Béla II of Hungary: Biography, Facts and Career
Who is Béla II of Hungary? An evergreen, sourced profile: biography, key facts and career.
Béla II the Blind (Hungarian: Vak Béla; Croatian: Bela Slijepi; Slovak: Belo Slepý; c. 1109 – 13 February 1141) was King of Hungary and Croatia from 1131 to 1141. He was blinded along with his rebellious father Álmos on the order of Álmos's brother, King Coloman of Hungary. Béla grew up in monasteries during the reign of Coloman's son Stephen II. The childless king arranged Béla's marriage with Helena of Rascia. Béla was crowned king at least two months after the death of Stephen II, implying that his accession to the throne did not happen without opposition. Two violent purges were carried out among the partisans of his predecessors to strengthen Béla's rule. King Coloman's alleged son Boris tried to dethrone Béla but the king and his allies defeated the pretender's troops in 1132. In the second half of Béla's reign, Hungary adopted an active foreign policy. Bosnia and Split seem to have accepted Béla's suzerainty around 1136.
== Early years until 1131 == Béla was the only son of Duke Álmos—the younger brother of King Coloman of Hungary—by his wife, Predslava of Kiev. Historians Gyula Kristó and Ferenc Makk write that Béla was born between 1108 and 1110. Álmos devised several plots...
Quick facts about Béla II of Hungary
- Full name: Béla II of Hungary
- Born: 1108-01-01
- Nationality: Hungary
- Known as: Royal
- Wikidata ID: Q82686
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Frequently asked questions
Who is Béla II of Hungary?
Béla II the Blind (Hungarian: Vak Béla; Croatian: Bela Slijepi; Slovak: Belo Slepý; c. 1109 – 13 February 1141) was King of Hungary and Croatia from 1131 to 1141.
What nationality is Béla II of Hungary?
Béla II of Hungary is Hungary.
When was Béla II of Hungary born?
Béla II of Hungary was born on 1108-01-01.
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