Ladislas the Posthumous
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Ladislaus the Posthumous (22 February 1440 – 23 November 1457) was Duke of Austria from 1440, King of Hungary
(as Ladislaus V) from 1444 and King of Bohemia from 1453.
, and Elizabeth of Luxembourg, daughter of the Holy Roman Emperor
Sigismund
. He was called because he was born at Komárom
(then part of Hungary
, now Komárno in Slovakia
), four months after his father's death. He succeeded immediately as Duke of Austria and head of the House of Habsburg, and he also became nominal King of Bohemia. But his second cousin Frederick V
, ruler of Inner Austria
, was chosen to succeed Albert II as King of the Romans.
The estates of Hungary
elected Vladislaus III of Poland as King Vladislaus I in succession to Albert II; but the infant Ladislaus's mother had the Holy Crown of Hungary stolen from its guardians at Visegrád
and brought to Wiener Neustadt
by a lady of the court, Helene Kottannerin
. According to legend, the cross on the crown is askew because it was damaged in transit as a result. Elisabeth arranged for Ladislaus to be crowned at Székesfehérvár
on 15 May 1440.
For safety's sake, she placed Ladislaus under the guardianship of his Habsburg relative Frederick V, who proceeded to hold him as a virtual prisoner in Schloss Ort
and rule Austria
himself. On the death of Vladislaus I at the Battle of Varna
on 10 November 1444, the Hungarian estates, despite considerable opposition, elected Ladislaus Postumus as their king and sent a deputation to Vienna to induce Frederick to surrender the child and the Holy Crown, which he refused to do. In the meantime, John Hunyadi
acted as regent for Ladislaus in Hungary, while George of Poděbrady
performed the same office in Bohemia.
From 1450 the pressure of the Austrian estates to free Ladislaus grew. In 1452, they entered into the Mailberg
Confederation under the leadership of Ulrich, Baron of Eyczing, and Ulrich II, Princely Count of Celje, and freed Ladislaus by force. Ulrich of Celje, a Slovenia
n magnate
and heir to Bosnia, the cousin of Ladislaus's mother, prevailed against Eyczing and became the new guardian of the child, effectively ruling in his stead.
On 28 October 1453, at the age of thirteen, Ladislaus Postumus was finally crowned King of Bohemia, after which he lived mainly in Prague
or Vienna
. Ulrich of Celje and Ladislaus remained indifferent to the threat posed in Hungary by the Turks, and Ulrich became increasingly hostile towards John Hunyadi
, who was bearing the main burden of the battles against the Ottomans
. On the death of Hunyadi, Ladislaus made Ulrich governor of Hungary in October 1456 at the Diet of Futtak. After the Siege of Belgrade, Ulrich was murdered by Ladislaus Hunyadi . Ladislaus had the young Hunyadi beheaded on 16 March 1457. This raised such a storm in Hungary that the king had to flee to Prague
, where he spent the last months of his life.
He died suddenly in Prague on 23 November 1457 while preparing for his marriage to Magdalena of Valois
, daughter of Charles VII of France
. It was rumored at the time that his political opponents in Bohemia had poisoned him; but in the 20th century it was shown that Ladislaus died of leukemia
, not a recognized disease in that period.
Ladislaus's cousins Frederick V
and Albert VI
succeeded him in Austria; Hungary elected Matthias Corvinus, the brother of Ladislaus Hunyadi, as king; and Bohemia elected George of Poděbrady, the only Hussite
ruler of that kingdom.
King of Hungary
The King of Hungary was the head of state of the Kingdom of Hungary from 1000 to 1918.The style of title "Apostolic King" was confirmed by Pope Clement XIII in 1758 and used afterwards by all the Kings of Hungary, so after this date the kings are referred to as "Apostolic King of...
(as Ladislaus V) from 1444 and King of Bohemia from 1453.
Biography
The only son of Albert II, King of the RomansAlbert II of Germany
Albert the Magnanimous KG was King of Hungary from 1438 until his death. He was also King of Bohemia, elected King of Germany as Albert II, duke of Luxembourg and, as Albert V, archduke of Austria from 1404.-Biography:Albert was born in Vienna as the son of Albert IV, Duke of Austria, and Johanna...
