Живо преданье старины глубокой
Lively devotion to antiquity

Summary/Abstract: The subject of the work is King Matthias Corvinus’ (1440-1458-1490) figure in the folklore of the Subcarpathian Rusyns as well as the other Slav nations of the historic Hungarian kingdom. This folklore has been distinctly divided into two groups: in the South Slavs’ folklore the genre of historical epos prevails with its subject matter being mainly heroic fighting against the Turks, while this is absent in the Slovak and Rusyn folklore. In the Slovak and Rusyn folklore, as well as in the Hungarian, King Matthias appears first of all as a protector of the common people against their masters’ self-will, as a fair and wise king, bringing the country to well-being. In the Rusyn folklore King Matthias and his military leader Pál Kinizsi are being nationalised. They appear as Rusyns; the tales of King Matthias teem with local toponyms and often reflect real historic events and facts. In this way people unintentionally show King Matthias’ great services at the legislative definition of the Rusyns’ privilegies and rights, which exerted real influence upon the shaping of their national identity. The theme of King Matthias’ love-affairs, known in the Slovak folklore, does not exist in the Rusyn tradition: the Rusyn convention shapes King Matthias into an exclusively charismatic personality of high moral standards.

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