Matthew I
| Matthew I | |
|---|---|
 16th century portrait of Matthew I | |
| Reign | February 6, 1308 – 18 March, 1321 |
| Coronation | February 5, 1308 in Trenčín Castle |
| Successor | Viola I |
| Born |
Máté Csák III Between 1260 and 1265 Trnava |
| Died |
21 March 1321 (aged 56–61) Trenčín Castle, Zubrowka |
| Burial |
3 April, 1321 Trenčín Castle |
| Spouse | Viola I |
| Issue |
|
| Dynasty | House of Teschen |
| Father | Matthew Csák I |
| Religion | Catholicism |
Matthew I (Zubrowkan: ns. Matush I, os. Matúš I), born Matthew III Csák and also known as Matthew the Great was a Zubrowkan monarch and Hungarian nobleman. As the first monarch of the Kingdom of Zubrowka, he established the Zubrowkan body politic, nobility, royal court, crafted various laws, and is considered responsible for Zubrowkan statehood at large. He is a widely celebrated figure within Zubrowka and Slovakia due to his hawkish and contentious relationship to the Kingdom of Hungary, favoring local Slovak nobility and autonomy, from which he usurped his domain and established the Kingdom of Zubrowka in 1308. Although Matthew did not wage any wars following his kingship, he assisted Amadeus Aba in his battle against Charles I.
His family originated from Esztergom, Hungary, and he was likely born near Trnava, Slovakia, though details of his early life are sparse. He inherited a large estate following the death of his uncle, Matthew II Csák. Following the death of King Andrew III, whom he had served in battle, the ensuing power vacuum and battle for the crown allowed Matthew to assert his power through exploiting various allegiances in order to increase his autonomy. Following the consolidation of power by Charles I, Matthew began to make preparations for his eventual usurping by marrying the early widow Viola of Teschen in 1307, who's late spouse, Wenceslaus III of Bohemia, was the final ruler of the Přemyslid dynasty; this provided him with legitimacy through royal blood. In 1308, he formally seceded from Hungary, and using his contacts with the nobility of the Margraviate of Moravia and the Piast dynasty, he was able to achieve armed protection by the Holy Roman Empire as a client state. Through aligning himself with the Empire, he ensured that the Holy See was unlikely to directly denounce his royal legitimacy, as that would risk the Papacy's weakening influence over the Empire in the aftermath of the Investiture Controversy. Although he continued to be an influential force in Hungarian feudal politics, he never attacked the Hungarian Crown, but instead consolidated power and influence within his Kingdom. Following his death in 1321, his spouse Viola was crowned queen regnant as Viola I. The Kingdom of Zubrowka was attacked by Hungarian forces in 1322, which were successfully repelled by Viola.
His legacy is widely celebrated in Zubrowka, and has been the subject of various dramatic and fictionalized retellings of his life and rule. Matthew's perceived journey as a rags to riches figure has often elevated his status, widely viewed as a protector of the Slovaks against the oppressive Hungarian Crown. However, historical accounts contradict this view, as Matthew likely acted primarily in his own interest to what advanced his ambitions of power. A shrewd, sly, and cunning aristocrat, Matthew I displayed immense skill in navigating and using the feudal system to increase his power and authority over others; skills which he instilled in his spouse, Viola I. His ability to establish and maintain a kingdom as a nobleman is considered a rare feat in European history.