HUNYADY, Jiicos (Eng. John), governor of Hungary, one of the greatest captains of his age, was born towards the close of the 14th century. Hunvady's origin is wrapped in mystery, the most accredited legend beimg that be was a son of the emperor Sigistnund by a Wallachian lady. Hunyady and his descendants had in their escutcheon a raven corrus—hence the designation of Corvinus. We find Hunyady as ban of a province s. of the Danube. distinguishing himself against the Turks, who at that time were the terror of the whole of Christendom. During the period 1437-56 Hunyady was the shield of Hungary, not only against external foes, but also against the lawless attempts of the nobles. Stith was the renown of Hunyady's arms, that, after the campaign of 1444, the Turks were glad to obtain an armistice of ten years. The vacillating Vladislas I. allowed himself to be induced by the papal legate, Julian Ctesarini, to break the peace he had sworn to keep. Hunyady was defeated in the bloody battle of Viirna, 1444; the king perished in the fight, as also the cardinal-legate; Hunyady was captured during his flight by the voivod of Wallachia; but upon a declaration that the whole of Hungary would rise to deliver the noble prisoner, was safely escorted to the frontier, and there set free. the minority of Ladislaus V. (son of Vladislas I.), Hunvady
was elected by the nation to be governor of Hungary. The battle of 11h:6m:12;6(1447), one of the bloodiest ever fought, was lost through the treason of the of Wallachia; Hunyady had once more to go through a short captivity. But the most splendid of his deeds was the storming of Belgrade, where the monk, John Capistran, carrying the holy cross, raised the enthusiasm of the Christian warriors to such a height, that a most complete victory brought that fortress again into the possession of the Hun garians. Shortly afterwards dysentery broke out in the camp, and Hunyady, the great Christian hero, after a short illness fell a victim to the disease. Capistran, 70 years old, followed his friend into the grave two months later. Hunyady left two sons, Ladislaus and Mathias (q.v.)—the former of whom was treacherously imprisoned, and beheaded at Buda, by the very prince whom his father had so faithfully served, Ladislaus V.; the latter was given in charge to George Podiebrad (q.v.) of Bohemia.