislaus entered into negotiations on the terms of a peace treaty, but the discussions lasted for months. Matthias tried to unify the government of Silesia, which consisted ofdozens of smaller duchies, through appointing a captain-general.However, the Estates refused to elect his candidate DukeFrederick I of Liegnitz. Ali Bey Mihalolu,Bey of Smederevo, pillaged eastern parts of Hungary, destroyed Vrad, and took 16,000 prisoners with him in January 1474.The next month, the envoys of Matthias and Casimir IV signed a peace treaty and a three-year truce between Matthias and Vladislaus Jagiellon was also declared. Within a month, however, Vladislaus entered into an alliance with Emperor Frederick and Casimir IV joined them.Casimir IV and Vladislaus invaded Silesia and laid siege to Matthias in Breslau (nowWrocawin Poland) in October.He prevented the besiegers from accumulating provisions, forcing them to raise the siege.Thereafter the Silesian Estates willingly elected Matthias's new candidate Stephen Zpolya as captain-general.The Moravian Estates elected Ctibor Tovaovsk as captain-general.Matthias confirmed this decision, although Tovaovsk had been Vladislaus Jagiellon's partisan. The Ottomans invaded Wallachia and Moldavia at the end of 1474.Matthias sent reinforcements under the command ofBlaise Magyarto Stephen the Great.Their united forces routed the invaders in theBattle of Vasluion 10 January 1475.Fearing a new Ottoman invasion, the Prince of Moldavia swore fealty to Matthias on 15 August.Sultan Mehmed II proposed peace but Matthias refused him.Instead, he stormed into Ottoman territory and capturedabac, an important fort on the river Szva, on 15 February 1476.During the siege, Matthias barely escaped capture while he was watching the fortress from a boat. For unknown reasons, Archbishop Johann Beckensloer left Hungary, taking the treasury of the Esztergom See with him in early 1476.He fled to Vienna and offered his funds to the Emperor.Matthias accused the Emperor of having incited the Archbishop against him. Mehmed II launched a campaign against Moldavia in the summer of 1476.Although he won theBattle of Valea Albon 26 July, the lack of provisions forced him to retreat.Matthias sent auxiliary troops to Moldavia under the command of Vlad Draculawhom he had releasedandStephen BthoryThe allied forces defeated an Ottoman army at theSiret Riverin August.With Hungarian and Moldavian support, Vlad Dracula was reinstalled as Prince of Wallachia but he was killed fighting against his opponentBasarab Laiot. Matthias's brideBeatrice of Naplesarrived in Hungary in late 1476.Matthias married her in Buda on 22 December that year.The Queen soon established a rigid etiquette, making direct contacts between the King and his subjects more difficult.According to Bonfini, Matthias also "improved his board and manner of life, introduced sumptuous banquets, disdaining humility at home and beautified the dining rooms" after his marriage.According to a contemporaneous record, around that time Matthias's revenues amounted about 500,000 florins, half of which derived from the tax of the royal treasury and the extraordinary tax. Matthias concluded an alliance with theTeutonic Knightsand theBishopric of Ermlandagainst Poland in March 1477.However, instead of Poland, he declared war on Emperor Frederick after he learnt that the Emperor had confirmed Vladislaus Jagiellon's position as King of Bohemia andPrince-elector. Matthias invadedLower Austriaand imposed a blockade on Vienna. Vladislaus Jagiellon denied to support the Emperor, forcing him to seek reconciliation with Matthias.With the mediation ofPope Sixtus IV, Venice, andFerdinand I of Naples, Matthias concluded a peace treaty with Frederick III, which was signed on 1 December. The Emperor promised to confirm Matthias as the lawful ruler of Bohemia and to pay him an indemnity of 100,000 florins. They met inKorneuburgwhere Frederick III installed Matthias as King of Bohemia and Matthias swore loyalty to the Emperor. Negotiations between the envoys of Matthias and Vladislaus Jagiellon accelerated during the next few months.The first draft of a treaty was agreed upon on 28 March 1478, and the text was completed by the end of 1477.The treaty authorized both monarchs to use the title of King of Bohemiaalthough Vladislaus could omit to style Matthias as such in their correspondenceand theLands of the Bohemian Crownwere divided between them; Vladislaus ruled in Bohemia proper and Matthias in Moravia, Silesia and Lusatia.They solemnly ratified the peace treaty at their meeting in Olomouc on 21 July. War for Austria (14791487) AustrianHungarian War (14771488),Siege of Vienna (1485), andSiege of Wiener Neustadt Coat of armsof Matthias Corvinus, guarded byBlack Armyheavy