Tomb of Matthew Czak of Trenčín
Matthew came from a mighty Czak family whose members had faithfully served under the Hungarian Arpad kings for centuries. Hungarian chronicles trace the origins of the Czak family back to an old Magyar, called Saboltcha. We are told that the first Czak was Saboltcha’s grandson. Mathew, too, who was the third bearer of the name “of Trenčín” served in arms and service under the last Arpad ruler, Andrew III.
Later, he became the lord of Bratislava and then of Trenčín. Top of his career came when he was promoted to the position of Hungarian palatine, only second to the king. His savage and greedy character would ultimately plunge him into conflict with royal power. After Andrew’s death and dying out of the Arpad family, Mathew Czak took advantage of the interregnum that soon followed. It was through alternating support of individual pretenders to the throne who would legalize his forceful seizures and robberies, that Matthew was able to gather enormous wealth and power.
At the peak of his reign, he had in possession (according to various sources) around 40 – 90 castles, 12 to 26 seats, and 24 cities and towns, and ruled over most of territory of today’s Slovakia, including part of the Zadunajska region and a number of lands in Moravia. His unofficial title “Dominus Vagi et Tatrae”, meaning “Lord of Váh and Tatras” was more than an empty compliment.
Matthew turned Trenčín into the center of his immense dominions, with its own court. We are told that he also had a money minting facility there. Since none has been found up to this date, it could well be that the story is just one of the rumors spread by his numerous enemies. And Matthew did have many of these, indeed! Enemies would include his robbed neighbors and even the king and church leaders. Since Matthew would not spare the properties of his weaker neighbors, but would rummage and take into possession both royal and church produce, he was put under church curse twice. There was an interdict pronounced over his possessions – prohibition to serve sacraments. Although the king Robert of Anjou proved himself to be a canny foe also to Matthew, yet their mutual fight seemed to be without a winner. When Matthew was on his deathbed in the Spring of 1321, his power had not been broken, but there was no heir and successor to his throne.
Tomb of Matthew Czak of Trenčín has never been found. This must have troubled his contemporaries and fascinated investigators, “mysterologists”, and all kinds of romantics.That this powerful and wealthy lord would not take enough care to secure a majestic place for his last resting place, seemed unimaginable. It could as well be such thinking that might have provoked and spread a tale of hidden tomb that holds the lord of the castle together with his manifold riches laid inside the chests of iron, silver and gold. However, one cannot help notice the similarity between this tale and that of the death of Attila - “the whip of God”.
During the 18th and the 19th centuries especially, many a treasure seeker would unwearyingly search for the tomb of Matthew. One time they would try underneath the Matthew’s tower, other times below the plum tree in the lower court, or inside the secret catacomb near the Jeremiah’s citadel. Yet others believe him to be buried deep under the Vah’s riverbed, or somewhere in the Cherry Grove in the Brezina woods. Another tale suggests that Matthew escaped before the royal army through a secret tunnel and lived the rest of his life in a cloister at bigger Skalka – supposedly the place of his tomb.
Notwithstanding the legends, reality is probably more sober. It appears that Matthew really died at Trenčín castle at the time when the royal army laid siege of it or was even approaching it. Hated by his ardent enemies, church and at the prospect of being betrayed by some of his friends (some had already betrayed him), he knew that even his death would produce all but mercy in these people. It appears that Matthew did not trust in the abilities of his designated successor – Stephen Czech, and would be secretly buried by a handful of his faithful ones at a place always to be held in secret. Sadly, he was right. Stephen could not hold the castle and shortly after Matthew’s death his dominions would disintegrate. Who could ask for mercy from the king? Those who buried Matthew may as well have fallen during the last defense of the castle, or survive the attack and die later, taking their secret with them. We can only guess what really happened back then.
