Elizabeth was the daughter of Ladislaus Szilágyi and Catherine Bellyéni, members of two influential Hungarian families of the 15th century that were loyal to the King Sigismund of Hungary.

She had several siblings, including Mihály Szilágyi, who had an important role after the death of Elizabeth's husband, John Hunyadi.

Hunyadi was the regent of the Kingdom of Hungary and supreme commander of the armies, an excellent fighter, that counted with the favor of the Pope for confronting the Ottoman Empire.

Then Elizabeth's only son Matthias Corvinus of Hungary was taken to Prague by the young King, who feared for his life before the instability caused by the execution of Ladislaus Hunyadi.

The illegitimate John Corvinus never became King of Hungary after the death of Matthias because of the pressure of the noblemen and the widow of the monarch, but enjoyed titles and properties, fighting the Turkish armies until the end of his life as his grandfather and father did before.