Contents:

11^th and 12^th c.: Czech and German attacks and the Frontier Duchy of Nitra

13^th c.

late 13^th c.-1321:The ”oligarchs” are ruling Slovakia

1322 - 1342

1342 - 1382: King Louis I the Great of Anjou

1382 - 1437: King Sigismund of Luxemburg

1437 - 1457: Albert II of Habsburg, Ladislaus III of Jagiellon, the 7 ”captains”, John Hunyadi and Ladislaus Posthumus

1458 - 1490: King Matthias Corvinus

1490 - 1526: The Jagiellonian kings

11^th century (or earlier): Extraction of precious metals (mainly silver) begins around Banská � tiavnica.

c. 1030: King Stephen reconquers Slovakia from Poland – see previous chapter

1030 – 1042: The rulers of the Nitrian principality are unknown. According to some unreliable sources, the rulers of Nitra were the county president Sebes (1037-1038) and Sámuel Aba (1038 – 1041, Hungarian king 1041-1044).

1030’s: The northern border of Historic Hungary on the territory of present-day Slovakia reaches the line Dubnica nad Váhom – Zvolen - Latorica River; purely Slovak territories (castles) are situated above this line (e. g. near Oborín) – it is unknown, what state (if any) they belonged to. See also around 1090‘s.

c. 1031: Vazul is blended in Nitra and three sons (Levente, Andrew (future king) and Béla (future king) ) and Ladislaus the Bold’s son Domoslav manage to flee to Bohemia and from there to Poland (Béla) or to Kiew (Andrew and Levente). – for details see c. 1030 in the previous chapter

1038: King Stephen I dies and Peter Urseolo becomes the new king of Historic Hungary (till 1041).

According to unreliable sources, Bretislav installed a Prince called Zubor in Slovakia (1042-1043).

1043 – 1048: The rulers of the Nitrian principality are unknown.

1048: The Hungarian king Andrew I (see c. 1030) from the Arpad dynasty shares power with his brother Béla by confering to him as apanage one third of Historic Hungary (“tercia pars regni”) , consisting of the Nitrian Principality (corresponding to parts of present-day Slovakia that were already conquered by Historic Hungary, see eg. 1090’s) and northern eastern Historic Hungary (called Bihar, probably down to the Körös river). In addition, Béla receives the title of ”duke” (ducatus, dux). Thus Béla (Hungarian king: 1060-1063) becomes the Duke of the Frontier Duchy of Nitra. The capital of this duchy is Nitra and it comprised 15 counties in sum. Its main function was the protection of Historic Hungary’s borders with Bohemia, Poland and Russia. All the frontier dukes were members of the Arpad dynasty and mostly future Hungarian kings. Esp. till 1077 the dukes had an independent foreign and internal policy, they entered into alliances with Poland, Bohemia and Byzantium, they were almost constantly fighting with the ruling Hungarian king and the duchy had own coins. They bore the patriarchal (Byzantine) cross, i.e. the today’s Slovak official symbol, in their coat of arms. This cross was originally brought to Slovakia by Cyril and Methodius (see Great Moravia: 862 etc.) and it will become a part of the Hungarian coat of arms at the end of the 12^th century and a symbol for the territory of present-day Slovakia from the the mid-13^th century onwards. The frontier duchy was accepted as a separete entity not only internally in Historic Hungary, but also by the Pope and by the German emperor. For example, when king Andrew I was in conflict with Byzantium, the Byzantine emperor contacted Béla.

1050’s: Eastern Slovakia is maybe part of the Kiew Rus

1051: Břetislav I and the troops of the German king Henry III invade Historic Hungary gain (see e. g. 1042). During the invasion, the emperor Henry III reaches the capital Esztergom and Břetislav I temporarily conquers western Slovakia again, but the whole campaign is defeated. Bretislav will launch another campaign to Slovakia in 1054, but he will die in Bohemia.

1052 (summer): The emperor Henry III besieges Bratislava for 2 months without success. The Pope Leo IX has to come personally to Bratislava to achieve a peace (in 1053).

1059: Béla flees to Poland to his brother-in-law Boleslaus II, after king Andrew I had his son Solomon crowned future king in 1057 (to be able to engage him with Judith, the daughter of Henry III in order to stop German attacks in Historic Hungary) and a corresponding conflict had risen with his brother Béla. See 1060

1060: Béla returns to Historic Hungary supported by Polish troops and defeats king Andrew I at the Tisza River. The wounded Andrew sends his son Solomon to Germany and then dies. Béla becomes the new king of Historic Hungary and parallely remains the duke of Nitra.

1063: King Béla dies during a campaign against Henry IV in the summer, who is moving to Historic Hungary. In Historic Hungary, Henry installes Solomon (see 1060) as the new king of Historic Hungary in the autumn and Béla’s sons Geza, Ladislaus and Lampert flee to Poland to their father’s brother-in-law Boleslaus II. When Henry leaves Historic Hungary, Boleslaus II attacks Solomon, defeats him and forces him to accept Geza as the king of Hungary.

1064: To avoid internal conflicts, peace is made between Solomon and the sons of Béla on January 20, under which Solomon remains king and Geza and Ladislaus receive the Frontier Duchy of Nitra. At Easter, Bélas sons divide their territory as follows: Géza (Hungarian king: 1074-1077) becomes the Duke of the Nitrian principality (Slovakia, 11 counties), Ladislaus (Hungarian king: 1077-1095) receives Bihar (4 counties) and Lampert stays in Nitra together with Geza without receiving own domains.

1068 – 1071: King Solomon, supported by Geza and Ladislaus, defeats the nomadic Pecenegs and Kumanians attacking Historic Hungary from the east. Subsequently, they are Christianized and forced to settle –besides other places - in villages along present-day Slovak western, northern and eastern border as a sort of frontier guards. In Slovakia, they will be assimilated soon.

1071: Geza does not help Solomon during his attack in the Byzantine Empire, because he has got information that Salomon already plans to liquidate the frontier dukes. The reason was that they have become too powerful – they often entered into alliances with Poland, Russia, Moravia, Croatia and the Byzantine Empire, minted better (heavier and of higher quality) coins than king Solomon and so on. See below.

1073: Solomon, whose only supporter is Germany under Henry IV, starts a military conflict with the 3 dukes in 1073. Initially, Ladislaus and Lampert temporarily flee abroad and Geza retreats to the Bihar. See 1074

1074: In February 1074, Solomon moves to Bihar and defeats the troops there. Geza leading the rest of the Bihar troops moves over Slovakia to Vác (near Esztergom) in order to join there his brother Ladislaus leading Geza’s Slovak troops and the Moravian prince Otto (see 1067) leading Moravian troops. As soon as Solomon finds out that the enemy troops joined, he moves towards Esztergom. Finally, on March 14, he attacks them at the Mogyoród Hill near Pest, but is totally defeated. Slovak and Moravian troops even push Solomon up to the German border (see 1074 –1081) .

As a result, Geza becomes the new king of Historic Hungary and his brother Ladislaus (Hungarian king: 1077-1095) the new Duke of the Frontier Duchy of Nitra (incl. Bihar). According to some sources, Lampert receives Bihar.

