Michael Szilágyi

Michael Szilágyi
Regent of the Kingdom of Hungary
Regent of the Kingdom of Hungary
Reign	20 January 1458 - August 1459
Ban of Macsó
Reign	1457 – 1458
Predecessor	Nicholas of Ilok and Paul Herceg de Szekcső
Successor	Nicholas Dombai and Peter Szokoli
Born	c. 1400
Died	1460 Constantinople, Ottoman Empire (today Istanbul, Turkey)
Spouse	Margit Báthory
House	House of Szilágyi
Father	Ladislaus Szilágyi
Mother	Katalin Bellyéni
Signature

Michael Szilágyi de Horogszeg (Hungarian: horogszegi Szilágyi Mihály; ? 1400 – Constantinople,^[1] 1460) was a Hungarian general, Regent of Hungary, Count of Beszterce (present-day Bistrița)^[2] and Head of Szilágyi–Hunyadi Liga.

Family

He was born in the early 15th century as vice-ispán of Bács County,^[3] son of the captain of Srebrenik, Ladislaus Szilágyi and Catherine Bellyéni. The common noble family derived its name of Horogszegi from its estate in the county of Temes. His sister, Elisabeth, was John Hunyadi's wife.^[4] He was the uncle of Ilona Szilágyi, the second wife of Vlad III the Impaler.^[5]

Life

Michael Szilágyi began his career in his brother-in-law’s service as vice-ispán (vicecomes) of Torontál County. He was the captain of the Belgrade fortress at the Ottoman siege in 1456.^[4] As Ban of Macsó, he acquired a place among the barons ^[6][7] He is commemorated in the Serbian epic poetry as Mihajlo Svilojević^[8] or sometimes "crni ban Mihail", while Ottoman chronicles referred to him as "Kara Mihal.^[9]

The coat-of-arms of the Szilágyi family

Michael Szilágyi's governor signet

On 20 January 1458, Matthias Corvinus was elected king by the Parliament. This was the first time in the medieval Hungarian kingdom that a member of the nobility, without dynastic ancestry and relationship, mounted the royal throne. Such an election upset the usual course of dynastic succession in the age. In the Czech and Hungarian states they heralded a new judiciary era in Europe, characterized by the absolute supremacy of the Parliament, (dietal system) and a tendency to centralization. During his reign, Matthias reduced the power of the feudal lords, and ruled instead with a cadre of talented and highly educated individuals, chosen for their abilities rather than their social status. The Diet appointed Michael Szilágyi, the new king's uncle as regent, because of Matthias' young age. Throughout 1458 the struggle between the young king and the magnates, reinforced by Matthias's own uncle and guardian Szilágyi, was acute. But Matthias, who began by deposing Garai and dismissing Szilágyi, and then proceeded to levy a tax, without the consent of the Diet, in order to hire mercenaries, easily prevailed.

Michael Szilágyi resigned the office of regent in August 1459^[10] and was killed by the Ottomans after being captured by Ali Bey Mihaloğlu^[11] during the battle near Baziaş in 1460.^[12] Since he was considered a spy, he was tortured and sawed in half.^[1][13]

Ancestry

Ancestors of Michael Szilágyi
8. Roland Szilágyi                       4. Nicholas Szilágyi                             2. Ladislaus Szilágyi                                   1. Michael Szilágyi, Regent of the Kingdom of Hungary                                         3. Katalin Bellyéni

Sources

• Fraknói Vilmos: Michael Szilágyi, The uncle of King Matthias (Bp., 1913)

References

1. Grumeza, Ion (4 August 2010). The Roots of Balkanization: Eastern Europe C.E. 500-1500. Maryland, USA: University Press of America. p. 8. ISBN 9780761851349.
2. http://mek.oszk.hu/01900/01918/html/index29.html, 7 March 2015
3. Pannon Reneszánsz : A Hunyadiak és a Jagelló-kor (1437-1526). Encyclopaedia Humana Hungarica. 4. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
4. Pannonian Renaissance : The Hunyadis and the Jagello age (1437-1526). Encyclopaedia Humana Hungarica. 4. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
5. Jones, Teresa L. (13 April 2010). My Vladislaus Dracula. Bloomington, Indiana, USA: AuthorHouse. p. 75. ISBN 9781452005737.
6. "The Angevin and Sigismund Eras" (PDF). FOR THE HOMELAND UNTO DEATH – 1100 YEARS: Hungary in the Carpathian Basin. Budapest: Zrínyi Média Nonprofit Limited. p. 186. ISBN 9789633275207. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
7. Hungarian Catholic Lexicon
8. Zoran Kolundžija (2008). Vojvodina: Od najstarijih vremena do velike seobe. Prometej. p. 156. Retrieved 9 September 2013. Од стране Мађара борили су се и остали, у успомени нашег народа, Вуча ђенерал, Филип Мађарин, Сибињанин Јанко, Михајло Свилојевић и Дојчин Петар.
9. Božidar Blagojević (1984). Zbornik radova sa naučnih skupova u Negotinu i Kladovu povodom obeležavanja 170 godina od pogibije Hajduk-Veljka Petrovića i 150 godina oslobođenja od Turaka. Izd. Međuopštinska konferencija SSRN Zaječar, Balkanološki institut SANU. p. 36. Retrieved 10 September 2013. ... наше народне песме га зову понекад "црни бан Михаил" а турске хронике "Кара Михал"
10. Skvarna, Dusan; Bartl, Julius; Cicaj, Viliam; Kohutova, Maria; Letz, Robert; Seges, Vladimir (1 June 2000). Slovak History Chronology & Lexicon. Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers. p. 51. ISBN 9780865164444.
11. Suvajdžić, Boško (2004). "Three good heroes" (PDF). Prilozi za književnost, jezik, istoriju i folklor. 70: 32. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
12. MaCartney, Carlile Aylmer (1962). "The Beginnings". Hungary A Short History. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 9781175711793. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
13. Prilozi proučavanju narodne poezije. 1935. p. 123. 1460 у боју код данашњег Базијаша по- тукао је Мађаре и заробио њиховог вођу Михаила Силађија (Свило- јевић у нар. песмама), те је од султана као награду добио Видински санџак.