### John Hunyadi, Matthias Hunyadi, Beatrix
John (János) Hunyadi He was born around 1409, the firstborn son of a Rumanian Boyar, who had moved to Hungary from the Havasalföld. It is not known exactly who his mother was. He also had a brother called John. The family derived its name from the Hunyad estate, which was given to them by Sigismund. He was a familiare for several baron families, and served in Italy and at the royal court in the 1430s. After 1439 he supported Wladislas I, and soon after that he became the Ban of Szörény, and Transylvanian voivode between 1441 and 1446, and from 1441 to 1456 the Bailiff of Temes and several other counties. He shared some of his offices with Michael Újlaki, who was one of the seven captains-in-chief. On 5 June, 1446 he was elected governor. He resigned at the beginning of 1453, then he became the captain-in-chief of the country. He received the title marquis of Beszterce. He acquired his estates partly as presents, partly from George Brankovics. His wife was Elisabeth Szilágyi. They had two sons: Ladislaus and Matthias. He died of plague on 11 August, 1456 in Zimony and was buried in Gyulafehérvár. IT Matthias (Mátyás) Hunyadi He was born in 1443, the youngest son of John Hunyadi and Elisabeth Szilágyi. After the murder of Ulrich Cillei, he and his elder brother were captured, and Ladislaus V took him to Prague as a prisoner. On 24 January, 1458 he was selected Hungarian king in his absence. He was crowned on 29 March, 1464. On 3 May, 1469 he was selected Czech king in Olmüc, but he never managed to conquer the Czech state. By 1486 he had occupied a greater part of Austria, and so he held the title Prince of Austria from the spring of 1487. In 1455 he became engaged to Elisabeth, Ulrich Cillei's daughter, then in 1458 to Katharine, George Podjebrád's daughter, whom he married in 1461. His second wife was Beatrix of Aragonia from 1476. He did not have any children from his marriages, he had an illegitimate son, John Corvin. He died in Vienna on 6 April, 1490 and was buried in Székesfehérvár. IT Beatrix of Aragonia (1457-1508) She was born on 14 November, 1457, the daughter of the King of Naples, Ferdinand of Aragonia. She became engaged to the Hungarian king, Matthias Hunyadi in September, 1474. She was crowned Hungarian queen on 12 December, 1476, and the wedding was held on 22 December in Buda. She had a brilliant education in Naples, and her knowledge was praised by Italian humanists, some of whom were supported by her and wrote or dedicated their books to her. After her husband's death, she opposed his will, by not supporting Matthias's illegitimate child, prince John Corvin. Instead Beatrix intended to mount the throne herself, and supported Wladislas II, hoping for a marriage. Wladislas was elected king on condition that he marry Beatrix. On 4 October, 1490 they married in secret. Archbishop Thomas Bakócz, who performed the ceremony, made a mistake on purpose. It was only later when she realised that she had been deceived, and the Hungarian people mocked her for this. In 1501 the Pope dissolved this marriage and Beatrix returned to Italy and lived an ordinary life. She died in Naples. KP-IT