1074 – 1081: In 1074, the antiking Solomon occupies the Bratislava and Devín Castles as well as the Moson and Sopron counties and becomes German vassal. He makes Bratislava his seat (till 1081?), where he is constantly attacked by Duke Ladislaus. Henry IV’s campaign to Historic Hungary in August and September 1074 to support Solomon fails, just as further campaigns of Henry, during which he supports Solomon during his attacks to other parts of Historic Hungary. In 1081, Solomon makes peace with the then Hungarian King Ladislaus I, under which he renounces to the crown in exchange for an annual payment.

1077: Lampert, a brother of Geza, becomes the new Duke of the Frontier Duchy of Nitra (incl. Bihar), because Ladislaus, the other brother of Geza, becomes king of Historic Hungary due to king Geza’s death. However Ladislaus – now as the king of Historic Hungary – considerably restrains (1077) Lampert’s powers and deprives him of an own army.

1083: See c. 1001 – 1034

1095: Álmos, a son of Geza, becomes the Duke of the Frontier Duchy of Nitra (incl. Bihar), because Coloman, another son of Geza, becomes king of Historic Hungary due to king Ladislaus’s death. The Hungarian king Coloman restrains his powers even below the (see) 1077 level. Earlier, Álmos was the duke of the newly conquered eastern Croatia (conquered 1081; duke since 1084) and later – on the request of the Croats - the king of (eastern) Croatia (1091 – 1095). In 1095, he was then dethroned by Coloman and appointed the duke of Nitra instead

1096: With king Coloman’s consent, the 1^st crusade to the Holy Land passes through Historic Hungary. One part of the crusaders approaches Nitra aiming at launching a Jew-pogrom and looting in the town, but they are defeated and expelled by the local Slovaks.

1098: A conflict arises between King Coloman and Álmos (see 1095), after Coloman had even declared himself the king of Croatia in 1097 (coronated in 1102), but a truce is made before a civil war can break out. See below.

1099 (summer) – 1106: Almos flees to Henry IV in Germany in order to escape his brother Coloman

1106-1108: Almos returns to Slovakia, but after further quarrels with king Coloman, he flees to Poland to Boleslaus III (and also to Russsia) to look for help. In the same year, he comes back and - with the help of his followers and of Polish troops – finally conquers the castle Abaújvár (Abovský nový hrad in present-day Hungary at Slovak border), where Almos and Coloman come to terms. Then Almos undetakes a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. But after his return, new quarrels arise and Almos receives help from the new German king Henry V (see below), disliking Hungarian expansion in Croatia, and from Bohemia.

1108 (September – early November): Henry V together with the Czech Prince Svatopluk and the Duke Almos arrive in Slovakia, where troops of Henry V besiege Bratislava and troops of Svatopluk devastate south-western Slovakia, esp. the Váh basin. Finally, in early November, Henry reconciles Almos and Coloman, but after the retreat of Henry’s troops, Coloman violates the peace agreement and has Almos (and his son Béla- see 1131) blended and imprisoned to prevent him from becoming the future king. According to some sources, Almos was blended only after the (see) 1109 campaign.

This marks the end of the Frontier Duchy of Nitra and of the Nitrian Principality (late 8^th century – 1108). From now on, Slovakia will not form any separate territorial unit within Historic Hungary, partly except for (see) 1563-1686. .

1109: The Czech Prince Svatopluk (not to be confudes with the Svatopluk of Great Moravia) together with the Moravian duke Oto devastate southwestern Slovakia, esp. the Váh region and Nitra, in which they devastate the ancient Zobor monastery (see 881). See also 1108.

c. 1110 (other sources c. 1085): The bishopric of Nitra (founded see 880, ceased with Great Moravia), the first bishopric of western and eastern Slavs, is renewed, because Slovak magnates (esp. the Poznans – see e. g. 971 - 995) are upset with the abrogation of the Frontier Duchy of Nitra in 1108. However, this time, its territory consists only of the town of Nitra, its close suroundigs, and the Trenčín county, because its original territory is largely part of the Esztergom diocese (see 1000) now. The first bishop of this renewed diocese was Bishop Gerváz.

1111: The oldest preserved original document stemming from the territory of Slovakia was written (in Latin). It is the so-called first Zobor Document and it contains the confimation of 12 Slovak nobles that the St. Hypolit Abbey on the Zobor Hill (see 881) in Nitra has a legitimate claim to income from some toll stations in Slovakia. It also proves the existence of a monastery school in the abbey with the teacher Willermus gramaticus. See also 1113.

1113: The so-called second Zobor document was written by the Zobor abbey (see 881). It contais a list of all properties of the monastery and of adjacent properties at the Nitra basin, the Váh basin and the Turiec region. The 100 Slovak family and geographical names the list contains prove the Slovak character of these territories.

1116 (May): The Hungarian king Stephen II is defeated by the Czech Prince Vladislav in a small conflict resulting from an originally friendly meeting at the then border between Historic Hungary and Bohemia (Moravia) at the Olšava River. As a result, Historic Hungary (and future Slovakia) looses forever the territory between Uherské Hradište and the present-day Slovak border (more exactly between the Morava River, the Olšava River and the White Carpathians) in favor of Bohemia (Moravia).

1131: Béla II, the blind son of Álmos (see 1108), becomes King of Historic Hungary after the death of the childless king Stephen II. However Boris, the illegitimate brother of the previous king Stephen II (whom his father Coloman did not legitimize), also wants to become king. See 1132

1132: Boris (see above) together with troops of the Polish Prince Boleslaus III and Russian troops invades Slovakia and is defeated at the Slaná River in July. He then must leave Historic Hungary (see 1146)

1134: The Czech Prince Sobieslav I attacks Slovakia up to the Váh River

1146: Boris (see 1131, 1132), supported by German hired soldiers and knights and by Czech Prince Vladislav, suddenly conquers Bratislava, but he is defeated by the king of Historic Hungary and gives the town back in exchange for a payment

around 1150: First German settlers (Saxons) settle in Slovakia, namely in the Spiš region and at Banská � tiavnica. They are invited by the Hungarian king Geza II. Some of them were originally participants of the second crusade.

1162-1165(?): Stephen III, the newly elected (1162) king of Historic Hungary, is pushed by the troops of the antiking Ladislaus II (1162-1163) and Stephen IV (1163), supported by the Byzantine emperor, to present-day south-western Slovakia and north-western Hungary, where he is based at the Bratislava castle.

1189 (May): Troops of the 3^rd crusade gather near Bratislava, where they are awaited by their leader, the emperor Fridrich I Barbarossa

13^th century: Slovakia continues to be the most developed part of Historic Hungary. Gold from Kremnica and Banská � tiavnica, silver from Banská � tiavnica, copper from Banská Bystrica, linen from Bardejov or wine from Bratislava become well-known in Historic Hungary and Europe.

c. 1200: Miners from the Austrian Tyrol come to the region around Banská � tiavnica and change the extraction system – deep mining begins. Banská � tiavnica quickly becomes a “mining town” , typical of Slovakia at that time.

c. 1200: Some 225.000 people live on the territory of present-day Slovakia (Historic Hungary [incl. Slovakia, Transylvania, Croatia, Vojvodina etc.]: 2 millions, Bohemia: 500.000, Moravia: 200.000). The number will increase to some 245.000 till 1241 in Slovakia.

