Editing Władysław III of Poland (section)

===King of Hungary and Croatia, 1440===
{{further|Central Europe|Ottoman wars in Europe}}
[[File:A Szent Korona elölről 2.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Holy Crown of Hungary]] was hidden from Władysław by [[Elizabeth of Luxembourg]] to prevent his coronation as King of Hungary.]]
In October 1439, Albert II died and left the [[List of rulers of Austria|Austrian]], Bohemian and Hungarian thrones unoccupied.{{sfn|Ágoston|2023|page=64}} His only son, born in February 1440, became known as [[Ladislaus the Posthumous]].{{sfn|Ágoston|2023|page=64}} Ladislaus' claim to the [[Duchy of Austria]] was acknowledged in accordance with Albert's testament.{{sfn|Beller|2006|p=34}}{{sfn|Pálosfalvi|2002|p=143}} Under the influence and pressure of [[Oldřich II of Rosenberg]], the Catholic nobles were also inclined to endorse Ladislaus's hereditary right to Bohemia.{{sfn|Šmahel|2011|p=164}}{{sfn|Pálosfalvi|2002|p=143}} Conversely, the Hungarians were not willing to pass his candidacy and began dialogue with the Poles.{{sfn|Pálosfalvi|2002|p=143}} In early January 1440, the Hungarian Estates rejected the deceased king's testament at an assembly in [[Buda]] that would place the regency in the hands of [[Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor|Frederick III Habsburg]].{{sfn|Ágoston|2023|page=64}}

The general animosity towards the [[Habsburg dynasty]] and the impending Ottoman threat prevented the Hungarians from accepting an infant as king and turned to Poland.{{sfn|Ágoston|2023|page=64}} Ladislaus' widowed mother, Queen [[Elizabeth of Luxembourg]], was desperate to halt that and sent intermediaries to persuade the Hungarians to terminate all negotiations with Władysław.{{sfn|Pálosfalvi|2002|p=143}} Contrary to her efforts, the Hungarian nobles proved resolute and elected Władysław king on 8 March 1440.{{sfn|Solymosi|Körmendi|1981|p=257}} Prior to his election, Władysław vowed to marry Elizabeth and protect her infant son's interests in Austria and Bohemia.{{sfn|Solymosi|Körmendi|1981|p=257}} Simultaneously, Władysław was made [[List of dukes and kings of Croatia|King of Croatia]] as the Croatian dominion was in a [[Croatia in personal union with Hungary|personal union with Hungary]] since 1102.{{sfn|Davis|2024|page=15}}

Elizabeth did not approve of the Estates' election, and on 15 May 1440, she had her son crowned with the [[Holy Crown of Hungary]], which one of Elizabeth's [[lady in waiting|ladies-in-waiting]] ([[Helene Kottanner]]) had stolen from safekeeping at the fortress of [[Visegrád]].{{sfn|Ágoston|2023|page=64}} The Hungarians soon decried the ceremony as an unlawful farce and utilised a reliquary crown for Władysław's coronation on 17 July 1440 at the [[Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary]] in [[Székesfehérvár]].{{sfn|Ágoston|2023|pages=64–65}} He had also received significant support from [[Pope Eugene IV]], in exchange for his help in organising an anti-Muslim [[crusade]].{{sfn|Stone|2014|page=22}} Although still young and king solely by title, Władysław became deeply involved in the struggle against the Ottomans, having been brought up in the standard of a pious [[Christianity|Christian]] monarch.