Matthias Corvinus Mátyás Hunyadi#
b. Cluj, Rumania (then Klausenburg), Feb. 23, 1443, d. Vienna, April 6, 1490, King of Hungary (1458) and Bohemia (1469). In several wars (1477 and 1482) he tried to take Austria and Styria away from Emperor Friedrich III, who also called himself King of Hungary. In 1485 occupied Vienna, called himself Duke of Austria and resided there until his death; he did not dare, however, make his (illegitimate) son Johann (whose mother was Austrian) his successor. Influenced by his 2nd wife Beatrix of Naples, he purchased many works of art in Italy and may be called Central Europe's first Renaissance Prince.
Literature#
M. C., exhibition catalogue, Schallaburg 1982; K. Gutkas, Friedrich III. und M. C., 1982; I. Ackerl, Koenig M. C., 1985; J. K. Hoensch, M. C., Diplomat, Feldherr und Maezen, 1998; A. Kubinyi, M. C., 1999; NDB.