1204 (January-July): The Slovak noble Alexander of Hunt-Poznan (see e. g. 971 – 995), the son of Tomáš of Hunt-Poznan and descendant of Kozmo (see 1123), frees duke Andrew II from the prison of Esztergom. Andrew had been imprisoned by his older brother, the king Imre. Andrew will never forget this help by the Poznans – when he becomes king in 1205, Tomáš will be appointed the Nitra county president and Alexander will get important functions at the court. See also 1206

1205-1235: The Hungarian king Andrew II undertakes campaigns into Galicia. They are launched from eastern Slovakia, where the soldiers also mostly come from.

1206 – 1217: (See 1204). Alexander, his brother Sebes and father Tomáš receive huge properties in south-western Slovakia. Alexander and Sebes are thus the ancestors of the influencial medieval Slovak dynasty of the Counts of Svätý Jur and Pezinok (today both suburbs of Bratislava).

1217-1218: Many Slovak nobles take part in a crusade to the Holy Land together with king Andrew II.

1222: King Andrew II issues the so-called Golden Bull conferring many privileges on Hungarian nobility, liberating it of taxpaying, declaring their property inalienable, allowing them to rebel when they feel their rights encroached by the king (ius resistendi). These rights laid the bases of the so-called Natio Hungarica, a caste of privileged people regardless of nationality, who mostly used Latin as the language of communication till 1848

1238: Trnava, Banská � tiavnica, Krupina and Zvolen are the first Slovak (and Hungarian) villages to be conferred the charter of a city (town privileges, town status) by the king of Historic Hungary. Other towns follow in the following decades of the 13^th and 14^th century – especially after the Mongol invasion (e. g. 1248: Nitra, Košice, 1255: Banská Bystrica, 1291: Bratislava). However, the towns of Bratislava and Nitra have been de-facto towns since the 9^th century (Bratislava, in addition, during the Celtic period 125-40 B.C.), Banská � tiavnica since around 1200

1241-1242: The Mongols (also called Tartars in this connection) in Slovakia:

1242 (May): After the departure of the Mongols, the Austrian duke Frederick of Babenberg takes advantage of the situation and tries to capture the three frontier counties pawned to him by king Béla (see 1241 April), besieges the Bratislava Castle and penetrates up to Hlohovec, but he is defeated by troops led by the Slovak noble Achilles of Hunt-Poznan. See 1246

1242 (end of): A great famine and looting breaks out in Historic Hungary. Further people die.

1242(and later) the Great Colonization: The Hungarian king invites Slovak and foreign (especially German) settlers to settle in the depopulated regions of Slovakia. Almost fully German territories gradually arise in some regions initially, such as the region of Malé Karpaty (Little Carpathians), around the mining towns in central Slovakia and in the Spiš region. Many of the new settlements apply (the more advanced) German law, which in the future will spread to other parts of Slovakia and will be used until the time of Maria Theresa. Further smaller waves of German settlers will come till the 15^th century

1246: Frederick of Babenberg tries to repeats his campaign from 1242, but he dies in the battle at the Leitha river. As a result the Austrian and Styrian ruling family of Babenberg becomes extinct and conflicts between Bohemia and Historic Hungary concerning the Austrian throne will last (with interruptions) till 1278.

1262 (end of): An agreement is made in Bratislava between the king Béla IV and his ambitious son Stephen (since 1257-1259 and again since 1260: duke of Transylvania, 1259-1260 duke of Styria), under which Stephen receives the title “younger king” and eastern Historic Hungary (incl. eastern Slovakia) as fief. As a result Historic Hungary is de-facto divided in two states till Béla’s death in 1270, after which Stephen becomes the new king of whole Historic Hungary as Stephen V.

1271(April – May): The Bohemian (Czech) king Ottakar II invades southwestern Slovakia in connection with fightings between Historic Hungary and Bohemia (1270 and 1271-1273) concerning the territory of Austria (see 1246). Ottakars 85 000 men troops also include Austrians, Brandenburgians, Silesians and Poles. In 1271, he conquers above all the Devín Castle, the Bratislava Castle and the town of Trnava. He then burns down the town and castle of Nitra. Then, he returns to Bratislava, passes the Danube there and defeats Stephen V near Moson. After further conflicts, the (1^st) Peace of Pressburg (see 1491, 1626, 1805) is signed at Bratislava on July 2, by which Historic Hungary renounces to parts of Austria and Slovenia. See 1272

1272: King Stephen V dies and ban Joachim Pektari becomes the new ruler of Historic Hungary as a representative of the 9-year old new king Ladislaus IV. Subsequently, Pektari’s adversary, the royal treasurer and Bratislava county president Egid, puts the Bratislava Castle under king Ottakar II’s ”protection”. In addition, Henry of Güssing (Köszeg), an adversary of Egid, returns from the Prague royal court to Historic Hungary, where he spreads rumours that the grandson of the former king Béla IV (see 1262) living in Prague since 1270 plans to capture the Hungarian throne with the help of Ottakar II. A new war arises – see 1273.

1273: In February, Hungarian troops (consisting of Kumanians) invade Austria and Moravia. Subsequently, the Austrians devastate Györ and in May the Moravians burn down again (see 1271) the ancient town and castle of Nitra, incl. The precious historic archive of the Bishopric of Nitra in the Nitra castle. The ancient Nitra will never recover from this destruction. In the summer, Ottakar’s troops loot in southwestern Slovakia and troops from Vienna and Wiener Neustadt conquer the town and castle of Bratislava and other fortresses. Subsequently, Ottakar goes to Bratislava, passes the Danube there and reaches Szombathely. The Czech troops leave (devastating some castles, e. g. the Devín castle), when they learn that Rudolf of Habsburg has been elected German king, but they stay in Bratislava till 1277.

1271: The so-called Union of 24 Spiš Towns receives collective privileges from Stephen V. The Union was the first union of towns in Slovakia (see also 1440-1445, 1453, 1487). In arose in the first half of the 13^th century (maybe in the 1240s) as the political equivalent of the Brotherhood of 24 Royal Parish Priests (founded before 1239, renewed in 1248) which had received many privileges from the Pope. Note however that initially the number of towns in the Union is higher then 24, the level 24 will be achieved only at the end of the 14^th century.

1280´s: The Omodej branch of the Aba (i.e. Omodej and his brothers) acquires influence in Historic Hungary. Omodej’s first brother Peter is provincial judge(1280) and royal treasurer (1281, 1283), the second brother Finta is the duke of Transylvania (since late 70’s), palatine (=Prime Minister and Supreme Judge.1280) and leader of the Szomod and Sopron counties. As for their history, the house of Aba started to gain properties in eastern Slovakia in the late 11^th century.

1280´s - 1290´s: Omodej acquires huge property in eastern Slovakia and is one of the advisors to the Hungarian king Andrew III

1283 - 1293: Omodej is the palatine of Historic Hungary (reappointed by king Andrew III in 1290) and the leader of the Zala , Zemplín, Abov and Spiš counties and, in 1293, royal envoy in Poland

1285 (January): The Mongols (led by Nogaj and Telebug) are invited by the Hungarian king Ladislaus IV and undertake looting raids in eastern and northern Slovakia in order to help him to defeat his own nobles, but the king does not succeed because the noble Amadeus (Amadé, Amadeus) from the eastern Slovak house of Aba defeats the Mongols (1285). See also 1287

1285 (summer): The burghers from the Spiš region rise, because their privileges are not respected. They besiege the Spis castle (the largest castle in central Europe) and destroy its important archives.

