Kralj Matjaž
Encyclopedia
Kralj Matjaž is a legend
ary hero
in Slovenia
, possibly based on a real life king Matthias Corvinus of Hungary
. The legend says that he is asleep in Mount
Peca
in the Alps
. When his beard
grows nine times around the stone table, he shall awake and bring a golden era to the Slovenes.
. But other kings were very envious of his power and so they united their armies against him. With only a hundred of his surviving soldiers, he had to hide in a cave that opened up under Mount Peca. The cave hid them from the enemies. In the cave Matjaž sat at a table with the others around him and they fell asleep. The legend says that when his beard has grown around the table nine times he will wake up. At the same time a linden tree will grow in front of his cave in middle of the winter. From midnight to one in the morning it will blossom then it will wither. At this time King Matjaž will come out of his cave and defeat all his enemies, banish away injustice, and again rule over the Slovenes. This is how there will again be a golden age in Carinthia
.
ethnologist Ágoston Pável
advanced the hypothesis that the legend of King Matjaž is a reference to the Hungarian king Mathias Corvinus who reigned over most of the Slovenian lands (Carinthia, Styria and Carniola
) for a short period in the Late Middle Ages
. Although this theory has been rebutted by most scholars, it gained widespread popularity among the public and it is still frequently quoted as a reference.
Legend
A legend is a narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to take place within human history and to possess certain qualities that give the tale verisimilitude...
ary hero
Hero
A hero , in Greek mythology and folklore, was originally a demigod, their cult being one of the most distinctive features of ancient Greek religion...
in Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
, possibly based on a real life king Matthias Corvinus of Hungary
Matthias Corvinus of Hungary
Matthias Corvinus , also called the Just in folk tales, was King of Hungary and Croatia from 1458, at the age of 14 until his death...
. The legend says that he is asleep in Mount
King in the mountain
A king in the mountain, king under the mountain or sleeping hero is a prominent motif in folklore and mythology that is found in many folktales and legends...
Peca
Peca (mountain)
Peca or Petzen is a mountain in the Karavanke Mountains on the Slovenian–Austrian border. The highest peak is on the Slovenian side of the border , while most of the mountain lies in Austria.- External links :...
in the Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
. When his beard
Beard
A beard is the collection of hair that grows on the chin, cheeks and neck of human beings. Usually, only pubescent or adult males are able to grow beards. However, women with hirsutism may develop a beard...
grows nine times around the stone table, he shall awake and bring a golden era to the Slovenes.
The legend
King Matjaž was a good king. Everyone that came was welcome and King Matjaž was ready to help. He also had his own currency coined. His time was a golden era for CarinthiaDuchy of Carinthia
The Duchy of Carinthia was a duchy located in southern Austria and parts of northern Slovenia. It was separated from the Duchy of Bavaria in 976, then the first newly created Imperial State beside the original German stem duchies....
. But other kings were very envious of his power and so they united their armies against him. With only a hundred of his surviving soldiers, he had to hide in a cave that opened up under Mount Peca. The cave hid them from the enemies. In the cave Matjaž sat at a table with the others around him and they fell asleep. The legend says that when his beard has grown around the table nine times he will wake up. At the same time a linden tree will grow in front of his cave in middle of the winter. From midnight to one in the morning it will blossom then it will wither. At this time King Matjaž will come out of his cave and defeat all his enemies, banish away injustice, and again rule over the Slovenes. This is how there will again be a golden age in Carinthia
Duchy of Carinthia
The Duchy of Carinthia was a duchy located in southern Austria and parts of northern Slovenia. It was separated from the Duchy of Bavaria in 976, then the first newly created Imperial State beside the original German stem duchies....
.
The origin
In the 1920s, the PrekmurjePrekmurje
Prekmurje is a geographically, linguistically, culturally and ethnically defined region settled by Slovenes and lying between the Mur River in Slovenia and the Rába Valley in the most western part of Hungary...
ethnologist Ágoston Pável
Ágoston Pável
Ágoston Pável, also known in Slovenian as Avgust Pavel was a Hungarian Slovene writer, poet, ethnologist, linguist and historian....
advanced the hypothesis that the legend of King Matjaž is a reference to the Hungarian king Mathias Corvinus who reigned over most of the Slovenian lands (Carinthia, Styria and Carniola
Carniola
Carniola was a historical region that comprised parts of what is now Slovenia. As part of Austria-Hungary, the region was a crown land officially known as the Duchy of Carniola until 1918. In 1849, the region was subdivided into Upper Carniola, Lower Carniola, and Inner Carniola...
) for a short period in the Late Middle Ages
Late Middle Ages
The Late Middle Ages was the period of European history generally comprising the 14th to the 16th century . The Late Middle Ages followed the High Middle Ages and preceded the onset of the early modern era ....
. Although this theory has been rebutted by most scholars, it gained widespread popularity among the public and it is still frequently quoted as a reference.