Matthias Corvinus

Matthias Corvinus was elected and crowned King of Hungary at the age of 14, following the death of his father John Hunyadi. His coronation was supported by the Hungarian nobility, who expected him to be a figurehead.

Matthias created a professional standing army, the Black Army, composed of mercenaries and paid soldiers. This force became one of the most effective in Europe, enabling his military campaigns and reducing reliance on feudal levies.

Matthias established one of the largest and most renowned libraries in Renaissance Europe, the Bibliotheca Corviniana in Buda. The library housed thousands of manuscripts and printed books, attracting scholars from across Europe.

Matthias waged a war against Holy Roman Emperor Frederick III over claims to the Hungarian throne and Austrian territories. The conflict ended with the Peace of Pressburg, which recognized Matthias's conquests but failed to secure the imperial crown.

Matthias captured Vienna after a prolonged siege, making it his new capital. This conquest marked the peak of Hungarian power, extending his rule over much of Austria and challenging the Habsburgs.