1286-1287: The Lords of Güssing (oligarchs in present-day western Hungary) occupy Bratislava (the town and the royal castle) and – together with their Austrian allies – devastate the Bratislava county up to the Váh river and to Modra. In early 1287, however, the supporters of the king reconquer the Bratislava Castle.

1287-1291: Albert of Habsburg in southwestern Slovakia:

1291: See 1287-1291

after 1293:Omodej has an own Court staff

late 1290’s: Total anarchy arises again in Historic Hungary (see also 1287)

1298: Matthew Csák becomes the most powerful enemy of king Andrew III within Historic Hungary. A campaign performed by Demeter Balassa (the leader of the Bratislava and Zvolen counties and an ally of the king) against Matthew Csák fails

1300: At the beginning of the year, Csák supports the candidature of a new king -Charles Robert - for the Hungarian throne, but in the summer, a temporary peace between Andrew III and his major enemies – Matthew Csák and the Lords of Güssing (Ivan, Nicolaus and Henrich).

early 14^th century: The northern border of Historic Hungary on the territory of Slovakia reaches its present-day course (i. e. It is shifted to the north in the Spiš region and in easternmost Slovakia). See also 1250’s.

early 14^th century: Ladislaus I Lokietek, the king of Poland, lives in Omodej’s territories and Omodej – authorized by Charles Robert of Anjou - helps him to fight for the Polish throne. Omodej (just like Matthew Csák in western and central Slovakia) behaves like an independent “king” in eastern Slovakia – he especially takes possession of royal taxes and tolls, and ha castles built without a royal permission. He dominates whole present-day eastern Slovakia and parts of present-day northeastern Hungary

1301-1307/1308: A period of ”parallel” kings in Historic Hungary after the death of king Andrew III: Charles Robert of Anjou on the one hand (1301-1342), and the Czech king Wenceslas III of Bohemia (= Ladislaus V of Historic Hungary) (1301-1305) and his Bavarian successor Otto III (1305-1307/1308) on the other hand. But Wenceslas is not a genuine king, because he is only supported by the Güssings (in western Historic Hungary) and Omodejs and Matthew Csák (in Slovakia), who however are virtually independent rulers on their territories. Finally, in 1304 he leaves the country and returns to Bohemia, where he makes Otto his succesor in Hungary in 1305.

1301 - 1322: After the death of king Andrew III in 1301, Bratislava and surroundings become part of Austria, because Andrew’s widow has given the town to the Habsburgs, and is a kind of neutral zone between the territories of the Matthew Csák and of the Güssings. In 1322, the Habsburgs return Bratislava to Historic Hungary, because the Hungarian king Charles Robert is an ally of the Austrian duke Frederick III of Habsburg who tries to become German king and emperor and helps him in the battle at Mühldorf. See 1327, 1328.

1308: The Pope, supporting Charles Robert, sends cardinal Gentilis to Bratislava, from where he starts negotiations with the most powerful oligarchs in order to persuade them to support Charles Robert and to reelect him the new king (see 1301 – 1307/1308). In general, he is successful (Charles is reelected), but his most important meeting - with Matthew Csák at Visegrád – actually fails.

1310: Matthew III Csák, as the most poweful oligarch in Historic Hungary, becomes the royal treasurer. He is also appointed a palatine charged with present-day Slovakia, but since he is taking possession of royal property and is working for his own good, he is deprived of the function in 1311, after which he becomes an open enemy of the king

1311: Omodej dies during an insurrection of the burghers of the important town of Košice in eastern Slovakia, who were loyal followers of Charles Robert (since see 1304) and whose town the house of Omodej has not been able to subdue. According to an agreement with the town and the king (October 3), the 6 sons of Omodej basically left the town and submitted themselves to the king – however, they started to ignore the agreement soon again and entered into partnership with Matthew Csák, the lord of remaining Slovakia (May 1312). See 1312

1311: Charles of Robert fails to defeat Matthew Csák in a military campaign. Matthew attacks and devastates the town and castle of Nitra (the seat of a bishopric) (see also 1316-1317). Subsequently, cardinal Gentilis (see 1308) excomunicate Matthew from the Church, but Matthew refuses to accept this on his territory.

1311-1312: The power of Matthew is at its height - he controls 14 counties and 50 castles in western and central Slovakia and northern present-day Hungary, has an own army and confers the same degrees and functions as are awarded by the Hungarian king. He also confiscates properties of royal supporters on Slovak territory (esp. the properties of the archbishop of Esztergom and of the bishop of Nitra ). The former inhabitants of the properties of the Nitrian bishopric are forced to live in newly created villages.

1312(spring): Omodej’s sons devastate the royal town of Sárospatak, thus starting heavy fightings with royal troops (the Omodejs defeat Charles Robert of Anjou at the � ariš castle, Charles retreats to Spiš and the Omodejs try to conquer Košice). The fighting will end on June 15(see below)

1312 (June 15): Charles Robert of Anjou and his allies (German inhabitants from the Spiš region and the burghers of Košice) defeat the sons of Omodej of Aba (supported by a part of the troops of Matthew Csák) near Rozhanovce (near Košice). Two sons of Omodej die. The property of the Omodejs is confiscated and transferred to Charles’ allies (esp. the house of Druget, which hence will become the most powerful noble family of eastern Slovakia for centuries). The Omodejs will emigrate to Poland, where they are known as the Homodejs.

1312 – 1321: Matthew Csák’s power remains unchanged - he remains an absolute ruler on his territory, but now he is the only refrectory magnate in Historic Hungary (except for the insurrection of Borsa in 1317).

1314-1315 (June): Matthew Csák temporarily conquers some castles in Moravia as an ally of the Austrian duke Frederick III and of the Moravian gentry in their war against John of Luxemburg (many Moravian nobles were Csák’s relatives). Charles Robert takes advantage of Matthew’s activities abroad and reconquers Visegrád, the only Matthew’s castle to the south of the Danube, on May 1.

1317: Matthew Csák decides to occupy the town of Nitra (see also 1311), because the bishop of Nitra is his personal enemy and Matthew fears that the town could be used as a basis for royal attacks in Slovakia. He burns down and devastates the castle of Nitra.

1318: Matthew Csák is excomunicated again, this time by the Bishop of Nitra

1321 – 1382: The Anjou period after the defeat of the oligarchs is a very prosperous period for the country. Slovakia is the most urbanized part of Historic Hungary - some 100 settlements will have received town privileges by the end of the 14^th century, out of which 60 in the 14^th century. The leaders (administrators) of all these towns are almost exclusively Germans (which will however change in the following century, see also 1381). The remaining population of the towns (the middle class and the poors) and of other settlements is largely Slovak, except for largely German enclaves (Bratislava, eastern Little Carpathians, Upper Nitra river and Kremnica, the Spiš, Banská Bystrica and Banská � tiavnica) and except for largely Hungarian territories in southernmost Slovakia. But even in the typically German enclave Kremnica, 30% of the inhabitants are Slovaks. All territories with the highest population density are inhabited by Slovaks. The German population in Slovakia reaches its height around 1350 and its assimilation by the Slovaks starts in the 2^nd half of the 14^th century. The first Gypsies come to Slovakia in the 14^th century (maybe already in the 13^th century), but they will only become relatively important in the 18^th century. There is also a negligible number of Jews in Slovakia, but they will only become relatively important in the (see) 17^th century. The first Jews came centuries ago with the Roman legions, and in early Middle Ages they settled especially in some towns in ghettos [Nitra – 11^th century, Bratislava – later etc. ] and were strongly discriminated in Historic Hungary till the 19^th century (see 1360). See also 15^th century. See also 1337.

1323 – 1338: Great currency and tax reform in Historic Hungary. The reform is only possible because of rich precious metal resources in Slovakia and Transylvania. After its final implementation in 1338, the new Hungarian currency will become one of the most popular currencies in Europe:

1327: The Austrian Habsburgs (duke Albrecht) occupy Bratislava again (see 1301-1322), because Charles Robert does not meet his financial duties entered into in 1322. In the same year, Charles Robert of Anjou and the Czech king John of Luxembourg enter into an alliance against the Habsburgs (Austria). See 1328.

1328 (September 21): Bratislava becomes part of Historic Hungary again (see above) after a war between Historic Hungary and Austria.

1328 (November 8): The mint of the mining town of Kremnica is founded by king Charles Robert. The mint has been working till today. It is the oldest still working mint in the world. The Hungarian ducates will be minted here since c. 1330 and the Hungarian silver groschens since 1329 (see 1323 – 1338).

1330: The Novohrad noble Felicián Zach makes an attempt on the life of the king and his family for unknown reasons. Felicián is killed during the attempt and all his relatives afterwards.

1335: In August, the representatives of the Czech, Polish and Hungarian king meet at Trenčín and negotiate the discussion topics and their solutions for the subsequent Visegrád meeting. The main result is the Trencin agreement, by which Poland promises to renounce to Silesia forever in favour of Bohemia. In November, the Czech, Polish and Hungarian king meet at Visegrád in person to agree that the Czechs renounce to the Polish crown.

1337: The presence of the Wallachians (in Slovak:Valasi) in Slovakia is documented for the first time – they are in the Uh county in easternmost Slovakia. They are ethnic Ruthenians (partly also Poles and Romanians). Approximately in the 1350’s, they penetrate to northern Zemplín and to � ariš and in the 2^nd half of the 14^th century also to northern Spiš. In this century, they are largely nomads, settle in higher mountains, their number is very low, and they play no important role in Slovakia (see also 15^th century). First Ruthenians had settled in eastern Slovakia in the 11^th and 12^th century, but only sporadicly.

1360: The kings of Historic Hungary (Louis I), Bohemia (Charles IV) and the duke of Austria (Rudolf IV of Habsburg) meet in Trnava to solve their contentions –as a result, Charles IV disclaims Austria, Rudolf disclaims Bohemia and Louis I gets the Italian towns of Feltre and Belluno from Charles IV

1360: The king orders all Jews to be expelled from Historic Hungary (see 1321-1382, 17^th century - 1711). They flee to Austria and Moravia.

1360’s: Students from Slovakia start to attend universities, namely the University of Prague (in Bohemia, founded in 1348, first Slovak students in 1367), of Kraków (in Poland, founded in 1364) and of Vienna (in Austria, founded in 1365). (see 1465)

1369(May 7): The town of Košice is the first town in Europe to receive the privilege to use an own coat of arms. This and many other privileges have been a result of the support of the town provided to the king during the 1312 battle near Rozhanovce

1370: The town privileges of the towns in Spiš are codified in one code, the “Zipser Willkür”, similar to the German ”Sachsenspiegel”.

1380: First known artistic literary text written in the Slovak language – a poem called “Mária, matko”.

He was duke of Brandenburg (1378-1385), Hungarian king (since 1387), Roman (i.e. German) king (since 1410/11), Roman (i.e. German) Emperor (since 1433), Czech king (1419-1420 and 1436-1437). He had to fight a lot during his reign - mainly against the Turks, i.e. the Ottoman Empire, (since 1389/1396), against various Hungarian magnates, against Ladislaus II of Jagiellon from Poland (1395-1412), against Ladislaus of Naples (1403), against the Hussites mostly in the present-day Czech Republic (1419-1437) and against Venetia in Italy (1411-1433):

1382: Louis I of Anjou dies and his daughter Maria (represented by her mother Elizabeth of Anjou) becomes the queen of Historic Hungary. Sigismund claims Historic Hungary as Maria’s betrothed, but Maria refuses him.

1386 (spring – May): Sigismund and Wenceslas IV invade Historic Hungary and occupy Györ. In early May, Elizabeth and Maria negotiate with Sigismund and Wenceslas IV. As a result, Historic Hungary accepts the pawning of the Slovak counties (see 1385) and declares them a debt of Historic Hungary.

1387: Sigismund is elected king of Historic Hungary.

1397: The Moravian margrave Prokop invades northern Slovakia, because Sigismund has not repaid his debt (see 1385, 1386, 1401) , but he is defeated.

1400: First known Slovak inquisition trials against the Waldensians occur in Trnava. This sect had been spreading among the German imigrants of the town.

1402 (January): For the help the towns, esp. Bratislava and Trnava, had provided to Sigismund during (see) the 1401 conspiracy, the towns of Bratislava, Trnava, Trenčín, Levoča, Bardejov and Sopron receive the staple right.

1402(September 21): Hungarian estates, at their diet in Bratislava, confirm the agreement concluded between Sigismund and the Austrian duke Albert of Habsburg from September 14, under which Albert can become Hungarian king if Sigismund dies without having successors. This agreement is the basis of all Habsburg claims to the Hungarian throne until 1526.

1403: Ladislaus of Naples (the son of Charles II of Anjou (see 1385) who was killed in 1386 by Elizabeth’s supporters) - supported by the Pope - and his Hungarian allies penetrate into central Historic Hungary from Dalmatia, while Sigismund is in Bohemia. At the same time, a temporary insurrection against Sigismund, led by Bishop Tomáš Ludanický (see 1401), arises in southwestern Slovakia. In July, Ladislaus’s troops are defeated by by troops of Stibor of Stiborice (see 1396, 1401) and in August and September defeated by Sigismund’s troops. In the meantime on August 9 in Bratislava, Sigismund, angry with Pope’s support for Ladislaus of Naples, prohibits any payments to and accepting of any orderrs from the Papal court in Historic Hungary and Bohemia, so that the Pope excommunicates Sigismund on September 1. See 1404.

1404: At the Hungarian Diet in Bratislava, Sigismund issues the ”Placetum Regium”, by which he restrains the power of the Papal court in Historic Hungary and then appoints some profane governors for some ecclesiastic offices. See 1403.

1405: All towns in Historic Hungary are declared "free royal towns" by Sigismund, meaning that they receive ”collective nobility”, i.e. the status of a feudal lord with all its privileges, because Sigismund wants to restrain the increasing power of (true) feudal lords in Historic Hungary. But the towns’ status did not become completely equal to that of the nobles in reality.

1408 (December 12): Sigismund founds the Dragon Order, , whose initial members are Sigismund and his wife and 22 barons of Historic Hungary. Some of them are from Slovakia. The order will be important politically, because Sigismund undertakes to discuss all important questions concerning the order and his kingdom with at least five members of the order first. Members from remaining Europe will be accepted signed up later, but at this time the order will be only a formal organisation. The order will cease when the Habsburgs become rulers of Historic Hungary.

