The Hungarians may justly take pride in their early support for learning and scholarship. Long before many other regions, they showed great respect for books, knowledge, and education. One of the finest examples of this love for learning was the noble library founded at Buda by King Matthias Corvinus, the son of the famous military leader John Hunyadi. This library was established about two hundred years ago and was considered one of the greatest collections of its time.
The Famous Library of King Matthias Corvinus
The library created by King Matthias Corvinus contained several thousand books. Most of them were valuable Greek and Latin manuscripts that could not be found or purchased anywhere else in Europe. These books were carefully collected and preserved, and many of them were unique works of history, philosophy, science, and classical literature Customized Guided Sofia Tours.
The symbol of King Matthias Corvinus was a crow holding a golden ring in its beak. This emblem was stamped on many of the books in his library, making them easy to recognize. These marked volumes later became important evidence of the original collection.
Loss and Dispersion After the Ottoman Conquest
When Sultan Suleiman captured the city of Buda, a large part of this great library was scattered throughout the Turkish dominions. Many precious books were lost, stolen, or destroyed during this time. However, a selected and valuable portion of the collection was later recovered and transferred to the Imperial Library in Vienna.
At that time, the library was under the care of Cuspinianus. Over the years, many learned men added to this growing collection, including Busbequius, Wolfgangus, Lazius, Lugger, and others. These additions greatly enriched the library and helped preserve the intellectual heritage of Hungary.
The Imperial Library in Vienna
The Imperial Library in Vienna became one of the greatest libraries in Europe. Later, many rare manuscripts from the Ambrosian Library near Innsbruck were brought to Vienna by the learned Petrus Lambecius, who was the chief librarian at that time. Through these efforts, the library grew to nearly eighty thousand volumes Languages Spoken in Hungary.
By the special kindness of Petrus Lambecius, I was granted the honor of viewing many of the finest and most remarkable books in the Imperial Library. I was also allowed to borrow useful books and take them to my private lodgings, which was a rare privilege.
Contribution to the Royal Society
When I was preparing to leave Vienna, Lambecius generously gave me a catalog listing several hundred alchemical manuscripts held in the library. I later presented this catalog to the Royal Society. He also granted permission for any of these manuscripts to be copied in Vienna or even brought to England, if the Society desired.
Lost Statues and the Final Destruction
At the entrance of King Matthias Corvinus’s palace in Buda, there once stood three magnificent bronze statues. Unfortunately, these were taken by Sultan Suleiman and melted down to make cannons in Constantinople. Had they survived, it is likely they would now be displayed in Vienna as priceless works of art.
A small number of books—about four hundred volumes—remained in Buda for some time. These were only the leftovers of the once-great library. Sadly, the Turks kept them with little care. Worms, mice, and rats damaged many of them, and it was difficult even to gain permission to see them. Finally, the great fire at Buda in 1669 destroyed what remained of this noble collection.
The story of the Library of King Matthias Corvinus stands as a powerful reminder of Hungary’s early dedication to learning. Although much was lost through war and neglect, its influence lived on through the Imperial Library in Vienna and the scholars who preserved its legacy for future generations.
