Matthias Corvinus

ABOUT MATTHIAS CORVINUS

From 1458 until his death in 1490, the royal known as Matthias I and Matthias the Just served as King of Hungary and Croatia and King of Bohemia. He is famous for his organization of the Hungarian military, his reform of the judicial system, and his patronage of the arts.

During his childhood years, he studied classical literature. His education no doubt influenced his later support of Renaissance architectural styles and ideals.

He established an impressive Bibliotheca Corviniana (royal library) and was known to travel throughout his kingdom in disguise to mingle with the commoners.

He was born in Kolozsvar (located in present-day Romania) to John Hunyadi and Elisabeth Szilagyi. Before marrying Beatrice of Naples in the 1470s, he was briefly married to Elizabeth of Celje and Catherine of Podebrady (both of whom died early in his reign). His one child, John Corvinus (son of commoner Barbara Edelpock), was illegitimate.

Ruling from 1342 to 1382, Louis I was one of the monarchs who preceded Matthias Corvinus as King of Hungary and Croatia.