HUNYADY, ben'yo-di, JANOS (-John Hun niades) (e.1387-1456). The national hero of Hun gary. His origin is shrouded in obscurity. lie saw his first military service under King Sigis mund. Under Sigismuntre successor. Albert II. (143S-39), he became known as a brilliant sol dier, and was ban of a district on the bor ders of Transylvania, exposed to the Turk ish attacks. It was the period when the Turkish power was at its height, and it seemed within the range of possibility that the Mo hammedans would obtain possession of the greater part of the Danube Valley and seriously menace Western civilization. To Ilunyady, more than to any other one man, Europe owes it that the danger was averted. Albert died in 1439, and as there was no male heir, the nobles elected King of Poland. to the Hun garian throne. Meanwhile the wife of Albert gave birth to a son, Lathslas Posthumns. and a civil war resulted, of which the Turks took advanteee. Ilunyady. however, defeated them in several battles, and in 1443 an advantageous peace was made. Nevertheless, King Ladislas, incited by the Paled Legate, Julian Cesarini, be gan war again, and on November 10, 1444, the Hungarian army under Ladislas and Ilunyady was overwhelmed at Varna. Ladislas was among the slain. whereupon Ladislas Posthumus was recog nized by all parties as King. and Ilunyady was
made Regent during the minority. was ac tively yarded on both against the Turks and Frederick III. In 1448 Ihinyady was completely defeated by the Turks at Kossovo, after which he was held prisoner for a short time by the Ser vians. His most splendid achievement was the defense of lkdgrade in 1450 against the of Mohammed 11., the conqueror of Constantino ple. in which he was aided by the celebrated Giovanni Capistrano (q.v.), On dune 15. 145e, the Turkish attack began, and on -July 1 Rh Ilunyady forced his way into the city, while Szilegyi. the of the town, nettle a sortie. and finally, on July 21et, the Turks were deeisic.ely repulsed and raised the siege. having lost 80.000 men. A few days after this glorious victory dysentery broke out in the army, and Hunyady, the „Treat Christian hero, after a short illness, fell a victim to the disease. lie left two sons, Ladislas and Matthias Cor vinus. The former was treacherously imprisoned and beheaded at Buda, by Ladislas Pustlitimus. Matthias, generally known as Matthias Cordials, became King of Hungary in 1456. Cuu,ult Chn3 Sill. ''Jean de Ilunyad," in Ix liongri. (Paris, 1656).