1410 (September – October): The Poles defeat small attacks from Historic Hungary led by Stibor of Stiborice (see e. g. 1396). The attacks reach the territory of Nowy Sacz (see April).

1411: Sigismund’s daughter Elizabeth (2 years old) becomes engaged to Albert of Habsburg (14 years old) in Bratislava and Sigismund declares Albert his heir.

1412(March 15): Peace between Sigismund and Poland (king Ladislaus II of Jagiellon) and Lithuania (duke Vitold) is signed at Stará Ľubovňa, after a truce had been signed between Poland and Historic Hungary on November 11 1411 in � ramovice at the border between Poland and Historic Hungary.

1412(October 8): Sigismund, needing money to finance his war against Venetia, borrows money from the Polish king Ladislaus II in exchange for putting in pawn to Poland 13 rich towns from the Spiš region plus 3 small towns around Stará Ľubovňa. Although the towns are supposed to be returned to Historic Hungary when the loan is repaid, they remain in pawn until 1772. The towns are formally part of Historic Hungary, but their administration and taxes are the responsibility of Poland. The special status will strongly help the towns’ economies.

1422: The first known single document (not however the first written text) completely written in (Slovakized) Czech from Slovak territory stems from the noble Stibor Junior, the son of Stibor of Stiborice (see 1396, 1401). Older documents from Slovakia have been written in Latin or (in towns) in German. The Czech language started to penetrate to Slovakia in the 14^th century, but massively only in the 15^th century. Latin was the official language of Historic Hungary (till 1844).

1424: King Sigismund grants central Slovak mining towns and the Zvolen Castle to his wife Barbara

1428 – 1435: The Hussites undertake their so-called “charming rides” (i.e. crusades/campaigns allegedly aimed at convincing people outside Czechia of Hussite ideas) to Historic Hungary. All of the charming rides to Historic Hungary are restricted to Slovak territory:

1430: Sigismund allows Bratislava to found a mint (see also 1000-1038) as a reward for the damages caused to the town by the war against the Hussites. The minting of small coins called quartings starts in March, and that of other silver coins starts in the summer.

c. 1430: Sigismund decides to make the Bratislava Castle – due to its central location - the center of his empire (which will never be imlemented and Sigismund will always live in the town below the castle). As a result, a total rearrangement of the Bratislava castle takes place in 1430 – 1434. Fortification works at the castle, caused by expected Hussite attacks, however, started as early as after 1420.

1435 (March): At the Diet of Bratislava, Sigismund issues the Decretum maius, by which he reforms mainly the judiciary system. Furthermore, he issues a decree concerning the defense against the Hussites, in which he undertakes to pay for the protection of western Slovakia from his own funds.

1437 (December): Sigismund dies and the Diet of Bratislava elects Albert of Habsburg the new Hungarian king.

1438-1439: In the course of the struggle for the Czech throne, Polish troops invade northeastern Slovakia. They are defeated by � tefan of Rozhanovce, the leader of the Bratislava county (see around 1400).

1440: (February) Elizabeth of Habsburg, the widow of Albert II of Habsburg, gives birth to Ladislaus Posthumus (Posthumus means “born after the death of his father”) at the castle of Komárno and shortly before that has the royal crown transferred from its normal location in the tower of Visegrád to Komárno in order to prevent the planned coronation of Ladislaus III of Jagiellon (see below).

1440(March): Ignoring Elizabeth’s (i.e. Habsburg) claims to the throne, the so-called National or Hunyadian Party of Hungarian nobles elects Ladislaus III of Jagiellon king of Historic Hungary at the diet at Buda. The Hunyadian party includes mainly the nobles John Hunyadi, Lawrence Hédervári (the palatine), the lords of Rozhanovce, the lords of Perín, the lords of Pavlovce, the Bubeks (see around 1400), and the Csákys. Elizabeth’s supporters are basically only Ulric of Cilli (Ulrich of Celje), Ladislaus of Gorjani, Pangrác of Svätý Mikuláš (one of the most powerful nobles in Slovakia after the death of the Stibors (see 1396)) and Peter Komorovský (a Polish noble in Orava). See however also 1440 August.

1440(May): Elizabeth has the bishop of Esztergom crown Ladislaus king and takes the royal crown along with her son to Vienna to the court of the emperor Frederick III. Ladislaus will basically become Frederick’s hostage enabling him to interfere with Hungarian affaires and even temporarily occupying some frontier regions (see 1452).

1440(July): Ladislaus is crowned by the same bishop of Esztergom (see above), so that Historic Hungary actually has 2 kings (the only officially elected king being however Ladislaus of Jagiellon). Slovakia, like many times in history, becomes a battlefield for those two kings.

1440-1443: Fightings between the castle of Bratislava, supporting king Ladislaus of Jagiellon, and the actual town of Bratislava below the castle hill, supporting (and owned by) queen Elizabeth: In 1442, Ladislaus settles at the castle and temporarily conquers the town, but is defeated by the Austrian emperor Frederick III of Habsburg supporting Elizabeth; finally, in 1443, Elizabeth gets the town back, but the castle remains in Ladislaus’ hands till his death in 1444.

1441(September): John Giskra fails to conquer the important town of Košice.

1441(end of): Besides some other regions, Elizabeth totally controls the Spiš and � ariš region (conquered by John Giskra) and northern Slovakia to the west of Spiš (controlled by nobles that are Elizabeth’s supporters, see e. g. March 1440).

1441 - 1442: Frequent Turkish invasions to Historic Hungary. They are often defeated by troops of John Hunyadi from Transylvania, supporter of Ladislaus of Jagiellon and member of the richest noble family in Historic Hungary at that time (the family gained importance when his father was conferred the Hunedoara territory in Transylvania in 1409 from king Sigismund of Luxemburg – hence the name “Hunyadi”).

1442(January-February): Ladislaus of Jagiellon besieges the town of Bratislava (see 1440-1443).

1442(December 13): Four days before her unexpected death, Elizabeth – understanding that Historic Hungary has to unify temporarily to be able to fight against the Turks – recognizes Ladislaus of Jagiellon as king on the condition that his successor will be Ladislaus Posthumous. However, contentions between John Giskra, not wanting to leave the conquered territories, and Ladislaus of Jagiellon go on, until Giskra manages to conquer the Spiš Castle (see below). After Elizabeth’s death, Giskra receives instructions from the emperor Frederick III in Vienna. The official reason for Giskra’s continuing stay in Slovakia is the protection of the minor Ladislaus Posthumus’ right to the throne.

1443 (summer – winter): Ladislaus of Jagiellon and John Hunyadi are fighting against the Turks in the Balkans.

1443(August): Giskra manages to conquer the important Spiš Castle by a subterfuge (thereby controlling the whole Spiš), and only now he is ready to accept offers for peace by Ladislaus of Jagiellon. The peace negotiations are supported by cardinal Cesarini, the papal legate in Historic Hungary, because even the Holy See sees the necessity to concentrate all available sources on the prepared big campaign against the Turks. See 1441 – 1442. See also below.