infantry.Matthias Church, Budapest. The damaged art relic was renovated in 1893. Emperor Frederick only paid off half of the indemnity due to Matthias according to their treaty of 1477.Matthias concluded a treaty with theSwiss Confederacyon 26 March 1479, hindering the recruitment of Swiss mercenaries by the Emperor.He also entered into an alliance withArchbishop of SalzburgBernhard II of Rohr, who allowed him to take possession of the fortresses of the Archbishopric inCarinthia,CarniolaandStyria. An Ottoman army supported byBasarab epeluof Wallachia invaded Transylvania and set fire to Szszvros (nowOrtiein Romania) in late 1479.Stephen Bthory andPaul Kinizsiannihilated the marauders in theBattle of Breadfieldon 13 October.Matthias united the command of all forts along the Danube to the west of Belgrade in the hand of Paul Kinizsi to improve the defence of the southern frontier.Matthias sent reinforcements to Stephen the Great, who invaded pro-Ottoman Wallachia in early 1480; Matthias launched a campaign as far asSarajevoin Bosnia in November.He set up five defensive provinces, or banates, centred around the forts ofSzrnyvr(now Drobeta-Turnu Severin in Romania),Belgrade,abac,SrebrenikandJajce.The next year, Matthias initiated a criminal case against the Frankapans, theZrinskisand other leading Croatian and Slavonian magnates for their alleged participation in the 1471 conspiracy.Most barons were pardoned as soon as they consented to the introduction of a new land tax.In 1481, for a loan of 100,000 florins, Matthias seized the town ofMauternin Styria andSankt Pltenin Lower Austria fromFriedrich Mauerkircher, one of the two candidates to theBishopric of Passau. Sultan Mehmed II died on 3 May 1481.A civil war ensued in the Ottoman Empire between his sonsBayezid IIandCem.Defeated, Cem fled toRhodes, where theKnights Hospitallerkept him in custody.Matthias claimed Cem's custody in the hope of using him to gain concessions from Bayezid, but Venice andPope Innocent VIIIstrongly opposed this plan.In late 1481, Hungarian auxiliary troops supported Matthias's father-in-law Ferdinand I of Naples to reoccupyOtranto, which had been lost to the Ottomans the year before. Although the "Black Army" had already laid siege toHainburg an der Donauin January 1482, Matthias officially declared a new war on Emperor Frederick three months later.He directed the siege in person from the end of June and the town fell to him in October.In the next three months, Matthias also capturedSankt Veit an der Glan,Enzersdorf an der Fischa, andKszeg.The papal legate, Bartolomeo Maraschi tried to mediate a peace treaty between Matthias and the Emperor, but Matthias refused.Instead, he signed a five-year truce with Sultan Bayezid. Matthias's marriage to Beatrice of Naples did not produce sons; he tried to strengthen the position of his illegitimate sonJohn Corvinus.The child received Sros Castle and inherited the extensive domains of his grandmother Elizabeth Szilgyi with his father's consent.Matthias also forced Victor of Podbrady to renounce theDuchy of Troppauin Silesia in favour of John Corvinus in 1485.Queen Beatrice opposed Matthias's favouritism towards his son.Even so, Matthias nominated her eight-year-old nephewIppolito d'EsteArchbishop of Esztergom.The Pope refused to confirm the child's appointment for years.The "Black Army" encircled Vienna in January 1485.[198]The siege lasted for five months and ended with the triumphal entry of Matthias, at the head of 8,000 veterans, into Vienna on 1 June.The King soon moved the royal court to the newly conquered town.He summoned the Estates of Lower Austria to Vienna and forced them to swear loyalty to him. Matthias, by the grace of God, king of Hungary, Bohemia, Dalmatia, Croatia,Rama, Serbia, Galicia, Lodomeria, Cumania, and Bulgaria, Duke of Silesia and Luxemburg and Margrave of Moravia and Lusatia, for the everlasting memory of the matter. It is fitting that kings and princes who by heavenly decree are placed at the summit of the highest office, be adorned not only by arms but also by laws and that the people subjected to them, as well as the reins of authority, are restrained by the strength of good and stable institutions rather than by the harshness of absolute power and reprehensible abuse. Preamble to the Decretum Maius Upon the monarch's initiative, the Diet of 1485 passed the so-calledDecretum maius, a systematic law-code which replaced many previous contradictory decrees.The law-code introduced substantial reforms in the administration of justice; the Palatine's eyre and the extraordinary county assemblies were abolished, which strengthened the position of the county courts.Matthias also decreed that in cases of the monarch's absence or minority, the Palatine was authorized