Although Hungary is known for its palace, thermal baths, and traditional cuisine, it also has a rich archaeological history that reveals new views in the past. Over the years, the discovery of Hungary’s archeology has inserted everything from Roman ruins to prehistoric tools, including one of the oldest bronze -age swords in the worldFound at the bottom of the Danube River in 1920 -an.
Two decades ago, archaeologists revealed a century in the Basilica of the Maria Virgin, the royal burial site of the medieval Hungary Kings of Székesfehérvár. Among the ruins is a human skull that is eventually cataloged and forgotten.
Thanks to the progress of forensic science and renewed interest in the Royal Hungary Tomb, the new skull is back to the attention. Archaeologists now believe it may belong Matthias CorvinusA legendary king of Hungary and Renaissance’s leading figure in Central Europe.
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Who is the legendary Matthias Corvinus?
Portrait of King Hungary Matthias Corvinus in the second half of the 13th century.
Matthias Corvinuswho ruled Hungary, now considered one of the safest country in EuropeFrom 1458 to 1490, known as one of the most powerful and influential kings in the country. In the midst of a decade of decades with feudal anarchy, King Matthias Corvinus worked to rebuild the country through a series of social, military, and administrative reforms.
Corvinus really likes learning and plays an important role in bringing Renaissance to Central Europe. One of his most significant achievements in this field is the establishment Bibliotheca CorvinianaOne of the largest collections of manuscripts in Europe at the time. He also filled the Royal Court with artists, scientists, and trusted philosophers, making Hungary a cultural hub in the 17th century.
In addition to progress in art and science, Corvinus created one of the most professional standing troops in Europe, Hungarian black army. These 30,000 troops are important in defending the government from the Ottoman invasion and maintaining orders in the country.
Although his changes led to the higher taxes that were objecting, many of his voters saw him as a fair and capable leader who laid the foundation to strengthen and modernize Hungary for future generations.
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Where the skull was found, and why it was ignored
Liszt Ferenc Street in Szekesfehervar, Hungary.
Archaeologists dig the ruins of the Basilica of the Virgin Maria in the early 2000s. The basilica, located in Székesfehérvár, was once considered a church that plays an important role in Hungarian medieval history as the site in which the Kings were crowned and buried. However, it has been damaged for centuries during the Ottoman invasion and later for neglect.
At the beginning of the 19th century, the basilica was completely destroyed, leaving only the wastes of its history. When archaeologists explore this site in 2002, they found a variety of human waste, Includes the most recent skull.
The skull could not be identified at that time. As a result, it has been cataloged, labeled as “individual I/10,” and stored like others to recently.
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Why do experts believe in Matthias Corvinus’ skull
In 2023, Hungarian officials announced plans to rebuild the Basilica of the Virgin Maria as a national warning to honor the king who was originally buried there. For this new project, researchers will be assigned to identify the bodies found there.
In 2024, researchers Gábor Emese from the László Gyula Research Center made interesting discoveries after making a digital reconstruction of the skull found in the ruins of the Basilica of the Virgin Maria. The reconstruction of the skull has a face structure similar to János Corvinus, a newly identified Matthias Corvinus son.
The Emese team then built a 3D model, which was sent to German forensic expert Martin Trautmann for review. Without knowing the background of the 3D model, Trautmann said he also believed who he had in relation to János Corvinus.
Indications from the 3D model, the history of the famous Corvinus family, and the discovery location at the Basilica of the Virgin Maria suggests the skull that King Matthias has most likely to have.
“This can suggest twin relationships, but Corvinus boys do not have known twins,” Trautmann said.
In the future, the Hungarian Research Institute is planning to confirm this hypothesis further using DNA analysis of the genetic material of its two known descendants, János Corvinus and Kristóf Corvin.