During an excavation in 2002 in the basilica of the Virgin Mary to Székekehervár, in Hungary, a skull was discovered in the southern alley of the building. Cataloged “I/10”, he remained without identity for two decades. The prestigious place in which he rested, an old coronation and burial site of kings since the year 1000, intrigued the researchers, reports the online media Popular Mechanics. A study is releasing the mystery today: “We can assume that the skull could have belonged to King Matthias”prudently advances King Stephen Museum, in Hungary.
Matthias Corvin, nicknamed “The Just”, reigned over Hungary and Croatia between 1458 and 1490. Mounted on the throne at the age of only 14 years, he was an ambitious reformer: centralization of taxes, promotion of merit rather than royal flattery and artistic patronage. He is at the origin of the Royal Library, the Bibliotheca Corviniana, one of the largest collections of Renaissance books. However, the absence of his body remains a national enigma.
Everything changed in 2024 thanks to the work of Gábor Emese, researcher at the Gyla László research center. From graphic reconstructions, his team notices a disturbing resemblance between the discovered skull and that of Jean Corvin, illegitimate but recognized son of King Matthias. A 3D model is made, accompanied by facial modeling.
Matthias I, really?
Anonymized data was then entrusted to the German medical-legalist anthropologist Martin Trautmann. His verdict is final: the two individuals are very close to genetically. “This could suggest a twin type relationship”he says. The possibility of a genetic link is reinforced by markers on this skull already identified in 2021 with Jean and his son Christophe.
Scientists agree on the same hypothesis: the skull could well be that of King Matthias Corvin himself. If his body was not officially found, his heritage has never disappeared. Figure of Hungarian culture, inspiration of Slovenian folklore, he is also present in video games Civilization VIand continues to live in the Hungarian collective imagination.
For this hypothesis to be validated, a complete DNA analysis is necessary. The Hungarians will then be able to know if the remains of one of the most prestigious kings of their country have finally been found.
