Matthias Hunyadi (Hunyadi
Mátyás in Hungarian) was the son of a former Regent of Hungary, John Hunyadi.
He was proclaimed a king in 1458, at the age of 15. According to the myths, he
was a great military leader, a just ruler and a nice man. He is also said to be
the father of the Hungarian Renaissance, Matthias Corvinus, whose reign was the
golden age for the Hungarians. But how could someone be so perfect? Probably he
is also the one whose reception changed the most throughout the ages.
From the 19th century
up to our days when Hungarian people hear the name Mathias Corvinus, they
immediately associate with the just and fair king of the country. The reason
for the extensive popularity might be the constant presence of the interesting
and laudatory legends. From the lower classes of primary schools children read
folk tales and myths about king Matthias, such as The golden lamb of King Matthias, or King Matthias and the Shepherd. These are all about the justice of
the king; stories about how he disguised himself to reveal the dishonest, not
loyal or unfair people. Every tale shows his cleverness, and that he treated
the folk very kindly. The Hungarian National
Anthem also mentions the just king: “S nyögte Mátyás bús hadát/ Bécsnek
büszke vára.” (Proud Vienna suffered sore/ From King Mátyás' dark array)[1]. The hymn obviously refers to his military successes. Written stories and cartoons were also made about
these legends, and people would certainly believe these beautiful tales, if
they were not too perfect.
The truth is that the myths
have no factual basis at all. The king was not really popular in his lifetime,
because of the surprising and sometimes too many taxes, like tax on the gates.
Another issue was his low origins; not only the elite barons, but also common
people could not accept him as a ruler. So how is it possible, that such a
common king became so beloved and praised?
Supposedly, the legends
started to spread because the country did quite well after the reign of
Matthias: the financial status was good, due to the taxes, and the army was
also developed. A few years after his unexpected death, people started to
create tales and myths about him, and spread them among each other; they got
around through the centuries. The stories became more certain in the 18th
century, when people started to write them down; for example, Béla Tóth in 1898[2].
The Hungarian National Anthem was also written in the mentioned era (1823), and
many statues were made as well. Barnabás Holló’s work from 1912 is one of them:
The King Who Made the Lords Hoe.
Up to now, more than a
hundred versions of legends arose; most of the children have to read them in
the lower classes of primary school. In higher classes and in middle school
they are usually enlightened that not many things were true from the tales. The
interesting, changing reception of the king might depend on more factors, but
it is undoubted that he was a very important, decisive figure of the Hungarian
history.
Bibliography:
·
I.
Mátyás magyar király (Matthias I. Hungarian King) –
Hungarian Wikipedia, 2015. Web. 18.04.2015
·
Kóka,
Rozália. Mátyás király rózsát nyitó
ostornyele (The Rose Opening Whip-stock of King Matthias). Budapest: Timp
Kiadó. 2003.
·
Kölcsey,
Ferenc. Himnusz (Hymn). Translated by: Loew, William N. Web. 19.04.2015
·
Lengyel,
Dénes. Mondák Mátyás Királyról (Legends
about King Matthias). in: Régi Magyar Mondák (Old Hungarian Legends). Budapest:
Móra Könyvkiadó. 2003. (195-245).
·
Matthias
Corvinus. The English Wikipedia. 2015. Web. 18.04.2015
·
Mátyás az Igazságos (Matthias, the Just). Pallas Antikvárium. 1999.
·
Ortutay, Gyula (ed.) Mátyás király (King Matthias). in: Magyar
néprajzi lexikon III. (K–Né) (Hungarian Ethnical Lexicon.
Budapest: Akadémiai. 1980. Web. 18.04.2015
[1] Kölcsey, Ferenc. Himnusz (Hymn).
Translated by: Loew, William N.
[2] Ortutay, Gyula (ed.) Mátyás
király (King Matthias). in: Magyar
néprajzi lexikon III. (K–Né) (Hungarian Ethnical Lexicon. Budapest: Akadémiai. 1980.
Web.18.04.2015
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