Marcus Corvinus

Lore & Background

Markus Corvinus was born in the 5th century as the son of Alexander Corvinus, the first immortal. Along with his twin brother William, he inherited the active immortality strain from his father. The bond between Markus and William was unique, a connection their father never fully understood. Markus's path diverged when he was bitten by a bat, transforming him into the progenitor of all vampires.

Conversely, William was bitten by a wolf, becoming the first Werewolf who could not return to human form and whose bite infected even the dead with Lycanthropy. To contain William's threat, Markus approached Viktor, a dying Hungarian general, offering him immortality in exchange for his military expertise and army. This alliance created the Death Dealers and established the vampire hierarchy. However, Markus eventually fell from power; Viktor betrayed and imprisoned him, then falsely claimed to be the first of the 'true' vampires.

Centuries later, after being revived by Lycan blood, Markus sought to rescue William and use his blood to create a hybrid army, but he was defeated and killed by an enhanced Selene.

Reader's Guide

Markus Corvinus serves as the biological origin point for the vampire race in the Underworld universe. He is distinct from mythological vampires; his abilities stem from being a biologically immortal transgenic rather than mystical forces. His transformation was caused by a bat bite, while his brother William's werewolf curse came from a wolf bite. Key historical moments include his alliance with Viktor to create the Death Dealers and his eventual overthrow by that same general.

In Underworld: Evolution, Markus returns as the primary antagonist, attempting to merge the vampire and lycan strains through his brother William. His defeat is a turning point in the saga; Selene kills him using his own wing talon and helicopter blades, preventing the creation of a super-hybrid. Understanding Markus clarifies that the vampire weakness to UV radiation is biological, not mystical, and that their strength comes from age and blood consumption.

Biology and Physiology

Vampires in this universe are biologically immortal transgenics, not supernatural entities. When they metamorphose, their eyes turn electric blue or bright gold, and their upper canine teeth lengthen into pointed fangs; the lateral incisors remain sharp and pointed at all times. They possess superhuman strength, reflexes, speed, resistance to injury, and accelerated healing, all maintained by feeding on blood. Unlike mythological vampires, they are immune to crosses, holy water, garlic, and stakes. However, they are highly vulnerable to ultraviolet radiation. Death can occur from broken necks, blood loss, nightshade poisoning, dismemberment, or destruction of the head or heart. Their power increases with age, with Elders being stronger than Lycans in werewolf form.

The First Vampire and Historical Origins

Markus Corvinus is the first true vampire, born in the 5th century as a son of Alexander Corvinus. He was the twin brother of William, who became the first Werewolf after being bitten by a wolf. Markus himself was transformed into a vampire after being bitten by a bat. To stop William's destructive rampage across Hungary, Markus made a deal with Viktor, offering him immortality in exchange for his army to fight the Lycans. This created the Death Dealers and the Elder hierarchy. Despite this, Markus was eventually overthrown by Viktor, who claimed to be the first vampire. Centuries later, after being revived by Lycan blood, Markus attempted to resurrect William as a hybrid but was killed by Selene.

Political Structure and Leadership

The Vampire Nation is organized into covens, traditionally split between the Old World Coven in Hungary (near Budapest) and the New World Coven in New York. The leadership originally consisted of three Elders: Markus Corvinus, Lord Viktor, and Lady Amelia. Markus was the first but was overthrown by Viktor. Lady Amelia was assassinated by Lycans alongside the Vampire Council. Viktor ruled ruthlessly until he was killed by Selene. After these events, leadership was restored with a new triumvirate of Elders: Selene, David (Amelia's son), and Lena (a Nordic vampire).

Specialized Roles and Hybrid Evolution

Death Dealers are vampires specifically trained to kill Lycans, originally formed from Viktor's army. The strict separation between species was broken by Michael Corvin, whose bloodline allowed him to survive bites from both a vampire and a lycan, creating the first hybrid immune to UV radiation. Selene later became a Vampire/Corvinus-Strain Hybrid after consuming Michael's blood, gaining immense power. Markus attempted to replicate this by turning his brother William into a hybrid but was stopped.