1443(September 1): A one-year truce is concluded between John Giskra and Ladislaus of Jagiellon (represented by � imon of Rozhanovce) in Spišská Nová Ves. Prolonged in 1444. John Giskra stays in Slovakia, Ladislaus Posthumus in Vienna (see 1440). In the same year(?), Giskra signs similar truce agreements with the nobles of the Novohrad and Hont counties, because they had a hostile attitude towards Giskra.

1444(April): The Hungarian Diet in Buda adopts laws to increase the power of the king. A part of the nobles tries to have arrested John Giskra and Pangrác of Svätý Mikuláš (see 1440 March). Giskra manages to flee from Buda in disguise and with king Ladislaus’ support.

1444: John Giskra (1) prolonges the 1443 truce, (2) concludes a two-year peace with the emperor Frederick III (May 21) who considers himself the protector of the rights of the minor Ladislaus Posthumus, and (3) concludes a two-year peace with Poland (on November 30) enabling free trade and movements between Slovakia and Poland.

1444(November 10): King Ladislaus of Jagiellon dies (or disappears) in the battle at Varna in present-day Bulgaria when fighting against the Turks. On his way home from the battle (see 1441-1442), John Hunyadi is temporarily captured by Prince Dracula in Wallachia having ceased to support Historic Hungary and started to support the Turks.

1444(November) - 1445(May): Anarchy in Historic Hungary

1445(May) – 1446: The 7 “captains” (incl. John Hunyadi, John Giskra, Pangrác of Svätý Mikuláš, Imrich Bubek [the last 3 being responsible for Slovakia] and Ján of Rozhanovce (Rozgonyi) [the leader of the Bratislava county] – see e. g. around 1400) are charged by the Diet with governing Historic Hungary. The Diet also declares that Ladislaus Posthumus will be accepted when he becomes adult, provided that he and the royal crown leave Frederick III (see 1440) and move to Historic Hungary, but no agreement is reached with Frederick on this.

1446-1453: Due to a chaotic situation in Historic Hungary, the 7 captains are (supplemented and since 1447) replaced by one central ruler – John Hunyadi - who is appointed “governor” of Historic Hungary. In addition, Ján of Rozhanovce is charged with the protection of western Historic Hungary (mainly against Frederick III). Interestingly, it has been recorded in connection with this Diet meeting, that the deputies from Bratislava did not understand the discussions because they did not understand the Hungarian language.

1446 – 1448: Pangrác of Svätý Mikuláš (the noble of the Upper Váh Basin) devastates the properties of the archbishop of Esztergom in southwestern Slovakia several times becasue of some financial claims he has to the archbishop.

1447-1452: John Hunyadi or his allies fight against John Giskra, who is still an important lord of Slovakia:

1447-1450: The Devín Castle (in present-day Bratislava) is part of Austria (Frederick III).

1448(autumn): John Hunyadi’s Hungarian troops are totally defeated in the Kosovo polje (in Kosovo) by the Turks. Many nobles die, incl. Those from present-day Slovakia, such as Imrich Bubek, Ladislav Bubek and Juraj Csáky. A relatively peaceful period of 8 years will follow at the southern border of Historic Hungary.

1450(April): Pangrác of Svätý Mikuláš loots in Lower Austria. He is defeated by troops of Frederick III, which occupy the town of Skalica.

1452 (February-March): Hungarian estates negotiate in Bratislava. As a result, they send envoys to Vienna to require the delivery of Ladislaus Posthumus.

1452(September): Frederick III (see 1440), having been defeated in the summer by Bohemian and Austrian estates in his seat at Wiener Neustadt, delivers Ladislaus Posthumus to Historic Hungary (to Ulric of Cilli – see e. g. 1456), but keeps the royal crown (see 1440).

1453(January): The 13-years old Ladislaus Posthumus comes to the Hungarian Diet in Bratislava and is recognized by the Diet as the king of Historic Hungary (Ladislaus V) and his coronation of 1440 is declared valid. The new king appoints John Hunyadi “country captain” and returns to Vienna, so that the actual government remains with John Hunyadi.

1453(February): At the same diet, John Giskra is deprived of all his property in Historic Hungary and expelled from Historic Hungary, because the reason for his activities in Historic Hungary, namely the protection of Ladislaus’ interests, has ceased to exist. John Giskra leaves Historic Hungary and his troops there. One part of his army joins the Bratríci (see 1445-1458), so that the Bratríci movement strengthens considerably, another part is hired by Hungarian nobles. See 1454.

1454: Ladislaus Posthumus calls John Giskra back to Historic Hungary to defeat the Bratríci in Slovakia (John Giskra had been present in person at Ladislaus’ coronation as Czech king in October 1453) and Giskra is given back the control over the Spiš and � ariš regions and the mining towns in Slovakia. See also 1445-1458.

1456: John Hunyadi dies in August. In November, the sons of John Hunyadi – Ladislaus Hunyadi and Matthias Hunyadi (Matthias Corvinus)- have their supporters kill Ulric of Cilli (the count of the Bratislava castle and step uncle of Ladislaus Posthumus), because the Hunyadis and Cillis have always been enemies and because the king has appointed Ulric of Cilli the “country captain” (see 1453) and not Ladislaus Hunyadi, John Hunyadi’s first son.

1457: Ladislaus Hunyadi is executed (John Giskra had considerably assisted in Ladislaus’ arrest) in March. In the autumn, the king pardons the 14-years old Matthias Corvinus, but takes him along as a hostage to Czechia.

1457(April-September): Civil war between supporters of the Hunyadis and of the king. The Bratríci fight with the supporters of the Hunyadis.

1457(November): King Ladislaus Posthumus dies in Prague.

1458(January): Matthias Hunyadi (later called Corvinus), still interned in Prague (see 1457), is elected Hungarian king (the formal coronation will take place only in 1464, since the Hungarian crown has been in Vienna since 1440). He comes to Hungary in February.

1458(March)-1460: John Giskra (Jan Jiskra), who was still in contact with the emperor Frederick III, leaves Slovakia and goes to Poland to persuade the Polish king (whose wife was a sister of Ladislaus Posthumus) to claim the Hungarian throne. After the Polish king refuses to do so, Giskra fights against the Teutonic Order as a mercenary of the Polish king. In 1458, � imon of Rozhanovce (Rozgonyi) is appointed “captain of Upper Hungary” (i. e. of Slovakia) instead of John Giskra.

1458(May): Bratríci are defeated at Sárospatak by � imon of Rozhanovce. A slow decline of Bratríci begins.

1459-1460: Frederick III of Habsburg is elected by some opponent magnates king of Historic Hungary in February 1459. Fightings between Matthias and Frederick III at the Austro-Hungarian border follow and end with a truce in April 1460.

1460(beginning of the year): John Giskra returns from Poland.

1460-1462(April): John Giskra tries to come to terms with Matthias Corvinus, but since Matthias refuses, Giskra becomes leader of some of the Bratríci and fights with them against troops led by Matthias Corvinus mostly in eastern Slovakia. Facing heavy attacks of Matthias Corvinus, in March 1462, John Giskra and Bratríci are almost defeated – they have lost eastern Slovakia.

