15 Facts About Matthias Bel

Matthias Bel or Matthias Bel was a Lutheran pastor and polymath from the Kingdom of Hungary.

Matthias Bel is known as the Great Ornament of Hungary.

Matthias Bel was born in Ocsova, Kingdom of Hungary to Matthias Bel Funtik or Bel-Funtik, a Slovak wealthy peasant and butcher.

Matthias Bel described himself as "lingua Slavus, natione Hungarus, eruditione Germanus".

Matthias Bel published his articles in the Latin language newspaper Nova Posoniensia, the first regular periodical in Hungary.

In 1735 Matthias Bel drew up a proposal for the creation of a scientific academy, to be based in Pressburg.

Matthias Bel spoke Slovak, Hungarian, and German, and his works had been published mostly in Latin, which were steeped in the Hungarian national consciousness as had been manifested for instance in his writing, the Notitia Hungariae novae historico geographica, which is an extolment of the Hungarian history, influenced by his deep affection for the Hungarian language.

Matthias Bel was buried in Pressburg, the cemetery has now disappeared.

Matthias Bel was a translator, editor, publisher and distributor of several religious works.

Matthias Bel then participated on the re-edition of Bible of Kralice during which he was responsible especially for the correction of Calvinisms.

Matthias Bel participated on publication of the Hungarian Bible and of New Testament and was the author of the preface for reprint of Sebastien Castellion's Latin New Testament.

Matthias Bel translated and published several influencing works like The Compendium of Christian Revelation, True Christianity, The Garden of Paradise.

Matthias Bel's methods spread and had a modernizing effect on the education system of the entirety of Hungary.

Matthias Bel mistakenly suspected that the Hungarian language was relative of the Hebrew one.

Matthias Bel was elevated to noble rank by Charles VI of Austria, and received a golden medallion with his own portrait from Pope Clement XII.