 The senior John Hunyadi became Voivode of Transylvania and Count of the Székelys in 1441 , with responsibility for the defense of the southern borders of Hungary against Ottoman raids . He defeated the Ottomans in several battles during his " long campaign " in the Balkan Peninsula in 1443 . The Estates of the realm elected him governor for the period of King Ladislaus V of Hungary 's minority in 1446 . King Ladislaus bestowed the title of Perpetual Count of Beszterce ( present @-@ day Bistrița , Romania ) upon John Hunyadi after he resigned of the governorship in 1452 . This was the first example of a grant of a hereditary title in the Kingdom of Hungary . John Hunyadi had by that time become the richest landowner in the Kingdom of Hungary , who held about 25 fortresses , 30 towns and more than 1 @,@ 000 villages . He died on 11 August 1456 , shortly after his greatest victory over the Ottomans at the Siege of Belgrade . 
