Magyar News, 1994. szeptember-1995. augusztus (5. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1995-07-01 / 11-12. szám

Bridgeport, July, August, 1995

KING MÁTYÁS IS DEAD, JUSTICE HAS DEPARTED

by Rev. Dr. Anthony Szilágyi

After Janos Hunyadi saved the city of Belgrade from Turkish attack in 1456, he had reached his zenith. Tragically, it was preciously at this point that he died. At the time of his death the political situation in the region was in turmoil. The throne of Hungary was occupied by Ladislas V, the grandson of Sigismund. Because of his young age he was under the protection of the Austrian Emperor Frederick III. The

young King Ladislas was under the influence of his uncle and Austrian tutor, the Count Ciliéi. Count Ciliéi, no friend of the Hunyadis, filled the young king's ears with stories about how the Hunyadis were infringing upon the king's power as well as stealing from his treasury. The hostility was reciprocated by Janos Hunyadi's brother-in-law, Michael Szilagyi.

When Hunyadi died, the position of Captain General became vacant. The young king named his uncle, Count Ciliéi, to the position, passing over the Hunyadi sons. Now the king, who believed his uncle's stories about the Hunyadis, would get back at the Hunyadi sons. He was especially displeased with the older son, László. László Hunyadi was already claiming himself the captain of the outposts in the south, as though he had inherited it from his father. Only the king could bestow such titles and offices. News of the intrigues at court could not be kept from the Hunyadi family. Naturally, they sought a way to influence events in their favor. An opportunity soon presented itself.

When the king and his uncle, Count Ciliéi, visited Belgrade in November 1456, they fell into the hands of Michael Szilagyi, the commander of the city. László Hunyadi confronted Ciliéi accusing him of dishonoring the memory of Janos Hunyadi. László also produced a letter written by Ciliéi in which the count assured the Serbian King that the two Hunyadi sons would soon be dead. Now in the hands of the Hunyadi party. Count Ciliéi would pay for his intrigues with his life. Surprisingly, the king reacted to the murder of his uncle by declaring it to be God's will. To show that he did not wish revenge upon the Hunyadi family he agreed to give László the titles he wanted so badly. It was in the new capacity of Captain General that László returned to Budapest with King Ladislas. Young Matyas would join his brother only later.

When Matyas arrived at the royal court he found that tensions were running high. The king was once again listening to the enemies of the Hunyadi family at court. László was stripped of his title Captain General and imprisoned. In March of 1457, he was executed. The younger son, Matyas, was taken to Prague as a prisoner of the king. King Ladislas was fleeing the coming storm set lose by Laszlo's execution. Matyas would have languished in prison had the king not soon died.

The king's death meant that for the first time in centuries, the throne of St. Stephen did not have anyone to claim it based on even the remotest claims. The nation, espe( continued)

A statue of King Matthias by János Fadrusz (1902) erected in Kolozsvár.