Although King Matthias is a very popular figure in our historical memory, it was surprising during his reign that there were perhaps the most conspiracies to overthrow the crowned king in Hungary. In 1467, Transylvania rebelled against him – mainly over the introduction of new types of taxation – and this rebellion was supported by the Moldavian Voivode Stephen (Bogdanovich) III (the Great), through whom the Polish-Lithuanian ruler Casimir IV pulled the strings.
King Mathias Corvinus
At this time, the now legendary Polish-Hungarian friendship was on the point of breaking down, as the Polish Jagello dynasty also laid claim to the throne of Matthias Hunyadi. In addition, Moldavia wedged between the two great powers, was also a source of problems, with both kingdoms demanding vassalage from it.
In August 1467, Matthias invaded Transylvania from Buda with an army of 12,000 men, where he quickly dispersed the rebel forces allied against him and began to retaliate. Some were pardoned, some Hungarian lords escaped with the loss of some of their estates, but others were torn apart by the king with fiery pincers in the center of Brassó (Brasov, Kronstadt). The pacification was swift, and soon he was a merciful ruler who forgave rebellious towns like his native Kolozsvár.
The wars of Matthias
After the suppression of the Transylvanian rebellion, King Matthias Corvinus, even though it was already late autumn, decided to attack the Moldavian governor Stephen Bogdanovich, who not only incited the Transylvanian Wallachians but also, having driven out Peter Aaron, who had recognized Hungarian sovereignty in 1458, he replaced him as prince and immediately afterward paid homage to the Polish king Casimir.
Voivode Szapolyai Imre of Transylvania warned the king not to expose his army to the great fatigue of crossing the Carpathians in the coming harsh winter weather, but Matthias refused to give in, saying that this was the best time, because Bogdanovich did not even suspect that he would be attacked even at this time. Thereupon the annoyed Voivode retreated with his troops to his land, not heeding the summons of the Archbishop Vitéz, who had been sent after him.
You can read the full article on my page:
https://www.hungarianottomanwars.com/15-december-1467-the-battle-of-moldvabanya-baia/
The Battle of Moldvabánya in the Thuróczy Chronicle:
