A jómúltkorában emlegettem az egyik magyar történelmi alakról készült angol nyelvű esszémet, amit még Angliában írtam az egyik tanfolyami órára. Túl sok forrásanyagom nem volt hozzá, jó részt csak az emlékezetem, ezért olyan szegényes (elefánt agyam van 😉 ). 200 szavasra volt korlátozva a terjedelem. … Mivel már több hete itt lapul a fiókban a papír, gondoltam, most bemásolom.

The historical figure I most admire, and why

If you asked people in Hungary who was their most admired figure in Hungarian history, most, mainly in the countryside, would say a name, ‘Mátyás király’ (King Matthias). His figure has kept its brightness and dignity during the difficult and dark years of the past centuries. His legend was born in his life time. Why?

He lived in the fifteenth century and became our biggest king. Stormy circumstances made him king when he was only 15 or 16. The task of reigning was not easy for him, not only because of his age but also the atmosphere around him. But he proved that he was capable of reigning the country. He was severe but just as the poor people said and thought. He was said to have wandered in disguise around the countryside and listened to the complaints of bondmen and did them justice later. He made the prosperity of Hungary possible. He helped the development of its economy by reforms and strengthening of its culture by inviting foreign artists or sending Hungarian ones abroad (e.g. Janus Pannonius). Those days his court was a famous cultural centre of Europe.

Now his figure lives on in tales, legends and in historical books. Nobody can stop respecting him and that is why I admire him, too.

Nos, ez lenne az a bizonyos.