Did Matthias Corvinus, King of Hungary, Die of Natural Causes?
In the late years of his reign, Matthias Corvinus, King of Hungary, was feared by his subjects due to his harsh and unmerciful treatment towards perceived traitors. This period was marked by political intrigue and power struggles within his kingdom.
The Reign of Fear and Distrust
Philippe de Commines, a contemporary chronicler, described how subjects of the King feared him in the latter years of his life. This fear stemmed from his suspicious nature and his tendency to execute or imprison those suspected of disloyalty. Among his many targets were:
Archbishop Peter Váradi, who was jailed in 1484. Chancellor of Bohemia, Jaroslav Boskovic, whom he ordered to be executed in 1485. Nicholas Bánfi, a magnate who was imprisoned in 1487 due to his marriage to a daughter of John the Mad, Duke of Glogau. Matthias attempted to seize this duchy for his illegitimate son, John Corvinus.Bánfi's imprisonment was also linked to his political alliance with Henry of Poděbrady, Duke of Münsterberg, who declared war on Matthias. After six months, the Black Army under Matthias' command invaded and occupied Glogau, followed by the forced renunciation of the Duchy of Troppau in Silesia to John Corvinus by Victor of Poděbrady.
Chronic Political Conflicts
The Black Army's siege of Vienna in January 1485 lasted for five months and ended with Matthias leading 8,000 veterans into the city. Following this victory, he moved his royal court to Vienna. He summoned the Austrian Estates to pledge their loyalty to him. The last town resisting him in Lower Austria, Wiener Neustadt, fell on August 17, 1487.
Final Years and Health Decline
As his health deteriorated, Matthias, who suffered from gout, found it difficult to walk. During his last visit to Buda in 1489, he was carried in a litter. In 1490, despite feeling ill, he participated in the Palm Sunday ceremony in Vienna. Two days later, on April 6, 1490, he died at the age of 47.
Controversial Death
The exact cause of Matthias' death has been a subject of historical debate. Professor Frigyes Korányi concluded that he died from a stroke. While the details of his death are ambiguous, one thing is clear: the unexpected demise of King Matthias Corvinus paved the way for the Habsburg Emperor Maximilian I to reclaim significant territories in Austria by August 1490.
Thus, the question of whether Matthias Corvinus died of natural causes remains a topic of historical interest, as his life and reign were filled with political turmoil and constant conflict.