King of Hungary (1458–90). He was the son of the Hungarian leader and hero John Hunyadi. He was 18 on his father’s death and for the first few months of his reign he was under the control of a regent, his uncle. He had to repulse a military threat from Emperor Frederick III, and fight the Turks, before he was officially crowned in 1464. His reign saw almost continuous warfare; his military successes were based on army and fiscal reforms. In 1468 he accepted an overture from the papacy to lead a crusade to challenge the Hussites in Bohemia; meanwhile he continued to wage war against the Turks who remained a constant threat. After the death of King George of Bohemia (1471) Matthias was successful over Bohemia, and the Peace of Olomuc (1478) granted him extensive territories and the (shared) title of King of Bohemia. In 1477 his armies moved into Austria and in 1485 he besieged and captured Vienna. As well as administrative reforms, he also codified the law, founded the University of Buda, and encouraged the arts and learning. At the time of his death his empire dominated south-central Europe but his successes were short-lived, as the Jagiellon dynasty came to power.