The library of Hungarian King Matthias Hunyadi (1458-1490), known in its time as the Bibliotheca Corvina or Bibliotheca Augusta, was the first royal Renaissance-era library in Europe north of the Alps. The legendary richness and beauty of the library represented both the king’s power and the legitimacy of his reign.

Contained within the Bibliotheca Corvina were 2,000 volumes that represented the whole of knowledge and literature considered valuable at the time, from the perspective of a humanist. Included were works of classic authors, Church Fathers, and contemporary writers. Its codices were acquired from Italy, mainly from Florence, or made in Buda. Volumes once belonging to Hungarian science lovers also made their way to the Royal Library.

This splendid collection was kept in a richly decorated library in the royal palace, near the chapel and throne-room. In keeping with their royal setting, volumes were bound in gilded leather or colored velvet, with King Matthias’s coat-of-arms painted on the covers of codices.

The Royal Library was destroyed during the Turkish conquests of 1526 and 1541. During the occupation of Buda in 1541, part of the collection was taken to Istanbul. Only those volumes that were taken to Western Europe before the conquests now survive. There are currently 216 authentic Corvinas known to exist, 53 of which can be found in Hungary. Thirty-five Corvinas are preserved in National Széchényi Library.