Novák Ádám (szerk.): Fontes Memoriae Hungariae III. Varsóban őrzött magyar vonatkozású oklevelek, 1439–1489. Közreadja: Novák Ádám, Tóth Orsolya és Tóth Péter (Debrecen, 2019)

Sobiesław Szybkowski: Polish-Hungarian Relations between 1437 and 1490. A Short Introduction

XII

on 23 April.

33

The arrival of Vladislaus III in Hungary and his march to Buda prompted Elisabeth of Luxemburg to try to secure the Crown of St Stephen for her son. On 15 May 1440, Elisabeth and her supporters managed to carry out the coronation of Ladislaus the Posthumous in Székesfehérvár, which was the traditional coronation site of Hungarian monarchs.

34

Despite the counteractions taken by Elisabeth and her supporters, Vladislaus III took Buda along with the central state authorities. On 29 June 1440, the Hungarian Diet convened at Buda and officially confirmed the election of Vladislaus III, thereby annulling the coronation of Ladislaus the Posthumous.35

On 17 July 1440, Vladislaus III was crowned in Székesfehérvár. However, the Crown of St Stephen could not be used, as it had fallen into the hands of Elisabeth.

36 These events led to the Hungarian civil war which lasted over two years.

Not only the Hungarian supporters of Elisabeth and Vladislaus III took part in the civil war, since Elisabeth also relied on Bohemian mercenaries (e.g. John Jiskra of Brandýs). However, Bohemians served under Vladislaus III as well (e.g. John Čapek of Sán). The young Jagiellon also had the support of the troops of the Polish lords who came to his help.37

Battles were fought with varying success, but in 1442 the scales began to tip in favour of the supporters of Vladislaus III. This prompted Elisabeth to enter into a settlement, concluded on 14 December 1442 through the mediation of a papal legate, Julian Cesarini. According to the documents which confirmed the settlement, the daughter of Emperor Sigismund was supposed to keep the lands on the west and north of Hungary which were occupied by her supporters and mercenaries. This meant that she accepted the fact that Vladislaus III became king, but she did not give up the royal rights of her son who was staying with Frederick III in Austria, along with the Hungarian crown jewels. In 1440, Frederick III was elected King of the Romans and King of Germany (and crowned Emperor in Rome in 1452). A vital provision of the settlement was Elisabeth’s promise to marry her older daughter, Anne to her adversary. Therefore, the marriage plans which had been discussed with Emperor Sigismund in the period between 1434 and 1437 resurfaced once again. Soon after the settlement came into effect the position of 33 Długosz, Lib. XI/XII. 220., 223.; Olejnik, 2008. 102.; Dąbrowski, 2014. 38–39.; Sroka, Zawitkowska, 2017. 66.

34 Dąbrowski, 2014. 37–38.

35 Dogiel, Vol. I. 54–56. (see also charter Nr. 61.)

36 Katona, Stephanus: Historia critica regum Hungariae stirpis mixtae

. Vol. XIII/6. Pest, 1790. 91–

100. (see also charter Nr. 62.)

37 About civil war in Hungary 1440–1442 see: Baczkowski, 1995A. 19–25.; Kurtyka, 1997. 321–

324.; Olejnik, 2008. 104–134.; Dąbrowski, 2014. 38–104.; Papajík, David: Jan Čapek ze Sán. Jezdec na konec světa, vojevůdece, kondotier a zbohatlik 15. stoleti. Česke Budějovice, 2011. 151–160.