Janus Pannonius facts for kids
Janus Pannonius (born August 29, 1434 – died March 27, 1472) was a very important poet and diplomat from Croatia and Hungary. He wrote in Latin and was also a bishop. He is known as one of the most significant poets of the Renaissance in the Kingdom of Hungary. He was also a key figure in a movement called humanist poetry in Europe.
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The Life of Janus Pannonius
Janus Pannonius was born in Slavonia. His mother, Borbála Vitéz, was Hungarian.
Early Education in Italy
In 1447, Janus Pannonius's uncle sent him to Italy. He went there to get a special education focused on humanism. He studied at the school of Guarino da Verona in Ferrara. Here, students learned about famous Latin and Greek writers from a well-known teacher of the Italian Renaissance.
Janus was considered the smartest student of his time. He started writing poems when he was around thirteen years old. He followed the old rules of classical poetry. He finished his higher education at the University of Padua, where he studied church law.
Return to Hungary and Important Roles
After traveling around Rome to learn more, Janus Pannonius returned to Hungary in 1458. This was the same year that Matthias Corvinus became king.
He worked for the king for a while. Soon, he was chosen to be the Bishop of Pécs. Later, he became the Vice-Chancellor of the country. Janus Pannonius was a very important thinker in the kingdom. He stayed in touch with some of the leading thinkers of his time. He also collected a large library of humanist books.
He served as the Ban of Slavonia in 1469. He passed away in the Medvedgrad castle, which is near Zagreb.
Works
Janus Pannonius wrote many important works, mostly poems and epigrams, in Latin. He was known for his skill in writing in the classical style.
