Hungarian Heritage Review, 1989 (18. évfolyam, 1-9. szám)
1989-01-01 / 1. szám
THE RAVEN AND THE RING THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JOHN HUNYADI- BY -PAUL PULITZER Chapter VII: A “PRINCE OF THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE” Hunyadi, now Regent of Hungary, began preparations for an offensive against Frederick III. He called upon the people of Vienna to help him win the release of the young King of Hungary and the restoration of the Sacred Crown of St. Stephen. He wrote to the princes and rulers of Western Europe to inform them of his reasons for this action against the Holy Roman Emperor. And he sent a special explanation to the Pope. Frederick himself, frightened by the oncoming storm, appealed to the Pope to intervene on his behalf. The Pontiff, not wanting to become embroiled in the matter, remained silent. And Hunyadi, at the head of an army of 10,000 men, marched for the Austrian border. Arriving at Sarvar in a heavy snow storm, Hunyadi rested for several weeks in order to see what responses his requests to the Viennese would have. When he found that the latter did not want to commit themselves to any action, and he learned that Frederick had withdrawn to his stronghold at Wiener Neustadt, Hunyadi crossed the Austrian border and laid waste the provinces of Carniola, Carinthia and Styria. He pursued Frederick right up to the walls of Wiener Neustadt, but decided against a prolonged siege. He felt it advisable to postpone further action until the Spring. Then he returned to Buda laden with booty. Frederick now appealed to the Papal legate. The latter informed Johannes Vitéz, Bishop of Varad, of Frederick’s willingness to negotiate with Hunyadi. The Regent of Hungary, hearing of this proposal, called a special meeting of the Diet. As a result of this session a large delegation of nobles and prelates left Buda for Vienna to meet with emissaries of Frederick III. As previous delegations similar to this had learned, this group was subjected to long and frustrating meetings with the representatives of the Habsburgs. They terminated the meetings and returned to Buda in anger. They indicated that it seemed that an all-out war was the only way to resolve this matter. And Hunyadi prepared to march once again. Before Hunyadi began his actual military preparations, however, he received word directly from the Pope not to move against the Holy Roman Emperor. The Pope was sending a personal envoy, Cardinal Diacre of St. Angeli, fully empowered to mediate a settlement directly. As a result of this personal intervention by the Pope, a temporary agreement between Frederick and Hunyadi was hammered out. In September, 1447, the Hungarian Diet, although not completely satisfied with the resolution, ratified the settlement. There were other, more pressing problems beginning to make themselves felt. Among them, as might have been expected, was a renewed threat from the Ottomans. Sultan Murad II who, after the Battle of Varna, had gone into retirement in favor of his son. Mohammed II, now resumed his throne in order to put down a rebellion instigated by the Grand Vizier, Khalil. Murad marched against Albania with an army of 150,000 men. The Prince of Albania, Skanderberg, appealed to Hungary for assistance. Hunyadi, preparing to go to the aid of this loyal Prince, addressed all the rulers of Western Europe, asking their support. The Pope sent his blessings and awarded Hunyadi the rank of “Prince of the Holy Roman Empire” with an accompanying golden necklace. Hunyadi declined this honor, being far more interested in troops and the necessary funds to pay them. Hunyadi assembled an army of some 24,000 men — his own troops and 8,000 Wallachians provided by — continued next page JANUARY 1989 HUNGARIAN HERITAGE REVIEW 23
