Individual Details
Béla II "the Blind" King of Hungary
(1108 - 13 Feb 1141)
Béla was born about 1108, the son of Almos of Hungary, duke of Croatia, and Predslava of Kiev. Almos had led a rebellion against his half-brother Kálmán, king of Hungary, as a result of which he and Béla were blinded and forced to flee to Constantinople. Béla was recalled by the Hungarian magnates on the death of Kálmáns son and successor Stephan II in 1131. Kálmán had refused to acknowledge the legitimacy of Boris, the son born to his adulterous second wife Jevfemija Vladimirovna of Kiev. Because Béla was blind, his wife Jelena of Serbia and brother-in-law Belos of Rascia played a large role in governing his kingdom. Shortly after taking the throne, Jelena ordered the massacre of the men she considered responsible for her husband's blinding. She appointed her brother Belos as duke of Hungary, giving him supreme command over the Hungarian army and a prestigious place at the Hungarian Court.
Béla's reign was notable for his foreign policy - his sister Hedwig was married to Adalbert of Austria, a son of Leopold III of Austria, and another sister Adelheid to Sobjeslaw I, duke of Bohemia, thereby allying Hungary with two previously inimical states. In 1136 Béla managed to recover part of Dalmatia from the control of the Republic of Venice, and sent an expedition into Bosnia. In 1137, he gave the title of Duke of Bosnia, with acceptance from the entire country, to his son Laszlo II.
Béla's entire reign was overshadowed by a conflict with Boris, whom Kálmán had refused to acknowledge, in which Boris was supported by Poland and Rus'. In 1132 Boleslaw III Krzywousty, king of Poland, led a campaign with Rus' and Polish troops on behalf of Boris. Boleslaw and Boris were defeated near de Dajó River, but Boris was to prove a persistent claimant for a number of years to come, defeated finally in 1146.
Béla died from the effects of an overindulgence of alcohol on 13 February 1141. His successor was his eldest son Géza II, but he was too young to rule, so Queen Jelena and her brother Belos continued as co-regents.
Source: Leo van de Pas
Béla's reign was notable for his foreign policy - his sister Hedwig was married to Adalbert of Austria, a son of Leopold III of Austria, and another sister Adelheid to Sobjeslaw I, duke of Bohemia, thereby allying Hungary with two previously inimical states. In 1136 Béla managed to recover part of Dalmatia from the control of the Republic of Venice, and sent an expedition into Bosnia. In 1137, he gave the title of Duke of Bosnia, with acceptance from the entire country, to his son Laszlo II.
Béla's entire reign was overshadowed by a conflict with Boris, whom Kálmán had refused to acknowledge, in which Boris was supported by Poland and Rus'. In 1132 Boleslaw III Krzywousty, king of Poland, led a campaign with Rus' and Polish troops on behalf of Boris. Boleslaw and Boris were defeated near de Dajó River, but Boris was to prove a persistent claimant for a number of years to come, defeated finally in 1146.
Béla died from the effects of an overindulgence of alcohol on 13 February 1141. His successor was his eldest son Géza II, but he was too young to rule, so Queen Jelena and her brother Belos continued as co-regents.
Source: Leo van de Pas
Events
| Birth | 1108 | Esztergom | |||
| Marriage | 28 Apr 1127 | Jelena of Serbia | |||
| Death | 13 Feb 1141 |
Families
| Spouse | Jelena of Serbia (1109 - 1146) |
| Child | Géza II King of Hungary (1130 - 1161) |
| Father | Álmos of Hungary, Duke of Croatia (1068 - 1129) |
| Mother | Predislava of Kiev ( - ) |