Speaking of the treasure, this may as well be a different story. Notwithstanding the church curses (really, nothing unusual back then), Matthew considered himself a good Christian. This can be supported by several sources that record numerous secret visits of the Skalka abbot John to the castle to hold the Mass, despite the interdict. It is a known fact that Christians would not be buried with treasures. Maybe those that had access to the treasures left behind at Matthew’s death took them; the rest was left to the mercy of the royal army. What was left was only the legend itself.http://www.trencin.sk/en/povesti - top
Later, he became the lord of Bratislava and then of Trenčín. Top of his career came when he was promoted to the position of Hungarian palatine, only second to the king. His savage and greedy character would ultimately plunge him into conflict with royal power. After Andrew’s death and dying out of the Arpad family, Mathew Czak took advantage of the interregnum that soon followed. It was through alternating support of individual pretenders to the throne who would legalize his forceful seizures and robberies, that Matthew was able to gather enormous wealth and power.
At the peak of his reign, he had in possession (according to various sources) around 40 – 90 castles, 12 to 26 seats, and 24 cities and towns, and ruled over most of territory of today’s Slovakia, including part of the Zadunajska region and a number of lands in Moravia. His unofficial title “Dominus Vagi et Tatrae”, meaning “Lord of Váh and Tatras” was more than an empty compliment.
Matthew turned Trenčín into the center of his immense dominions, with its own court. We are told that he also had a money minting facility there. Since none has been found up to this date, it could well be that the story is just one of the rumors spread by his numerous enemies. And Matthew did have many of these, indeed! Enemies would include his robbed neighbors and even the king and church leaders. Since Matthew would not spare the properties of his weaker neighbors, but would rummage and take into possession both royal and church produce, he was put under church curse twice. There was an interdict pronounced over his possessions – prohibition to serve sacraments. Although the king Robert of Anjou proved himself to be a canny foe also to Matthew, yet their mutual fight seemed to be without a winner. When Matthew was on his deathbed in the Spring of 1321, his power had not been broken, but there was no heir and successor to his throne.
Tomb of Matthew Czak of Trenčín has never been found. This must have troubled his contemporaries and fascinated investigators, “mysterologists”, and all kinds of romantics.That this powerful and wealthy lord would not take enough care to secure a majestic place for his last resting place, seemed unimaginable. It could as well be such thinking that might have provoked and spread a tale of hidden tomb that holds the lord of the castle together with his manifold riches laid inside the chests of iron, silver and gold. However, one cannot help notice the similarity between this tale and that of the death of Attila - “the whip of God”.
During the 18th and the 19th centuries especially, many a treasure seeker would unwearyingly search for the tomb of Matthew. One time they would try underneath the Matthew’s tower, other times below the plum tree in the lower court, or inside the secret catacomb near the Jeremiah’s citadel. Yet others believe him to be buried deep under the Vah’s riverbed, or somewhere in the Cherry Grove in the Brezina woods. Another tale suggests that Matthew escaped before the royal army through a secret tunnel and lived the rest of his life in a cloister at bigger Skalka – supposedly the place of his tomb.
Notwithstanding the legends, reality is probably more sober. It appears that Matthew really died at Trenčín castle at the time when the royal army laid siege of it or was even approaching it. Hated by his ardent enemies, church and at the prospect of being betrayed by some of his friends (some had already betrayed him), he knew that even his death would produce all but mercy in these people. It appears that Matthew did not trust in the abilities of his designated successor – Stephen Czech, and would be secretly buried by a handful of his faithful ones at a place always to be held in secret. Sadly, he was right. Stephen could not hold the castle and shortly after Matthew’s death his dominions would disintegrate. Who could ask for mercy from the king? Those who buried Matthew may as well have fallen during the last defense of the castle, or survive the attack and die later, taking their secret with them. We can only guess what really happened back then.
Speaking of the treasure, this may as well be a different story. Notwithstanding the church curses (really, nothing unusual back then), Matthew considered himself a good Christian. This can be supported by several sources that record numerous secret visits of the Skalka abbot John to the castle to hold the Mass, despite the interdict. It is a known fact that Christians would not be buried with treasures. Maybe those that had access to the treasures left behind at Matthew’s death took them; the rest was left to the mercy of the royal army. What was left was only the legend itself.http://www.trencin.sk/en/povesti - top
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