Miklós Toldi
Encyclopedia
Miklós Toldi was a Hungarian nobleman from Bihar County of the Kingdom of Hungary
, who is remembered as a legendary hero in Hungarian folklore. Hungarian poet János Arany
based his famous Toldi trilogy
on his legend.
and Louis the Great. He is mentioned in 1354 as the alispán and várnagy of Pozsony County, in 1383 and 1385 as the főispán of Szabolcs County. He took part in the campaigns of Louis the Great in Italy as a mercenary leader. In 1359, on request of the king, he brought two lion cubs from Firenze
. He had to flee his home because he killed a soldier of his brother, György.
, 1574).
In folklore, Toldi has been remembered the longest in Nógrád and Bihar County and they emphasize his physical strength but place him to the age of King Matthias Corvinus, that is, a century later.
The most famous work about Miklós Toldi is the Toldi trilogy
by János Arany
. A motive for him to write about Toldi was that, according to the tradition, the Stumpy Tower (Csonka-torony) near his town of birth Nagyszalonta, had been owned by the Toldi family. Arany's trilogy was adapted into an animated film in the 1980s under the title Heroic Times
.
Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
, who is remembered as a legendary hero in Hungarian folklore. Hungarian poet János Arany
János Arany
János Arany , was a Hungarian journalist, writer, poet, and translator. He is often said to be the "Shakespeare of ballads" – he wrote more than 40 ballads which have been translated into over 50 languages, as well as the Toldi trilogy, to mention his most famous works.-Biography:He was born in...
based his famous Toldi trilogy
Toldi trilogy
The Toldi trilogy is an epic poem trilogy written by the Hungarian poet János Arany. It was inspired by the legendary strong Miklós Toldi, who served in the Hungarian King Louis the Great's army in the 14th century. He was the King's champion...
on his legend.
Life
Toldi was long regarded as a fictive person as few data survived to the present about his life. It has been shown from charters that Miklós Toldi and György Toldi were real persons in the age of kings Charles RobertCharles I of Hungary
Charles I , also known as Charles Robert , was the first King of Hungary and Croatia of the House of Anjou. He was also descended from the old Hungarian Árpád dynasty. His claim to the throne of Hungary was contested by several pretenders...
and Louis the Great. He is mentioned in 1354 as the alispán and várnagy of Pozsony County, in 1383 and 1385 as the főispán of Szabolcs County. He took part in the campaigns of Louis the Great in Italy as a mercenary leader. In 1359, on request of the king, he brought two lion cubs from Firenze
Firenze
Firenze is the Italian name for the city of Florence.Firenze may also refer to:* Andrea da Firenze, an Italian composer* Lorenzo da Firenze, an Italian composer and music teacher of the trecento...
. He had to flee his home because he killed a soldier of his brother, György.
Legacy
The earliest and most detailed source about him is Péter Ilosvai Selymes's Az híres nevezetes Toldi Miklósnak jeles cselekedeteiről és bajnokosodásáról való história (Story of the great deeds and braveries of the fabulous Miklós Toldi, DebrecenDebrecen
Debrecen , is the second largest city in Hungary after Budapest. Debrecen is the regional centre of the Northern Great Plain region and the seat of Hajdú-Bihar county.- Name :...
, 1574).
In folklore, Toldi has been remembered the longest in Nógrád and Bihar County and they emphasize his physical strength but place him to the age of King Matthias Corvinus, that is, a century later.
The most famous work about Miklós Toldi is the Toldi trilogy
Toldi trilogy
The Toldi trilogy is an epic poem trilogy written by the Hungarian poet János Arany. It was inspired by the legendary strong Miklós Toldi, who served in the Hungarian King Louis the Great's army in the 14th century. He was the King's champion...
by János Arany
János Arany
János Arany , was a Hungarian journalist, writer, poet, and translator. He is often said to be the "Shakespeare of ballads" – he wrote more than 40 ballads which have been translated into over 50 languages, as well as the Toldi trilogy, to mention his most famous works.-Biography:He was born in...
. A motive for him to write about Toldi was that, according to the tradition, the Stumpy Tower (Csonka-torony) near his town of birth Nagyszalonta, had been owned by the Toldi family. Arany's trilogy was adapted into an animated film in the 1980s under the title Heroic Times
Heroic Times
Heroic Times is a 1984 Hungarian animated fantasy-adventure film directed by József Gémes. It is an adaptation of the Toldi trilogy, a 19th century epic poem in three parts by János Arany. The film was produced through Pannonia Film Studio and is notable for its visual style, which resembles oil...
.