Erzsébet Szilágyi

Who was Erzsébet Szilágyi?

Erzsébet Szilágyi was a Hungarian noblewoman of Szilágy County of the Kingdom of Hungary. Elizabeth was the daughter of the count Ladislaus Szilágyi and Catherine Bellyéni, members of two influential Hungarian families of the 15th century that were loyal to the King Sigismund of Hungary. She had several siblings, including the count Mihály Szilágyi, who had an important role after the death of Elizabeth's husband, John Hunyadi. Hunyadi was the regent of the Kingdom of Hungary and supreme commander of the armies, an excelse fighter, that counted with the favor of the Pope for confronting the Ottoman Empire. He was the most powerful nobleman of the Kingdom and counted with huge properties and centenars of lower noblemen that supported him. After his death in 1456, his older son Ladislaus Hunyadi became the head of the family, however after murdering the count Ulrik of Cilli, the counsilor of the King Ladislaus V of Hungary, he was executed. Then Elizabeth's only son Matthias Corvinus of Hungary was taken to Prague by the young King, who felt for his life before the instability caused after the execution of Ladislaus Hunyadi. Mihály Szilágyi and Elizabeth became the leaders of this Liga, and after the sudden death of the King Ladislaus, she negotiated the release of Matthias, who was soon crowned as King of Hungary in 1458.