Hunyady Janos.

Hunyady Janos. John Corvinus Hunyady, governor of Hungary, one of the greatest war-captains of his age, was born towards the close of the 14th century. His origin is wrapped in mystery, the current legend being that he was a son of the Emperor Sigismund by a Wallachian lady. His life may be succinctly described as one unbroken crusade against the Turks. During the period 1437-56 he was the shield of Hungary, not only against external foes, but against the lawlessness of the nobles at home. The principal moments in his celebrated contest with the foes of Christendom are his expulsion of them from Transylvania in 1442; his brilliant campaign south of the Danube in 1443; his defeat in the bloody battle of Varna, 1444; and that at Kosovo in 1448; but his most glorious achievement was the storming of Belgrade (1456). Shortly afterwards Hunyady died of dysentery. During the minority of Ladislaus V. the great captain acted as governor of the kingdom (1445-53). Hunyady left two sons, Ladislaus and Matthias—the former of whom was beheaded at Buda on a charge of conspiracy; the latter succeeded to the crown of Hungary (q.v.).