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The myth and the reality of the king Matthias in Slovenian literature
Kastner, Katalin ; Jensterle Doležal, Alenka (advisor) ; Nedvědová, Milada (referee)
This thesis explores the development of the King Matthias myth in Slovene literature from the 19th century onward. Ever since first appearing at the end of the 15th century (the period of Ottoman wars in Europe), the myth of King Matthias has been an important part of the Slovene cultural heritage. Though historical evidence is scarce, it is believed that after a small army of Slovene peasants fell in battle while trying to fend off the Ottoman invaders. The locals came up with a compensatory story, claiming that the Slovene fighters were not killed, but instead retreated into hiding. Soon, the story became less and less rooted in reality, and new elements were added. The newly created myth describes an army of a hundred soldiers, lead by a Slovene king named Matthias - a figure based on Matthias Corvinus, an actual Hungarian king in that period. In the story, the army is outnumbered and facing certain death, when suddenly a nearby mountain opens up, offering king Matthias and the remaining soldiers shelter. Legend has it that one day the king is to return from the mountain, bringing with him peace and prosperity. It is important to note that for a long time, the myth of king Matthias was not mere superstition, but represented a very prominent spiritual figure for the Slovene people. The archetypal king was...
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The myth and the reality of the king Matthias in Slovenian literature
Kastner, Katalin ; Nedvědová, Milada (referee) ; Jensterle Doležal, Alenka (advisor)
This thesis explores the development of the King Matthias myth in Slovene literature from the 19th century onward. Ever since first appearing at the end of the 15th century (the period of Ottoman wars in Europe), the myth of King Matthias has been an important part of the Slovene cultural heritage. Though historical evidence is scarce, it is believed that after a small army of Slovene peasants fell in battle while trying to fend off the Ottoman invaders. The locals came up with a compensatory story, claiming that the Slovene fighters were not killed, but instead retreated into hiding. Soon, the story became less and less rooted in reality, and new elements were added. The newly created myth describes an army of a hundred soldiers, lead by a Slovene king named Matthias - a figure based on Matthias Corvinus, an actual Hungarian king in that period. In the story, the army is outnumbered and facing certain death, when suddenly a nearby mountain opens up, offering king Matthias and the remaining soldiers shelter. Legend has it that one day the king is to return from the mountain, bringing with him peace and prosperity. It is important to note that for a long time, the myth of king Matthias was not mere superstition, but represented a very prominent spiritual figure for the Slovene people. The archetypal king was...
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