Christian John of Capistrano1Franciscan friar
Set out to sad Hungary, hearing her many plight
Hearing of ugly infighting and quarrels, lack of peace
Hearing how her beset people are in a great peril
Once a stronghold, now it has been reduced to a stony rubble
Encircled, defending it was excruciating, they've protected it unto death
The famous governor of the country dons armor and grabs a sword,
And Hunyadi2led his army to relieve the beleaguered fort.
Good Hunyadi and brave Capistrano, guide our weapons!
The night either brings our triumph or we find our death here
Three ferocious sieges, a falling soldier with a flag3
Protect, my Lord, our nation!
Christian John of Capistrano, Franciscan friar
Traveling in sad Hungary, he saw its many plight,
He saw her ugly infighting, her lack of peace, and
Made the purpose of his life to help her.
He was brave, true in a battle, thousands hung on his words.
His mind was set on holy tales, and he himself was a holy friar.
Leading armies of peasants, with just a cross in his hand,
And his loyal people achieved great triumph in the name of the Lord.
Good Hunyadi and brave Capistrano, guide our weapons,
The night either brings our triumph or we find our death here
Three ferocious sieges, falling soldier with a flag,
My Lord, protect our nation!
My Lord, protect our nation!
1. John of Capistrano (1386-1456) was a Franciscan friar and Catholic priest from the Italian town of Capestrano, Abruzzo.2. John Hunyadi (1406-1456) was a leading Hungarian military and political figure in Central and Southeastern Europe during the 15th century.3. This is a reference to what a soldier allegedly did, fighting on the Hungarian side during the Siege of Belgrade (1456).
The story says that when Titusz saw an Ottoman soldier is about to place the Ottoman standard on the top of a tower, to prevent that from happening, he threw himself on the standard bearer and they've both fell off the walls to their death.