Pécs: Statue of János Hunyadi

A statue of  Hunyadi in the main square in Pécs commemorates one of the greatest heroes in Hungarian history.  Hunyadi, who rose from a humble background to become the owner of vast estates and a talented military commander, understood the danger of Turkish expansion and secured several important victories against them.  Particularly impressive and still commemorated by ringing of the church bells was his rout of the Turks at Nándorfehérvár (Belgrade) in 1456, which secured a 70-year peace period for Hungary and contributed to the cultural achievements during the reign of Hunyadi's son, Mátyás Corvinus.