Matthias I Hunyadi, called Corvinus c.1440-90
King of Hungary

Born in Transylvania, the second son of J�nos Hunyadi, he was elected king in 1458. He drove back the Turks, and made himself master of Bosnia (1462), Moldavia and Wallachia (1467), Moravia, Silesia, and Lusatia (1478), Vienna, and a large part of Austria proper (1485). He greatly encouraged the arts and letters, founded the Corvina Library and the Pozsony Academy (university), promoted industry, and reformed finances and the system of justice. However, his rule was arbitrary and his taxes heavy, and in the end he had to compromise with the nobility who feared for the loss of their privileges. He failed in his aim of becoming Holy Roman Emperor, and many of his achievements did not survive his death.