Géza, royal prince of Hungary
Encyclopedia
Géza was a Hungarian royal Prince, son of the King Géza II of Hungary
. Prince Géza was brother of the King's Stephen III
and Béla III of Hungary
. He travelled to Holy Land during the Third Crusade
with an army of 2.000 Hungarian warriors.
and his wife the Princess Euphrosyne of Kiev
. After several suciveory conflicts after the death of the king Géza II, his elder son was crowned as Stephen II of Hungary
(Prince Géza's brother). Géza II's two brothers tried to prevail and eventually were crowned first as Ladislaus II of Hungary, and after his death his younger brother as Stephen IV of Hungary
. However, Géza II's son, Stephen recovered the power, and defeated Stephen IV on the battlefield. During the reign of Stephen III, the wars against the Byzantine empire
continued. The emperor Manuel I Komnenos
already confronted Géza II in many occasions, thus he was determined to expand his influence over Hungary (Manuel I's mother was Saint Piroska of Hungary
, daughter of Saint Ladislaus I of Hungary, so he always had a great interest on this kingdom). Manuel and Stephen II finally reached a resolution, were they signed the peace in 1163, and the Hungarian King's younger brother Béla
, had to be sent to Constantinople
as assurance. Meanwhile, Stephen III ruled in Hungary, keeping on his court his mother Eufrosyne and his very other younger brother, the Prince Géza.
After Stephen III's death in 1172, the Prince Béla was called back from Constantinople to occupy the throne, before the Prince Géza did it first. Few months later, the Prince was crowned as Béla III of Hungary, which was not well seen by his own mother the Queen Eufrosyne and his brother Géza. Both started conspiring against Béla III for obtaining the Hungarian crown and after a couple of failed attempts, the King arrested them both. Eufrosyne was jailed but the Prince Géza succeeded on escaping and ran to Leopold V, Duke of Austria
asking for protection. However, he turned it to the Hungarian King who jailed him again.
A year later, Prince Géza escaped again, and ran to Bohemia
, but Sobeslaus II, Duke of Bohemia, also turned it to Béla III who sent him to prison. Prince Géza then remained in jail from 1177 to 1189 until the preparation for the Third Crusade
. In 1189, Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor
arrived to the Hungarian Kingdom and was received by the King Béla III. After hearing about Prince Géza's predicament, the German emperor asked to Béla III to allow him to lead a small Hungarian army to the Crusade escorting his. The Hungarian King allowed his departure and 2000 Hungarian soldiers left to Holy Land.
After the failure of the Third Crusade and the death of the German emperor, Béla III ordered Géza and his men to return to Hungary, but the Prince and his guard decided to stay in Holy Land. It is known that Géza took a byzantine noblewoman as wife between 1190 and 1191. Historians estimate that Géza's death was around 1210, because until then he is mentioned in Medieval Chronicles.
Géza II of Hungary
Géza II , , King of Hungary, King of Croatia, Dalmatia and Rama . He ascended the throne as a child and during his minority the kingdom was governed by his mother and uncle...
. Prince Géza was brother of the King's Stephen III
Stephen III of Hungary
Stephen III , King of Hungary King of Croatia and Dalmatia . He ascended the throne as a child and he had to stand up against his uncles who usurped the crown supported by the Byzantine Empire...
and Béla III of Hungary
Béla III of Hungary
Béla III was King of Hungary and Croatia . He was educated in the court of the Byzantine Emperor Manuel I who was planning to ensure his succession in the Byzantine Empire till the birth of his own son...
. He travelled to Holy Land during the Third Crusade
Third Crusade
The Third Crusade , also known as the Kings' Crusade, was an attempt by European leaders to reconquer the Holy Land from Saladin...
with an army of 2.000 Hungarian warriors.
Biography
The Prince Géza was born in 1151, as the fourth son of the King Géza II of HungaryGéza II of Hungary
Géza II , , King of Hungary, King of Croatia, Dalmatia and Rama . He ascended the throne as a child and during his minority the kingdom was governed by his mother and uncle...
and his wife the Princess Euphrosyne of Kiev
Euphrosyne of Kiev
Euphrosyne of Kiev was Queen consort of Hungary.Euphrosyne was the first daughter of Grand Prince Mstislav I of Kiev and his second wife, Liubava Dmitrievna...
