Individual Details
Géza II King of Hungary
(1130 - 1161)
Géza was born in Poland about 1130, the son of Béla II of Hungary and Jelena of Serbia. He succeeded his father as king of Hungary in 1141, but because he was still a minor, his maternal uncle, Belos of Rascia, duke of Hungary, served as regent of the kingdom, helped by his sister, Queen Jelena of Hungary. Géza faced challenges from Boris, the son of King Kálmán's adulterous queen Jevfemija Vladimirovna of Kiev, who disputed his claim to the throne.
In 1146 Géza married Jewfrosinija/Euphrosyne of Kiev, daughter of Mstislav I, grand duke of Kiev and Ljubawa Dimitriewna Sawiditsch. They had five children, of whom three would have progeny: Bela III, Elisabeth and Helene.
Géza developed a reputation as a well-respected king whose nobles did not dare to scheme against him. The power and courage of his army was also admired and Géza did not hesitate to involve himself in the wider politics of Europe. He supported the Welf party against the Hohenstaufens, and defeated Heinrich II of Austria in battle in 1146. He also gave military support to his brother-in-law and distant cousin Isjaslaw II, grand duke of Kiev, and fought a war against Manuel I Komnenos, emperor of Byzantium, from 1149 to 1155. After a failed attempt to achieve power in Rascia, his uncle Belos awarded himself the Banate of Croatia in 1142, ruling until 1158.
Géza died on 11 May 1161, and was succeeded by his eldest son Stefan III. When Stefan died childless in 1171, he was followed as king of Hungary by his younger brother Bela III.
In 1146 Géza married Jewfrosinija/Euphrosyne of Kiev, daughter of Mstislav I, grand duke of Kiev and Ljubawa Dimitriewna Sawiditsch. They had five children, of whom three would have progeny: Bela III, Elisabeth and Helene.
Géza developed a reputation as a well-respected king whose nobles did not dare to scheme against him. The power and courage of his army was also admired and Géza did not hesitate to involve himself in the wider politics of Europe. He supported the Welf party against the Hohenstaufens, and defeated Heinrich II of Austria in battle in 1146. He also gave military support to his brother-in-law and distant cousin Isjaslaw II, grand duke of Kiev, and fought a war against Manuel I Komnenos, emperor of Byzantium, from 1149 to 1155. After a failed attempt to achieve power in Rascia, his uncle Belos awarded himself the Banate of Croatia in 1142, ruling until 1158.
Géza died on 11 May 1161, and was succeeded by his eldest son Stefan III. When Stefan died childless in 1171, he was followed as king of Hungary by his younger brother Bela III.
Events
| Birth | 1130 | ||||
| Death | 1161 | ||||
| Marriage | Eufrozine of Kiev |
Families
| Spouse | Eufrozine of Kiev (1126 - 1186) |
| Child | Béla III King of Hungary (1148 - 1196) |
| Father | Béla II "the Blind" King of Hungary (1108 - 1141) |
| Mother | Jelena of Serbia (1109 - 1146) |