Matthias Corvinus

Birth

Feb 23, 1443

Matthias Corvinus is born in Kolozsvár, Romania. His parents are John Hunyadi and Elisabeth Szilágyi. He is the second of their two sons.

Matthias's First Engagement

Aug 7, 1451

Matthias and the Despot of Serbia's granddaughter Elizabeth of Celje are engaged to be married. Matthias is twelve years old.

Marriage

May 10, 1455

Matthias, after years of conflict between the marrying families, is married to Elizabeth of Celje.

Death of Matthias's First Wife

Oct 5, 1455

Elizabeth of Celje dies. She is a child, so the marriage remains unconsummated.

Death of John Hunyadi

Aug 11, 1456

John Hunyadi, Matthias's father, dies. He is taken ill while at war. He died near Zemun, Syria.

Captivity

Mar 14, 1457

Matthias Corvinus is held captive in Buda for high treason.

Death of Ladislaus V

Nov 23, 1457

Ladislaus V is hanged for high treason at the age of 17.

Election

Jan 24, 1458

Matthias Corvinus, at the age of 14, is elected King of Hungary. This is decided at a diet held by his father, John Hunyadi. Matthias is at this point John's only son.

First Diet Under Matthias

May 11, 1458

Matthias holds the first of 25 Diets in his time in Pest. He does so under the customs of his father. Mathhias, in fact, was elected king because of one of John Hunyadi's diets.

Coronation of Matthias Corvinus

Apr 29, 1464

After much negotiation, Frederick III, the Holy Roman Emperor, returned the Holy Crown of Hungary. Matthias was elected years prior. He was officially coronated in Spring 1464.

War On Bohemia

Mar 31, 1468

Matthias declares war on Bohemia, a neighboring country. He does so against King George Of Bohemia, his former father-in-law.

John Corvinus Is Born

Apr 2, 1473

John Corvinus, Matthias's first and only son, is born out of wedlock by Matthias's mistress, Barbara Edelpöck. Barbara is a citizen of Stein in Lower Austria.

Matthias Marries His Third Wife

Dec 22, 1476

Matthias marries Beatrice of Naples, his third wife. Beatrice was crowned Queen of Hungary in Székesfehérvár. The marriage is childless.

Siege of Hainburg

Jul 4, 1477

The Siege of Hainburg is the first of many battles fought between Austria and Hungary. It sparks the Austrian-Hungarian war, which does not conclude until Matthew's success in defeating Austria in 1488.

Peace Treaty

Dec 1, 1477

Matthias Corvinus signs a peace treaty with Vladislaus Jagiellon. This treaty divides the Lands of the Bohemian Crown. The war between Bohemia and Hungary comes to an end.

Matthias Adopts Title of Duke of Austria

Aug 17, 1487

Wiener Neustadt was the last town to surrender to Matthias in Lower Austria. Its falling concluded Matthias's conquest and he became the Duke of Austria.

Matthias Corvinus Dies

Apr 6, 1490

At the age of 47, Matthias Corvinus dies of a stroke. His wife, Beatrice of Naples, goes against his wishes to secure John Corvinus as the heir to the throne. Matthias's conquests in Austria are reversed and one of Matthias's enemies takes his throne and his wife.