to rule as Regent. Emperor Frederick persuaded six of the seven Prince-electors of the Holy Roman Empire to proclaim his sonMaximilianKing of the Romans on 16 February 1486.The Emperor, however, had failed to invite the King of Bohemiaeither Matthias or Vladislaus Jagiellonto the assembly.In an attempt to prevail on Vladislaus to protest, Matthias invited him to a personal meeting.Although they formed an alliance inJihlavain September, the Estates of Bohemia refused to confirm it and Vladislaus recognized Maximilian's election. In the meantime Matthias continued his war against the Emperor.The "Black Army" seized several towns in Lower Austria, includingLaa an der Thaya, andSteinin 1485 and 1486.He set up his chancery for Lower Austria in 1486 but he never introduced a separate seal for this realm.Matthias assumed the title of Duke of Austria at the Diet of the Lower Austrian Estates inEbenfurthin 1487.He appointed Stephen Zpolya captain-general,Urban Nagylucseiadministrator of theArchdiocese of Vienna, and entrusted the defence of the occupied towns and forts to Hungarian and Bohemian captains, but otherwise continued to employ Emperor Frederick's officials who accepted his rule.Wiener Neustadt, the last town resisting Matthias in Lower Austria, fell to him on 17 August 1487.He started negotiations with Duke Albert III of Saxony, who arrived at the head of the imperial army to fight for Emperor Frederick III.They signed a six-month armistice in Sankt Plten on 16 December, which ended the war.Matthias offered Emperor Frederick and his son prince Maximilian, the return of Austrian provinces and Vienna, if they would renounce the treaty of 1463 and accept Matthias as Frederic's designated heir and probable the inheritor of the title of Holy Roman Emperor. Before this was settled though, Matthias died in Vienna in 1490. Last years (14871490) Europe at the end of the reign of King Matthias According to the contemporaneousPhilippe de Commines, Matthias's subjects feared their King in the last years of his life because he rarely showed mercy towards those he suspected of treachery.He had Archbishop Peter Vradi imprisoned in 1484 and ordered the execution of his Chancellor of Bohemia Jaroslav Boskovic in 1485.He also imprisoned Nicholas Bnfi, a member of a magnate family, in 1487, although he had earlier avoided punishing the old aristocracy.Bnfi's imprisonment seems to have been connected to his marriage to a daughter ofJohn the Mad,Duke of Glogaubecause Matthias tried to seize this duchy for John Corvinus.John the Mad entered into an alliance with theDuke of MnsterbergHenry of Podbrady, and declared a war on Matthias on 9 May.Six month later, the Black Army invaded and occupied his duchy. In the meantime, the citizens ofAncona, a town in thePapal States, hoisted Matthias's flag in the hope he would protect them against Venice.Pope Innocent VIII soon protested, but Matthias refused to reject the overture, stating that the link between him and the town would never harm the interests of the Holy See.He also sent an auxiliary troop to his father-in-law, who was waging a war against the Holy See and Venice.The 1482 truce between Hungary and the Ottoman Empire was prolonged for two years in 1488.On this occasion, it was stipulated that the Ottomans were to refrain from invading Wallachia and Moldavia.The following year, Matthias granted two domains to Stephen the Great of Moldavia in Transylvania. Matthias, who suffered fromgout, could not walk and was carried in alitterafter March 1489.Hereafter, his succession caused bitter conflicts between Queen Beatrice and John Corvinus.Matthias asked Beatrice's brotherAlfonso,Duke of Calabria, to persuade her not to strive for the Crown, stating that the "Hungarian people are capable of killing up unto the last man rather than submit to the government of a woman".To strengthen his illegitimate son's position, Matthias even proposed withdrawing from Austria and to confirm Emperor Frederick's right to succeed him, provided the Emperor was willing to grant Croatia and Bosnia to John Corvinus with the title of king. Matthias participated in the lengthyPalm Sundayceremony in Vienna in 1490, although he had felt so ill that morning that he could not eat breakfast.Around noon, he tasted a fig that proved to be rotten and he became very agitated and suddenly felt faint.The next day he was unable to speak.After two days of suffering, Matthias died in the morning of 6 April.According to ProfessorFrigyes Kornyi, Matthias died of a stroke; Dr. Herwig Egert does not exclude the possibility of poisoning.Matthias's funeral was held inSt. Stephen's Cathedral, Viennaand he was buried inSzkesfehrvr Cathedralon 24 or 25 April 1490

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