1462(April): An agreement between Matthias Corvinus and Frederick III is concluded in Graz (officially confirmed in Wiener Neustadt in 1463), under which Frederick III hands back the royal crown to Historic Hungary (thus enabling the formal coronation of Matthias in 1464) and recognizes Matthias as king of Historic Hungary in exchange for 80 000 ducats, and Matthias hires John Giskra (supporter of Frederick III) and a part of his troops, makes him a baron, pays him 40.000 ducats and gives him land in southeastern Historic Hungary in exchange for leaving Slovakia. Till his death in 1469/1470, John Giskra will work for Matthias (he will e. g. fight in Walachia in 1467 and lead a diplomatic mission to Istanbul in 1468).

1464 (March): Matthias reforms the judicial system and the Royal Office

1464 (May): Matthias issues a Golden Bull for Bratislava, in which he confirms all privileges the town has received from previous kings.

1466 – 1467: See 1445-1458

1467: Matthias issues a big monetary and tax reform, by which he increases the royal income considerably (by 200%).

1467-1488/1490: Universitas Istropolitana (often wrongly called Academia Istropolitana) in Bratislava, the first university in Slovakia:

1469(November): Czech troops, fighting against Matthias Corvinus since 1468, invade western Slovakia temporarily

1473-1474 : Polish troops invade northern and eastern Slovakia once more, but are defeated. In 1474 (August – December), in turn, Matthias Corvinus invades Silesia and Poland from Slovakia several times, where he fights against the Czech king and against the Polish king. The fighting ends with a peace agreement concluded for 3 and a half years in 1474.

1473: The oldest known juridical text written in the Slovak language is written. It is a translation of the German Magdeburg Law in the Municipal Book of the town of Zilina. The Slovak language is a czechisized Slovak. The book has 3 parts: The first one (the German version of the text ) stems from 1387, the second one is the above translation and the thrid one (various documents) from 1380 – 1561. All entries are written in Slovak since 1451.

1480: The first known printed document from the territory of Slovakia is printed in Bratislava by the canon Ján Han de Wep for a female burgher from Bratislava. It is an indulgence document. Two similar printed documents from 1477 and 1478 were probably printed in Bratislava as well. See also 1560.

1485 (June): Matthias conquers Vienna and moves his seat there.

1485 (December): Matthias reforms the function of Hungarian palatine.

1486 (May): Matthias issues two orders, by which he prohibits national quarrels between the Germans and the Slovaks in the town of Trnava. The conflict had arisen because of the election of the local parish priest and main judge and had turned into armed conflicts.

1488: The Chronica Hungarorum (Chronicle of the Hungarians), written by the Slovak Ján of Turiec (Ján z Turca), is published in Brno and 3 months later in Augsburg.

1489: Free royal towns, many magnates, captains, castellans of royal castles and county leaders have to swear to the king that they will support his son John Corvinus as the successor to the throne.

1490: Matthias Corvinus dies in Vienna.

1490(July 15): The Czech king Ladislaus II of Jagiellon is elected king of Historic Hungary by Hungarian estates. However the throne is also claimed by John Corvinus (son of king Matthias), Beatrice of Aragon (Matthias’ widow), John Albert (son of the Polish king, brother of Ladislaus II) and the 2 Habsburgs Frederick III (Holy Roman emperor) and Maximilian (duke of Austria and Roman king, Frederick’s son).

1490-1492: John Albert in eastern Slovakia:

1490-1491: Maximilian drives the Hungarians from Austria (summer 1490) and even occupies Hungarian frontier territories up to Székésfehervár (autumn 1490), but he is compelled by want of money to retreat and signs the Treaty of Pressburg (also called the 2^nd Peace of Pressburg, see 1271, 1626, 1805) with Ladislaus II on November 7 1491. By this treaty it is agreed that Historic Hungary renounces to Lower Austria and Maximilian should succeed to the crown in case Ladislaus left no legitimate male issue. This treaty enables Ladislaus to concentrate on fights against the Turks.

1491 – 1514: The activities of the magnate family Dóci (Dóczy) from central Slovakia (who -with properties around the mining towns- are constantly troubling the mining towns) is a typical example of the anarchy in Historic Hungary under Ladislaus II:

1494 –1495: In September 1494, John Corvinus rents his house and mines in Banská Bystrica out to the Thurzos (see also 1495). In December, the Hungarian royal treasurer John Sigismund Ernust rents his his mines to them, too, and later the same is done by further ecclesiastic and other functionaries. The Turzos were a very successful Slovak family which became rich through the trade with precious metals. Ján Turzo I (1437-1508) was a merchant and the founder of his family’s success. Ján Turzo II (1466-1520) was the Bishop of Wroclaw in Silesia, Stanislav Turzo (1470-1540) was the Bishop of Olomouc in Moravia, and Juraj Turzo I (1467-1521), who was Ján I’s follower. The family will become one of the biggest magnate families of Historic Hungary in the 16^th and early 17^th century. See 1495, 1505, 1609.

1495: The Fugger family from Germany and the Thurzo (Turzo) family (specifically Ján Turzo) from Slovakia found the “Ungarischer Handel” company (“Hungarian Trade”), later called “Neusohler Kupferhandel” (“The Copper Trade of Banská Bystrica”). This company will become the biggest copper producer and trader in the world of the 1^st half of the 16^th century and it can probably be considered the first capitalist company in the world. It will have warehouses and trade centers all over Europe. It will cease to exist as a private enterprise in 1525 (during the Miners’ Insurrection, see below), when it will be taken over by the royal Court (1526-1546 under temporary administration of the Fuggers).

1498: The 3^rd decree of Ladislaus II enumerates the 10 most important towns of Historic Hungary. Six of them are situated in Slovakia (Bratislava, Košice, Bardejov, Prešov, Trnava, Levoča), which shows Slovakia’s importance within Historic Hungary at that time.

1500: A huge fire devastates the town of Banská Bystrica.

1505: Queen Anna pawns the Slovak mining towns and the Zvolen Castle property to Juraj Turzo (see 1494-1495).

1514: The Dozsa Insurrection (the Peasants’ War of Historic Hungary) in Historic Hungary:

1514 (October): The Hungarian Diet in Buda introduces the 2^nd villeinage (till 1785; see Dozsa Insurrection above; the 1^st villeinage existed in Historic Hungary in the 9^th to the 12^th century and ceased under the influence of German colonosts and their law) by the adoption of several special laws and of the Tripartitum. The Tripartitum opus iuris consuetudinarii inclyti Regni Hungariae partiumque adnexarum, prepared in 1500 – 1514 by Stephen Verböczy, is a collection of medieval private (partly also public) common law, and of codified law. It will be used – with several amedments – till 1918 in Historic Hungary (some parts till 1950 in Slovakia). The concidence that the Tripartitum was finished in 1514 contributed to the fact that villeinage survived in Historic Hungary till 1785, because the Tripartitum (modified under the influence of the Dosza Insurrection) was the first permanent codification of Hungarian law.

1516 – 1526: The rule of Louis II is characterized by total anarchy in Historic Hungary, economic decline and a de-facto rule of some magnates. This anarchy will be also the reason of the defeat at Mohács (see 1526 August).

1517: See 1525 - 1526

1521: First adherents of the Reformation appear in Slovakia (in central Slovak mining towns). See also 1549, 1559, 1569. At the end of the 16^th century, Slovakia’s Protestant population will be largely adherents of the moderate Lutheran Augsburg confession and only ethnic Hungarians will be Calvinists.

1525-1526: The Miners’ Insurrection (the biggest insurrection of miners in Slovakia in the Middle Ages):