The Siege of Šabac (1476): Hungary’s First Offensive – Retaking Šabac from the Ottomans In February 1476, King Matthias Corvinus Corvinus launched Hungary's audacious counterstrike, besieging Ottoman-held Šabac fortress on the Sava River—a strategic stronghold for Turkish raids into the Balkans. With his elite Black Army, Czech mercenaries, heavy bombards, and allies like Sibinjanin Janko and Vlad III "the Impaler," Matthias bombarded the walls for six weeks through brutal winter, using sappers,

Nestled atop Budapest’s Castle Hill, Matthias Church (Mátyás-templom) is a breathtaking testament to Hungary’s rich and turbulent past. Officially the Church of Our Lady, its roots trace back to 1015, when tradition claims Saint Stephen, Hungary’s first king, founded a Romanesque church here. Though little evidence remains, the site’s sacred legacy endured. The current Gothic masterpiece began taking shape in the 13th century under King Béla IV, after the Mongols razed its predecessor in 1241. R