Tragedy, treasure, and the Danube: The legend of Queen Mary of Hungary’s lost fleet
The beginning of the 16th century was a fateful period for Hungary. Louis II was on the throne, married to an Austrian princess: Maria Habsburg, also known as Mary of Hungary. The young woman spent only five years as queen of Hungary before history suddenly took everything she had known away from her. In the summer of 1526, at the famous Battle of Mohács, King Louis II was tragically killed. This event not only left the Queen a widow, but also plunged the whole country into a crisis that would determine the fate of Hungary for centuries.
It has been suggested on several occasions that the wreckage of the former shipwreck of Mary of Hungary, widow of Louis II, might be hidden in the depths of the Danube. After the Battle of Mohács, Queen Mary fled to Vienna by boat with her entire court and a large part of the royal treasury. However, due to the turbulent conditions in the Esztergom area, several ships ran away, some sources say they sank, others were robbed.
According to local legends, ships loaded with treasure were lost in the Danube. According to Múlt-kor, in 2006 and 2008, archaeologists and divers were already searching the area, trying to identify the remains on the basis of reports from the population and stories from local people. Although so far only late medieval wooden shipbuilding elements such as mud-brick nails and large beams have been found, the research is still ongoing. Archaeologists are still hoping to find one of Queen Mary’s famous ships in the Danube bed.
The marriage of Louis II and Mary of Hungary
Louis II was married to Maria Habsburg (Mary of Hungary), who was betrothed to him as a child under the Habsburg-Jagello marriage contract. Mary was the sister of the German-Roman Emperor Charles V and the Archduke of Austria, Ferdinand Habsburg, and a member of one of the most powerful dynasties of the period. The marriage was hoped for by Louis and the Hungarian orders to give them strong Habsburg support in the fight against the looming Turkish threat. These hopes were not fulfilled, however, as the Habsburgs focused instead on their own dynastic interests.
Mary arrived in Hungary in 1521, at the time of their actual marriage, Louis was 16 and Mary 17. Although many contemporary sources and later historians have emphasised the young couple’s lavish entertainments and light-hearted lifestyle, Mary was in fact politically active. She made difficult efforts to support her husband, sought to strengthen central power and supported the activities of the royal council.
However, these efforts were repeatedly thwarted by the opposition of the Hungarian overlords and the warring factions. After the death of Louis II, Maria of Hungary continued to play an important role in the political life of Central Europe as a widow. She later served as governor of the German lowlands, demonstrating her political ability and influence within the Habsburg Empire.
The treasure of Mary of Hungary
For centuries, the legend of the shipwreck has fascinated historians, archaeologists and, of course, treasure hunters. The depths of the Danube’s bend are a veritable time-cabinet, perhaps still hiding Mary’s lost treasure ship. Several attempts have been made to find the ship using modern technology: American experts have used sonar techniques used in marine research, while the best known name from the Hungarian side is the diver and diving legend János Attila Tóth, who waits hopefully almost every summer for the Danube to lower again, as Promotions reported.
Although technology is now capable of impressive results, the Danube presents researchers with unique challenges. Over the centuries, the riverbed has become filled with debris, flotsam and waste. Often, sonar signs show only rusty barrels or sunken shipwrecks, but not the treasure they seek. For researchers, the most difficult task is to verify the objects identified by sonar live. This involves diving underwater, but visibility is often disastrous. Such a river survey is more like a blind flight than a scientific exploration.
The story is not just about a lost ship. Rather, it tells the drama of an era when Hungary’s destiny changed forever. The flight of Mary of Hungary and the legend of the lost treasures are symbolic: they embody a turning point in Hungarian history where power, interests and personal tragedy met. The mystery of the Danube’s depths continues to haunt the imagination to this day. Perhaps one day, technology and perseverance will meet, and a treasure, or at least a piece of the past, will emerge to rewrite this legend.
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