From: Robert Cox <rcox@convex.UUCP>
Subject: Matthew of Trencin 
Originator: rcox@mozart.convex.com
Date: Sun, 15 Nov 1992 19:39:20 GMT
Reply-To: rcox@convex.UUCP (Robert Cox)
Organization: Engineering, CONVEX Computer Corp., Richardson, Tx., USA
X-Disclaimer: This message was written by a user at CONVEX Computer
              Corp. The opinions expressed are those of the user and
              not necessarily those of CONVEX.

Was Matthew of Trenc~in a Slovak or Hungarian?  Most Slovak histories
I have read are ready to claim him for the Slovak side.  Here is an 
extended quote from Peter Yurchak's book "The Slovaks": 

Here, between 1301 and 1321, ruled the famous Matus~ C~ak Trenc~iansky
(Matthew of Trencin) known as the Lord of the Vah and the Tatras.  With 
his thirty castles he kept the king of Hungary at Budapest and most of 
Slovakia and Moravia independent, at least in a limited sense, for two
decades.  Matus~'s rise to power and his reign of twenty years form an 
interesting chapter in Slovak history.  

In 1301, the male line of the Hungarian ruling dynasty became extinct.
Each of the three reigning houses, Czech, German, and Italian, related
to the female branch of the family, claimed the throne.  Matus~ first 
favored Charles Robert, the Italian contender for the throne, hoping 
that the later would recognize him as the principal ruler of Slovakia.
But Charles refused to agree to any such arrangement and Matus~ rebelled,
drove the supporters of Charles Robert out of Slovakia, and then dealt 
with Wencelaus (Vaclav) III, the Czech claimant to the throne, at that 
time king of Bohemia and Poland.  Matus~ wanted in this way to unite 
Bohemia and Poland with Hungary. (Author's note: Such a step, in effect, 
would have recreated the Great Moravian state.)

Wencelaus III was easy-going and irresolute, as may be seen from the fact
that the important responsibility of govering the Kingdom of Hungary was 
thoughtlessly entrusted by him to his thirteen-year-old son.  This arrange-
ment proved to be calamitous.  Within two years, that is by 1303, govern-
mental affairs had become so unsettled that the boy-king was recalled. 
Charles Robert, of the Italian side of the royal house of Hungary, then 
seized the throne.  He gave Matus~ what he had previously refused and more.
He made him Royal Chamberlain and Protector of Hungary.  Whereupon some of
his other supporters complained until Charles disavowed his promises.  
Matus~, enraged by this breach of his agreement with Charles, and consider-
ing himself freed of his vow to the latter, revolted.  Many of the Slovak 
local rulers, the zemani, and peasants followed and fought for him.  They 
considered his acts a rebellion against the Hungarian crown.

Matus~ wisely established many tax free towns (lehoty) in his domains.  
His power grew largely by the voluntary allegiance sworn him, until he
became virtual king of nearly all of Slovakia and a large part of Moravia.
For twenty years, he ruled over this domain, which came to be known as
"Matthew's land".  He coined his own money, maintained a large, well-trained
army, had his own court, his own Chancellor, Lord Chamberlain, ans Lord
Chief Justice.  The magic of his name became a by-word among the Slovaks.
His qualities of leadership, his wealth, and the loyalty of his subjects
enabled him to become ruler of neighboring domains.  Thus he was able to 
defy Charles Robert.  Neither the pleas of the papal nuncio, Gentili, nor
the threats of the cardinal could move him.  But finally, Charles Robert,
after subduing the other local rulers who opposed him, mustered a large 
army in 1312 and in the battle of Roz~hanovce, in the Tokay vinyard dis-
trict near Kos~ice, defeated Matthew, whose Slovak soldiers fought 
bravely but were greatly outnumbered.  Then King John of Bohemia took the
field against Matthew and defeated the remnants of his army at Holic~, 
on the Slovak-Moravia border.  Only then did the latter sue for peace;
but he was permitted to retain parts of his territory until his death
in 1321.  Eventually Robert overran the whole country.

Thus again the nucleus of a reborn Slovak state was destroyed and not
until 1848, over five hundred years later, did the Slovaks make another
military stand for independence. 

Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU