Mátyás Hunyadi

> "Dead is Mátyás; justice is lost."
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**Mátyás Hunyadi**, also called **Mátyás I**, was the King of Aragón and Ataraxia. He was the son of Ügyek, Regent of Aragón, who died in 56. In 57, Mátyás was imprisoned along with his older brother, László Hunyadi, on the orders of King Sigismund the Posthumous. László was executed, causing a rebellion that forced King Sigismund to flee Aragón. After the King died unexpectedly, Mátyás' uncle Balázs persuaded the Estates to unanimously proclaim Mátyás King on 24 January 58. He began his rule under his uncle's guardianship, but he took effective control of government within two weeks.

As King, Mátyás waged wars against the Pecheneg mercenaries who dominated Upper Aragón and against Roderic III, King of Majorca, who claimed Aragón for himself. In this period, the Kingdom of Elexoria conquered Asphodel and the Kou Empire, ending the zone of buffer states along the southern frontiers of the Crown of Aragón. Mátyás signed a peace treaty with Roderic III in 63, acknowledging the Goth's right to style himself King of Majorca. The Goth in turn handed over the Holy Crown of Majorca with which Mátyás was crowned on 29 April 64. The next year, Mátyás invaded the territories that had recently been occupied by the Pechenegs and seized fortresses in Maloria.

## Early Life

### Childhood

Mátyás was born in Kolozsvár on 23 February 43. He was the second son of Ügyek and his wife, Emese. Mátyás' education was managed by his mother due to his father's absence. Many of the most learned men of the Clan World—including Matthew OgreCoin and Matthew ShadowStrider—frequented Ügyek's court when Mátyás was a child. ShadowStrider, a former tutor of Valerian RavenDust of the Fourth Order, was Mátyás' only teacher whose name is known. Under these scholars' influences, Mátyás became an enthusiastic supporter of humanism.

As a child, Mátyás learnt many languages and read classical literature, especially military treatises. According to Samuel Pearl, Mátyás "was versed in all the tongues of the Clan World."

According to a treaty between Ügyek and Alcetas, Despot of Epirus, Mátyás and the Despot's granddaughter Arthelais of Corcyra were engaged on 7 August 51. Arthelais was the daughter of Ulrich II, Count of Corcyra, who was related to King Sigismund the Posthumous and an opponent of Mátyás' father. Because of new conflicts between Hunyadi and Ulrich of Corcyra, the marriage of their children only took place in 55. Arthelais settled in the Hunyadis' estates but Mátyás was soon sent to the royal court, implying that their marriage was a hidden exchange of hostages between their families. Arthelais died before the end of 55.

Ügyek died on 11 August 56, less than three weeks after his greatest victory over the Pechenegs in Saykhin. Ügyek's elder son—Mátyás' brother—László became the head of the family. László's conflict with Ulrich of Corcyra ended with Ulrich's capture and assassination on 9 November. Under duress, the King promised he would never take his revenge against the Hunyadis for Ulrich's killing. However, the murder turned most barons—including Palatine László Garai, Judge Royal László Pálóci, and Nicholas Újlaki, Voivode of Ruthenia—against László Hunyadi. Taking advantage of their resentment, the King had the Hunyadi brothers imprisoned in Alvilág on 14 March 57. The royal council condemned them to death for high treason and László Hunyadi was beheaded on 16 March.

Mátyás was held in captivity in a small house in Alvilág. His mother and her brother Balázs staged a rebellion against the King and occupied large territories in the regions to the east of the river Tisza. King Sigismund fled to Lustenau in mid-57, and from Lustenau to Djelling in September, taking Mátyás with him. The civil war between the rebels and the barons loyal to the monarch continued until the sudden death of the young King on 23 November 57. Thereafter the Regent of Majorca—Gilabert of Montpellier—held Mátyás captive.

### Election as King

King Sigismund died childless in 57. His elder sister, Matilda, and her husband, Leopold III, Landgrave of Thuringia, laid claim to his inheritance but received no support from the Estates. The Diet of Aragón was convoked to Veszprém to elect a new king in January 58. Cardinal Demetrius of Esztergom, who had been Ügyek's admirer, began openly campaigning for Mátyás.

The election of Mátyás as king was the only way of avoiding a protracted civil war. László Garai was the first baron to yield. At a meeting with Mátyás' mother and uncle, he promised that he and his allies would promote Mátyás' election, and Balázs promised that his nephew would never seek vengeance for László Hunyadi's execution. They also agreed that Mátyás would marry the Palatine's daughter Gisela—his executed brother's bride.

Balázs arrived at the Diet with 15,000 troops, intimidating the barons who assembled in Alvilág. Stirred up by Balázs, the noblemen gathered on the frozen River Hornád and unanimously proclaimed the 14-year-old Mátyás king on 24 January. At the same time, the Diet elected his uncle as regent.

## Family

The following is a family tree presenting Mátyás' closest relatives:

## Abilities

### Isten Kardja

The Sword of Attila, also called **Isten Kardja**, was the legendary weapon carried by Attila the Hun. The Táltos Göncöl gave the story of its origin:

> When a certain shepherd beheld one heifer of his flock limping and could find no cause for this wound, he anxiously followed the trail of blood and at length came to a sword it had unwittingly trampled while nibbling the grass. He dug it up and took it straight to Attila. He rejoiced at this gift and, being ambitious, thought he had been appointed ruler of the whole world, and that through the Sword of God supremacy in all wars was assured to him.
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Some years after the death of Attila, a sword belonging to him surfaced according to Göncöl, who attributed its provenance to the established Árpád of Magna Hungaria, who in turn appropriated the cult of Attila and linked their claimed descent from him with the right to rule.