Count Michael Szilágyi (Hungarian: Szilagyi Mihaly (? 1400 - around Constantinople, 1460 ) was a Hungarian general and Regent of Hungary

Mihály Szilágyi, Regent in 1458

Family

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He was born in the 1410s as vice-bailiff of Bács, son of the captain of Srebrenik, Ladislaus Szilágyi. 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.[1]

Life

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Michael Szilágyi began his career in his brother-in-law’s service as vice-ispán (vicecomes) of Torontal. He was the captain of the Belgrade fortress at the Ottoman siege in 1456 [2] As Ban of Macsó, he acquired a place among the barons [3] 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 Szilagyi resigned the office of regent in August 1459[4] and died during an expedition into the Balkans, in 1460[5]

References

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Category:Hungarian generals Category:Hungarian nobility Category:15th-century Hungarian people

es:Miguel Szilágyi he:מיהאי סילאגי hu:Szilágyi Mihály hr:Mihael Szilágyi pl:Mihály Szilágyi ro:Mihai Szilágyi sr:Михаљ Силађи

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