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7. Military Affairs

Matthias Corvinus was at war with one or other of his neighbours during most of his reign. The army was adjusted to meet varying opponents, and so did not always have the same composition. Along the Ottoman borders, the main task was usually to repel and avenge one or two intrusions a year by semi-regular akinjis, but different soldiers were needed when the Hungarians led campaigns into the Ottoman Empire. Bohemian, Polish and Austrian armies, despite being Western in character, all differed from each other.

Most of the border-castle garrisons along the southern borders were assembled from local light cavalry and infantry, and the Danube was defended by a river fleet of small boats and sloops. The basis of the kingdom’s military strength was originally the baronial and royal battalions, the banderia, which were paid for by their lords. Added to this was an army of foreign mercenaries, which became important during the Bohemian wars, comprising small units whose commanders made fixed-term contracts with the King’s agents. Its weaponry was not uniform, and included heavy cavalry and infantry armed with high standing shields and thrusting-slashing weapons, with a small number of handgunners. The common term “Black Army”, a name coined after Matthias’ death, applies to only some of these formations. There were also troops maintained by Serbian nobles who had moved to Hungary, mostly light cavalry. These, the first cavalry formations to be called Hussars, were also regularly deployed in the western wars. Traditional siege engines and guns were used to attack castles, and there were specialised soldiers whose trade was to operate the heavy artillery. Cannons had little function in open battle. The number of soldiers under arms constantly changed. Captured commanders and soldiers were set free for a ransom, but it was also quite customary for a bargain to be struck whereby they subsequently served their captors.