, and Elizabeth of Luxembourg, daughter of the Holy Roman Emperor
Holy Roman Emperor
The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...
Sigismund
Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor
Sigismund of Luxemburg KG was King of Hungary, of Croatia from 1387 to 1437, of Bohemia from 1419, and Holy Roman Emperor for four years from 1433 until 1437, the last Emperor of the House of Luxemburg. He was also King of Italy from 1431, and of Germany from 1411...
. He was called because he was born at Komárom
Komárno
Komárno is a town in Slovakia at the confluence of the Danube and the Váh rivers. Komárno was formed from part of a historical town in Hungary situated on both banks of the Danube. Following World War I, the border of the newly created Czechoslovakia cut the historical, unified town in half,...
(then part of Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, now Komárno in Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
), four months after his father's death. He succeeded immediately as Duke of Austria and head of the House of Habsburg, and he also became nominal King of Bohemia. But his second cousin Frederick V
Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor
Frederick the Peaceful KG was Duke of Austria as Frederick V from 1424, the successor of Albert II as German King as Frederick IV from 1440, and Holy Roman Emperor as Frederick III from 1452...
, ruler of Inner Austria
Inner Austria
Inner Austria was a term used from the late 14th to the early 17th century for the Habsburg hereditary lands south of the Semmering Pass, referring to the duchies of Styria, Carinthia, Carniola and the Windic March, the County of Gorizia , the city of Trieste and assorted smaller possessions...
, was chosen to succeed Albert II as King of the Romans.
The estates of Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
elected Vladislaus III of Poland as King Vladislaus I in succession to Albert II; but the infant Ladislaus's mother had the Holy Crown of Hungary stolen from its guardians at Visegrád
Visegrád
Visegrád is a small castle town in Pest County, Hungary.Situated north of Budapest on the right bank of the Danube in the Danube Bend, Visegrád has a population 1,654 as of 2001...
and brought to Wiener Neustadt
Wiener Neustadt
-Main sights:* The Late-Romanesque Dom, consecrated in 1279 and cathedral from 1469 to 1785. The choir and transept, in Gothic style, are from the 14th century. In the late 15th century 12 statues of the Apostles were added in the apse, while the bust of Cardinal Melchior Klesl is attributed to...
by a lady of the court, Helene Kottannerin
Helene Kottannerin
Helene Kottanner was a late-medieval woman born in Ödenburg , in Hungary. Her last name is spelled variously as Kottanner, Kottanerin, or Kottannerin. She is primarily known to history as the author of memoirs about the years 1439 and 1440, when king Albrecht II of Germany died and his son...
. According to legend, the cross on the crown is askew because it was damaged in transit as a result. Elisabeth arranged for Ladislaus to be crowned at Székesfehérvár
Székesfehérvár
Székesfehérvár is a city in central Hungary and is the 9th largest in the country. Located around southwest of Budapest. It is inhabited by 101,973 people , with 136,995 in the Székesfehérvár Subregion. The city is the centre of Fejér county and the regional centre of Central Transdanubia...
on 15 May 1440.
For safety's sake, she placed Ladislaus under the guardianship of his Habsburg relative Frederick V, who proceeded to hold him as a virtual prisoner in Schloss Ort
Schloss Ort
Schloss Ort is an Austrian castle situated in the Traunsee lake, in Gmunden, 19 km from Vöcklabruck, the gate to Salzkammergut.-Early history:...
and rule Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
himself. On the death of Vladislaus I at the Battle of Varna
Battle of Varna
The Battle of Varna took place on November 10, 1444 near Varna in eastern Bulgaria. In this battle the Ottoman Empire under Sultan Murad II defeated the Polish and Hungarian armies under Władysław III of Poland and János Hunyadi...
on 10 November 1444, the Hungarian estates, despite considerable opposition, elected Ladislaus Postumus as their king and sent a deputation to Vienna to induce Frederick to surrender the child and the Holy Crown, which he refused to do. In the meantime, John Hunyadi
John Hunyadi
John Hunyadi John Hunyadi (Hungarian: Hunyadi János , Medieval Latin: Ioannes Corvinus or Ioannes de Hunyad, Romanian: Iancu (Ioan) de Hunedoara, Croatian: Janko Hunjadi, Serbian: Сибињанин Јанко / Sibinjanin Janko, Slovak: Ján Huňady) John Hunyadi (Hungarian: Hunyadi János , Medieval Latin: ...
acted as regent for Ladislaus in Hungary, while George of Poděbrady
George of Podebrady
George of Kunštát and Poděbrady , also known as Poděbrad or Podiebrad , was King of Bohemia...
performed the same office in Bohemia.
