National Széchényi Library (Országos Széchényi Könyvtár) from yesterday has served as home to an exlusive exhibition introducing 4 unique manuscripts, so-called Corvinas from the collection of the well-known Hungarian king, Matthias Corvinus.
The term „Corvinas“ refers to codices originally produced for Matthias Corvinus, Hungarian king from 1443 to 1490. Today, there are 230 recorded Corvinas remaining from the once rich collection which have been added to the UNESCO documents project „Memory of the World“ in 2005. They are kept today in the manuscript departments of several libraries.
photo: www.oszk.hu
In the 16th century, the 4 Corvinas of the exhibition were taken from one of the most renowned libraries of history, Bibliotheca Corviniana, established by King Matthias. After centuries-long, unsuccessful efforts of several princes, prelates and scholars to win them back, the manuscripts finally returned to Buda in 1869, as gifts of Sultan Abdul Aziz to Francis Joseph, the Apostolic King of Hungary. This ceremony, and therefore those 4 codices, played a significant symbolic role in developing closer ties between the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy and the Ottoman Empire.
The Corvinas were written by St. Augustine, Polybios (historian), Plautus (comedy writer) and Trapezuntius, famous humanist and philosopher, 3 of the codices wear the original, gorgeous velvet book cover which praises the talent of the bookbinder of Matthias. In addition to these 4, a few Turkish manuscripts, e.g. the replica of the famous Istanbul antiphonal, a liturgical codex and outstanding relic from the 14th century will be exhibited as well.
photo: www.oszk.hu
The expo will be open for 2 weeks and is organized on the occasion of the 21st International Book Festival starting today in Budapest, introducing Turkey as the guest of honor. Széchényi Library, by organizing this exhibition, salutes the reputable representatives of the Turkish cultural life visiting Hungary, as well as the Turkish-Hungarian cultural relations.
