Hunyadi

Janos
After Sigismund
• What problem did he give Hungary when he died?
• He named Albert, his nephew his heir. He died of an illness 2 years
later.
• Now 2 people claimed the throne: Ladislas V (The Posthumous!) &
Wladislaw from Poland
• Both were crowned king!
• Ladislas’ mother stole the crown and took it to Vienna with her!
• Hungary was split in 2; Ladislas ruled the west and Wladislaw the
east.
Ladislas gains
strength through
this man
Hunyadi Janos
• He was (possibly) the son of a Wallachian nobleman who was given
land by Sigismund.
• He trained in the Bishop of Zagreb, then the Duke of Milan and then
finally Sigismund’s households.
• He became Ban of Szoreny and the Voyevode of Transylania.
• He gained the salt monopoly.
• Became Captain of Belgrade so was in charge of southern defence.
Becoming the “Turk-beater”
• He learned how to fight wars in different ways – using wagons like the
Hussites, Hungarian cavalry tactics.

• His basic aim was: STOP THE TURKS.

• In 1442 he smashed the Turks in Southern Transylvania.
• He got all the way to Sofia and Murad II wanted war but Wladislaw
ignored and was defeated and died in the Battle of Varna.
Governor of Hungary (1446-53)
• With the death of the king the Diet made Hunyadi Janos the Governor
of Hungary and made these changes:
• He stop the barons fighting against each other.
• Led successful campaign the Turks.
• He welcomed Ladislas back to Hungary in 1553 and ran the Treasury
for the king.
Halted Turkish expansion

• In 1456 he lifted the siege of Belgrade

• The Pope ordered the bells to be rung at
midday to celebrate this – it still happens to
this day!
• After the battle many of soldiers got plague
and Hunyadi Janos died of it too.
• He became a National Hero- his statue is in
Hero’s Square.