From 1450 the pressure of the Austrian estates to free Ladislaus grew. In 1452, they entered into the Mailberg
Mailberg
Mailberg is a town in the district of Hollabrunn in Lower Austria, Austria. First mentioned in records in 1055 Castle Mailberg is owned and run by the Austrian Grand Priory of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta since 1146...
Confederation under the leadership of Ulrich, Baron of Eyczing, and Ulrich II, Princely Count of Celje, and freed Ladislaus by force. Ulrich of Celje, a Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
n magnate
Magnate
Magnate, from the Late Latin magnas, a great man, itself from Latin magnus 'great', designates a noble or other man in a high social position, by birth, wealth or other qualities...
and heir to Bosnia, the cousin of Ladislaus's mother, prevailed against Eyczing and became the new guardian of the child, effectively ruling in his stead.
On 28 October 1453, at the age of thirteen, Ladislaus Postumus was finally crowned King of Bohemia, after which he lived mainly in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
or Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. Ulrich of Celje and Ladislaus remained indifferent to the threat posed in Hungary by the Turks, and Ulrich became increasingly hostile towards John Hunyadi
John Hunyadi
John Hunyadi John Hunyadi (Hungarian: Hunyadi János , Medieval Latin: Ioannes Corvinus or Ioannes de Hunyad, Romanian: Iancu (Ioan) de Hunedoara, Croatian: Janko Hunjadi, Serbian: Сибињанин Јанко / Sibinjanin Janko, Slovak: Ján Huňady) John Hunyadi (Hungarian: Hunyadi János , Medieval Latin: ...
, who was bearing the main burden of the battles against the Ottomans
Rise of the Ottoman Empire
The Foundation and Rise of the Ottoman Empire refers to the period which started with the weakening of the Seljuq Sultanate of Rûm in the very early 14th century and ended with the Byzantine Empire decline and the Fall of Constantinople on May 29, 1453.The rise of the Ottomans correlates with the...
. On the death of Hunyadi, Ladislaus made Ulrich governor of Hungary in October 1456 at the Diet of Futtak. After the Siege of Belgrade, Ulrich was murdered by Ladislaus Hunyadi . Ladislaus had the young Hunyadi beheaded on 16 March 1457. This raised such a storm in Hungary that the king had to flee to Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, where he spent the last months of his life.
Magdalena of Valois
Magdalena of Valois, also called Madeleine de France , was a daughter of Charles VII of France and Marie of Anjou, and acted as regent for her children, Francis I and Catherine I, who were successively monarchs of Navarre.Magdalena was betrothed to Ladislaus the Posthumous however he died suddenly...
, daughter of Charles VII of France
Charles VII of France
Charles VII , called the Victorious or the Well-Served , was King of France from 1422 to his death, though he was initially opposed by Henry VI of England, whose Regent, the Duke of Bedford, ruled much of France including the capital, Paris...
. It was rumored at the time that his political opponents in Bohemia had poisoned him; but in the 20th century it was shown that Ladislaus died of leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
, not a recognized disease in that period.
Ladislaus's cousins Frederick V
Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor
Frederick the Peaceful KG was Duke of Austria as Frederick V from 1424, the successor of Albert II as German King as Frederick IV from 1440, and Holy Roman Emperor as Frederick III from 1452...
and Albert VI
Albert VI, Archduke of Austria
Albert VI , also known as the Prodigal, from the House of Habsburg was, with his elder brother Emperor Frederick III, an Archduke of Inner Austria from 1424 and of Austria from 1457 until his death...
succeeded him in Austria; Hungary elected Matthias Corvinus, the brother of Ladislaus Hunyadi, as king; and Bohemia elected George of Poděbrady, the only Hussite
Hussite
The Hussites were a Christian movement following the teachings of Czech reformer Jan Hus , who became one of the forerunners of the Protestant Reformation...
ruler of that kingdom.