The Magyar kings died out in 1301, and thereafter, foreigners ruled Hungary … except for a brief period in the mid-15th century, when King Mátyás (Matthias I) was elected to the throne. Known as Matthias the Just, he often wandered his territory disguised as a commoner to see how the poor folks faired, then lowered taxes accordingly. A scholar, military strategist, and supporter of the arts, Matthias was a real Renaissance man — he was the first European king to import Italy’s newfangled humanistic ideas. Matthias Church is officially named “Our Lady of Buda,” since King Matthias himself was never canonized as a saint.