Matthias Corvinus, also called
Matthias I (, , , , ; 23 February 1443 – 6 April 1490), was
King of Hungary and
Croatia from 1458. After conducting several military campaigns, he was elected
King of Bohemia in 1469 and adopted the title
Duke of Austria in 1487. He was the son of
John Hunyadi,
Regent of Hungary, who died in 1456. In 1457, Matthias was imprisoned along with his older brother,
Ladislaus Hunyadi, on the orders of King
Ladislaus V of Hungary. Ladislaus Hunyadi was executed, causing a rebellion that forced King Ladislaus to flee Hungary. After the King died unexpectedly, Matthias's uncle
Michael Szilágyi persuaded the
Estates to unanimously proclaim Matthias king on 24 January 1458. He began his rule under his uncle's guardianship, but he took effective control of government within two weeks.