Hunyadis

Born in a Wallachian family around 1406.

Became a court knight of King Sigismund.

Voivode of Transylvania and bailiff of several counties.

Accompanied Sigismund to the Hussite war.

Led a successful campaign in Southern Transylvania in 1441.

1443-1444, ended with a peace treaty in Drinápoly.

• Devastating defeat in 1444; Władysław died on the battlefield.

Served from 1446 to 1453.

Offices decided by the estates, reducing baronial influence.

Known as "the Turk Beater."

Suffered a crucial defeat in 1448.

Successfully defended against the Turks in 1456.

Died of the plague shortly after the siege.

Born in Kolozsvár in 1443.

Tutored by János Vitéz.

Elected king by the lower nobility in 1458.

Promised to marry Anna Garai in exchange for regency support.

Strengthened royal power, reduced baronial influence.

Broke agreement with Szilágyi and Garai.

Officially crowned in 1464 after Holy Crown was returned.

Ignored Royal Council, centralized power through the Chancellery.

Introduced new taxes, including smoke tax.

Established the Black Army of mercenaries.

Controlled legislation, execution, and jurisdiction.

Active defense against the Ottomans.

Mehmed II completed conquests by 1460.

Successful Hungarian campaign in 1479.

Signed in 1483.

Aimed to unite the region to stop Turkish expansion.

Died in Vienna on April 6, 1490.

Born around 1406 to a noble family of Wallachian origin. He received military training at the court of King Sigismund and quickly rose through military ranks.

Notable victories include the Battle of Szeben in 1442 and the defense of Belgrade in 1456. His campaigns significantly delayed Ottoman expansion into Central Europe.

Conducted from 1443 to 1444, this campaign involved a large Hungarian army led by Hunyadi, which captured key cities like Kruševac and Niš but ultimately failed to break through the Balkan Mountains.

A devastating defeat for the Hungarian forces in 1444, where King Władysław III died. Despite this loss, Hunyadi continued to fight against the Ottomans.

Successfully defended Belgrade against the Ottomans in 1456, marking a significant victory that halted Ottoman advances into Europe for decades.

Died shortly after the Siege of Belgrade from the plague, leaving a legacy as a heroic defender of Hungary.

Born in 1443 as the second son of János Hunyadi. Received a strong Humanist education under János Vitéz and rigorous military training.

Elected king at the age of 15 in 1458 following the death of King Ladislaus V. His election was influenced by his father's legacy and his own potential.

Strengthened royal authority by reducing baronial influence and centralizing power through administrative reforms. Established the Black Army, a professional force of mercenaries.

Ignored the Royal Council, centralized power through the Chancellery, and employed lesser nobility and commoners in administrative roles. Reorganized the judicial system.

Introduced new taxes, including the smoke tax, and ensured nobles on serf estates paid taxes. Royal revenues significantly increased during his reign.

Established the Black Army, which was composed of mercenaries and included diverse military units like heavy cavalry and artillery. This army was crucial for his military campaigns.

Focused on active defense against the Ottomans and sought to expand Hungarian influence in Central Europe. Successfully engaged in conflicts with neighboring states like Bohemia and the Holy Roman Empire.

Promoted Renaissance culture in Hungary by fostering a Humanist environment. Established the Corvina library, which housed thousands of manuscripts, and supported artists and scholars.

His reign is considered a golden age of Hungarian history, marked by military strength, administrative innovation, and cultural flourishing. However, his successors struggled to maintain his reforms after his death in 1490.