On This Day

Matthias I Corvinus chosen King of Hungary

Matthias Corvinus (Hungarian: Hunyadi Mátyás; Romanian: Matia Matijaš Korvin; Slovak: Matej Korvín; Czech: Matyáš Korvín; 23 February 1443 – 6 April 1490) was King of Hungary and Croatia from 1458 to...

Matthias Corvinus (Hungarian: Hunyadi Mátyás; Romanian: Matia Matijaš Korvin; Slovak: Matej Korvín; Czech: Matyáš Korvín; 23 February 1443 – 6 April 1490) was King of Hungary and Croatia from 1458 to 1490, as Matthias I. He is often given the epithet "the Just". After conducting several military campaigns, he was elected King of Bohemia in 1469 and adopted the title Duke of Austria in 1487. He was the son of John Hunyadi, Regent of Hungary, who died in 1456. In 1457, Matthias was imprisoned along with his older brother, Ladislaus Hunyadi, on the orders of King Ladislaus the Posthumous. Ladislaus Hunyadi was executed, causing a rebellion that forced King Ladislaus to flee Hungary.

Historical Significance

Matthias Corvinus (Hungarian: Hunyadi Mátyás; Romanian: Matia Matijaš Korvin; Slovak: Matej Korvín; Czech: Matyáš Korvín; 23 February 1443 – 6 April 1490) was King of Hungary and Croatia from 1458 to 1490, as Matthias I.

Events Before

  1. Hungarian army under John Hunyadi defeats the forces of Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II and ends the Siege of Belgrade (Nándorf

    Hungarian army under John Hunyadi defeats the forces of Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II and ends the Siege of Belgrade (Nándorfehérvár), halting Ottoman expansion in Europe for 70 years

  2. BC Battle of Megiddo: Egyptian forces of Thutmose III defeat a large Canaanite coalition under the King of Kadesh. First

    BC Battle of Megiddo: Egyptian forces of Thutmose III defeat a large Canaanite coalition under the King of Kadesh. First battle recorded with a reliable account.

  3. The Unitas Fratrum is established in the village of Kunvald, on the Bohemian-Moravian borderland. It is to date the seco

    The Unitas Fratrum is established in the village of Kunvald, on the Bohemian-Moravian borderland. It is to date the second oldest Protestant denomination.

  4. "Mainz Psalter," the earliest dated book and the first to be printed in three colors, is completed

    "Mainz Psalter," the earliest dated book and the first to be printed in three colors, is completed

  5. Henry VII is born

    Henry VII is born

Events After

  1. Fra Mauro completes his Map of the World in Venice for King Alfonso V of Portugal - largest known world map from Medieva

    Fra Mauro completes his Map of the World in Venice for King Alfonso V of Portugal - largest known world map from Medieval Europe and the first to show Africa as a free-standing continent [1]

  2. Jodhpur, Sun City, founded by Rao Jodhpur in India

    Jodhpur is the second-largest city of the north-western Indian state of Rajasthan, after its capital Jaipur. As of 2025, the city has a population of 1.6 million.

  3. Pope Pius II opens the Council of Mantua to call for a new crusade against the Ottoman Empire - crusade never amounts t

    Pope Pius II opens the Council of Mantua to call for a new crusade against the Ottoman Empire - crusade never amounts to much (Council disbanded January 1560)

  4. Battle of Blore Heath in Staffordshire: an inferior Yorkist force defeats a larger Lancastrian force in a major battle o

    Battle of Blore Heath in Staffordshire: an inferior Yorkist force defeats a larger Lancastrian force in a major battle of the English Wars of the Roses

  5. Battle at Ludford Bridge: Richard of York defeated

    The Rout of Ludford Bridge was a largely bloodless confrontation fought in the early years of the Wars of the Roses. It took place on 12 October 1459, and resulted in a setback for the Yorkists.

More from the 1450s

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on January 24, 1458?
Matthias Corvinus (Hungarian: Hunyadi Mátyás; Romanian: Matia Matijaš Korvin; Slovak: Matej Korvín; Czech: Matyáš Korvín; 23 February 1443 – 6 April 1490) was King of Hungary and Croatia from 1458 to 1490, as Matthias I. He is often given the epithet "the Just". After conducting several military campaigns, he was elected King of Bohemia in 1469 and adopted the title Duke of Austria in 1487.
Why is Matthias I Corvinus chosen King of Hungary significant?
Matthias Corvinus (Hungarian: Hunyadi Mátyás; Romanian: Matia Matijaš Korvin; Slovak: Matej Korvín; Czech: Matyáš Korvín; 23 February 1443 – 6 April 1490) was King of Hungary and Croatia from 1458 to 1490, as Matthias I.

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