Matthew Csák

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Matthew Csák III (of Trenčín) (Matúš Čák III (Trenčiansky), Chak, Chaak, Czak; in (modern) Hungarian trencséni Csák Máté) (about 1260 – 1321) was the ruler of the Váh and the Tatras region, and lived in Trenčín castle in Slovakia.

Although never being an official king of Slovakia, he – as a very rich and influential Hungarian magnate – became the de-facto ruler of large territories of what is now called Slovakia, at the beginning of the 14th century. He owned 14 counties and 50 castles and fortresses in the region of present day central and western Slovakia, had an own army and was conferring the same degrees and functions as are awarded by the Hungarian king.

After his defeat in the battle near Rozhanovce (at the river Torysa; in Hungarian Rozgony) in 1312, where his army fought against the troops of King Charles Robert of Anjou, his influence started to decrease and his "empire" ceased when he died in 1321 in Trenčín.hu:Csák Máté sk:Matúš Čák Trenčiansky Template:Slovakia-bio-stub