Matthias Bel (Hungarian: Mátyás Bél, Slovak: Matej Bel) was a polymath who resided in the Kingdom of Hungary. His life and identity exemplify the complexities of national identity in his era, where the notion of nationhood differed significantly from modern times. If posed with the question of his nationality, such as "Are you Hungarian or Slovak?" during his lifetime, Bel would likely find it perplexing. This is because the concept of nationality was not defined in the same way as it is today. Efforts from both the Hungarian and Slovak sides have sought to claim Matthias Bel as their own, reflecting the historical intricacies of the region. However, Bel's primary identification was with the region itself rather than with any specific national identity. While he had Slovak ancestry and was raised in an environment where Slovak was predominant, his linguistic abilities were diverse. He was fluent in Slovak, Hungarian, and German, and often authored his scientific works in Latin. Bel's most notable work, "Notitia Hungariae," is regarded as an encyclopedic masterpiece written in Latin. It holds the distinction of being the first scientifically-oriented description of Hungary in its history. To honour his contributions, one of the universities in Slovakia, the Matej Bel University of Banská Bystrica, continues to bear his name to this day, underscoring his enduring legacy in the region.