Ladislaus Hunyadi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ladislaus Hunyadi
Count of Beszterce
Ladislaus Hunyadi's Farewell, by Gyula Benczúr (1866)
Ban of Croatia and Dalmatia
Reign	1453
Predecessor	Peter Talovac
Successor	Vacant
Noble family	House of Hunyadi
Father	John Hunyadi
Mother	Elizabeth Szilágyi
Born	1431
Died	16 March 1457 (aged 25–26) Buda, Hungary

László Hunyadi (also known as Ladislaus Hunyadi) was an important Hungarian nobleman. He was born in 1431 and died in 1457. He was the older son of John Hunyadi, a very powerful leader in the Kingdom of Hungary. John Hunyadi was a military commander and later became the regent of Hungary.

Ladislaus was also the older brother of Matthias Hunyadi. Matthias later became one of Hungary's most famous kings. Ladislaus grew up in a family that was very involved in the politics and wars of their time.

Early Life and Important Roles

Ladislaus Hunyadi started joining his father on military campaigns at a young age. This helped him learn about leadership and warfare.

A Hostage and a Diplomat

After a big battle called the Battle of Kosovo (1448), Ladislaus was held as a hostage. He was given to George Brankovic, the ruler of Serbia, to ensure his father kept his promises.

In 1452, Ladislaus was part of a group that went to Vienna. Their job was to bring back the young Hungarian king, Ladislaus V. This shows he was trusted with important tasks.

Becoming a Ban

By 1453, Ladislaus had become the ban of Croatia and Dalmatia. A "ban" was a high-ranking official, like a governor, in certain parts of the kingdom. This position gave him a lot of power and responsibility.

At a meeting in Buda in 1455, Ladislaus gave up some of his important titles. This happened because of accusations from Ulrich II, Count of Celje, who was an enemy of his family. However, they eventually made peace, and Ladislaus even got engaged to Anna, the daughter of a powerful official called the palatine.

Conflict and a Tragic End

After his father, John Hunyadi, passed away in 1456, Ladislaus faced new challenges.

Facing Accusations

Ulrich II, who had become the Captain General of Hungary, blamed Ladislaus for debts his father supposedly owed the state. Ladislaus defended himself very well at a meeting in Futak in October 1456.

Ulrich then pretended to make peace. He promised to protect the Hunyadi family if they gave back all the royal castles they were guarding. The first castle they were supposed to return was Nándorfehérvár (now Belgrade). Ladislaus was in charge of this fortress.

The Death of Ulrich II

Ladislaus allowed King Ladislaus V and Ulrich into the fortress. However, he kept their army of hired soldiers outside. The next morning, on November 9, 1456, Ulrich was killed by Ladislaus's men. The exact reasons for this event are not fully clear.

After this, the young King Ladislaus V was very scared. He forgave Ladislaus Hunyadi and promised to protect his whole family. To show he was serious, the king even made Ladislaus the lord treasurer and captain-general of the kingdom.

Arrest and Execution

Ladislaus Hunyadi trusted the king and went with him to Buda. But when they arrived, Ladislaus was arrested. He was accused of planning against the king. He was quickly sentenced to death without a proper trial. Ladislaus Hunyadi was beheaded on March 16, 1457, at a young age.

Legacy

Ladislaus Hunyadi's life and tragic death inspired a famous Hungarian opera. It is called Hunyadi László and was created by Ferenc Erkel.

Sources

• Acsády, Ignác (1904). History of the Hungarian Realm , vol. i., Budapest.
• Engel, Pál (1996). Magyarország világi archontológiája, 1301–1457, I. ("Secular Archontology of Hungary, 1301–1457, Volume I"). História, MTA Történettudományi Intézete. Budapest. ISBN: 963-8312-44-0.
• Bánhegyi, Ferenc: A Hunyadiak dicsősége, Celldömölk, Apáczai Kiadó, 2008.