. After several suciveory conflicts after the death of the king Géza II, his elder son was crowned as Stephen II of Hungary
Stephen II of Hungary
Stephen II , King of Hungary and Croatia, ruled from 1116 until 1131. He was crowned as a child during his father's lifetime who wanted to ensure Stephen's succession against his brother, Duke Álmos. Stephen's reign was characterized by frequent struggles with neighbouring countries...
(Prince Géza's brother). Géza II's two brothers tried to prevail and eventually were crowned first as Ladislaus II of Hungary, and after his death his younger brother as Stephen IV of Hungary
Stephen IV of Hungary
Stephen IV , King of Hungary . In his youth, he rebelled against his brother, King Géza II of Hungary and had to flee to the Court of the Byzantine Emperor, Manuel I Komnenos...
. However, Géza II's son, Stephen recovered the power, and defeated Stephen IV on the battlefield. During the reign of Stephen III, the wars against the Byzantine empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
continued. The emperor Manuel I Komnenos
Manuel I Komnenos
Manuel I Komnenos was a Byzantine Emperor of the 12th century who reigned over a crucial turning point in the history of Byzantium and the Mediterranean....
already confronted Géza II in many occasions, thus he was determined to expand his influence over Hungary (Manuel I's mother was Saint Piroska of Hungary
Piroska of Hungary
Saint Irene of Hungary, born Piroska, was a daughter of Ladislaus I of Hungary and Adelaide of Swabia. Her maternal grandparents were Rudolf of Rheinfeld and his second wife Adelheid of Savoy. Adelheid was a daughter of Otto of Savoy and Adelaide of Turin. She was the mother of the future emperor...
, daughter of Saint Ladislaus I of Hungary, so he always had a great interest on this kingdom). Manuel and Stephen II finally reached a resolution, were they signed the peace in 1163, and the Hungarian King's younger brother Béla
Béla III of Hungary
Béla III was King of Hungary and Croatia . He was educated in the court of the Byzantine Emperor Manuel I who was planning to ensure his succession in the Byzantine Empire till the birth of his own son...
, had to be sent to Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
as assurance. Meanwhile, Stephen III ruled in Hungary, keeping on his court his mother Eufrosyne and his very other younger brother, the Prince Géza.
After Stephen III's death in 1172, the Prince Béla was called back from Constantinople to occupy the throne, before the Prince Géza did it first. Few months later, the Prince was crowned as Béla III of Hungary, which was not well seen by his own mother the Queen Eufrosyne and his brother Géza. Both started conspiring against Béla III for obtaining the Hungarian crown and after a couple of failed attempts, the King arrested them both. Eufrosyne was jailed but the Prince Géza succeeded on escaping and ran to Leopold V, Duke of Austria
Leopold V, Duke of Austria
Leopold V , the Virtuous, was a Babenberg duke of Austria from 1177 and of Styria from 1192 until his death...
asking for protection. However, he turned it to the Hungarian King who jailed him again.
A year later, Prince Géza escaped again, and ran to Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
, but Sobeslaus II, Duke of Bohemia, also turned it to Béla III who sent him to prison. Prince Géza then remained in jail from 1177 to 1189 until the preparation for the Third Crusade
Third Crusade
The Third Crusade , also known as the Kings' Crusade, was an attempt by European leaders to reconquer the Holy Land from Saladin...
. In 1189, Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor
Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor
Frederick I Barbarossa was a German Holy Roman Emperor. He was elected King of Germany at Frankfurt on 4 March 1152 and crowned in Aachen on 9 March, crowned King of Italy in Pavia in 1155, and finally crowned Roman Emperor by Pope Adrian IV, on 18 June 1155, and two years later in 1157 the term...
arrived to the Hungarian Kingdom and was received by the King Béla III. After hearing about Prince Géza's predicament, the German emperor asked to Béla III to allow him to lead a small Hungarian army to the Crusade escorting his. The Hungarian King allowed his departure and 2000 Hungarian soldiers left to Holy Land.
After the failure of the Third Crusade and the death of the German emperor, Béla III ordered Géza and his men to return to Hungary, but the Prince and his guard decided to stay in Holy Land. It is known that Géza took a byzantine noblewoman as wife between 1190 and 1191. Historians estimate that Géza's death was around 1210, because until then he is mentioned in Medieval Chronicles.
Sources
- [ Magyar életrajzi lexikon (in Hungarian language)]