King Matthias held the Italian Renaissance culture up as a model for his court. He invited more excellent scholar (Bonfini, Galeotto Marzio) to Buda. He started constructions; he rebuilt his palaces in Buda and Visegrad, which were examples for his servants as well. The king considered culture as legitimisation of his reign (similar like Medici's in Florence). He spent fortunes for artists, writers, scientists and scholars. His library, the Biblioteca Corviniana rank among the largest with its valuable manuscripts and codices in Europe in the 15th century. According to chronicles When Matthias dead Lorenzo de Medici exclaimed 'Matthias dead, books will be cheaper in Europe.' (So Medici bought lot of codices what did Matthias order.) See also the article on Anniversaries in Hungary 2002. http://www.karinthy.c3.hu/pages/ib/exten... http://www.unesco.org/webworld/mdm/2001/...
Italian culture was widespread after king Matthias second marriage with Beatrice of Naples. Keeping his power and his dynasty, he had to be war with Hapsburgs (Austria) and Jagello (Poland). His army took also Vienna in 1485. King Matthias planed to get the power of German-Roman Empire, but he dead in 1490. King Matthias was one of the most unpopular rulers, because of his absolutistic politics. After his death economic collapsed and people wished that Matthias' era could be back again.
During the 16th century formed a cult of 'King Matthias the Just', a king, who wander around his country and help the poor. Finally I would say a story of Matthias.
Once upon a time king Matthias had a trip with his lords. Once they met an old and poor man, who was a soldier before. The king asked him. 'How much the 32?' He answered 'Really it is only 12'. 'And how long is a long?' 'Only to my nose.' 'And could you milk (bleed) three billy-goats?' asked the king smiley. 'Of course' answered the poor man. The king ordered that he must not say answers until he see his face before. King and lords went on their way, but the king asked for his lords about the three answers. He promised a grand for that lord who guesses right answers. Lords went back to the poor for answers. They gave him hundred gold coins for the first one. The poor man counted the gold coins and said. ' When I was young I had 32 teeth, but now I had only 12 one.' For the next hundred gold coins he said the second answer. 'When I was young I had a eyes, but nowadays I could look perfectly only up to my nose'.
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