Stephen II of Hungary
Encyclopedia
Stephen II (1101 – 1 March 1131), 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. During his reign, the relations of Hungary and the Byzantine Empire became more and more tense.
. He had a twin brother, Ladislaus who died in childhood.
King Coloman wanted to ensure his son's succession; therefore he had Stephen crowned in 1105. The child's coronation resulted in the rebellion of the king's brother, Duke Álmos
, who had been governing Tercia pars Regni (i.e., one third of the kingdom). Following a decade of internal warfare with his brother, King Coloman ordered to make Duke Álmos and his infant son, Béla
blind in order to secure his son's inheritance. The king's cruelty achieved its purpose, and some days after his death on 3 February 1116, the fifteen-year-old Stephen was crowned again, in Székesfehérvár
, without any resistance.
in order to improve the two countries relations. However, during the meeting on the banks of the Olšava River (a left tributary of the Morava), on the so-called Lucko Field, their troops clashed with each other and in the consequent battle the Hungarian army suffered defeat (May 13, 1116). In the next month, the Venetian
troops defeated the Hungarian army in Dalmatia
at Zára
(Zadar), and the Signoria could occupy the province. In 1117, Stephen sent an army to reoccupy Zára, but his attempts failed; therefore he made a truce for five years with the Republic of Venice.
The young king's rule became more and more unpopular among his barons, because he did not want to marry and preferred living with his concubines. Finally, in 1120, his barons obliged him to marry a daughter of Prince Robert I of Capua
.
In 1123, Prince Yaroslav of Volhynia, who had been dethroned by his subjects, came to Stephen's court seeking assistance to recover his principality. Stephen lead his armies against Volhynia and laid siege to its capital, Vladimir
. However, Prince Yaroslav was slain during the siege, and the Hungarian nobles wanted to give up the struggle. Although, Stephen wanted to continue the war, his barons threatened him with choosing a new king if they would not return home; therefore Stephen was obliged to leave Volhynia.
In 1124, taking advantage of the absence of the Venetian fleet, Stephen reoccupied Dalmatia, but the territory was lost again in the next year.
Stephen gave shelter to the Pechenegs (besenyő), who had been defeated totally by the Byzantine Emperor John II Komnenos
, and organised them in a troop of bodyguards, which resulted in a conspiracy aimed at the restoration of the king's blinded uncle, Duke Álmos. However, the conspiracy was revealed and Duke Álmos was obliged to escape to the Byzantine Empire
. In the autumn of 1126, Stephen had a meeting with Duke Sobeslav I of Bohemia
and they made peace.
In 1127, Stephen lead his armies against the Byzantine Empire, because the Emperor John II had refused to extradite his uncle, but the Byzantine Emperor defeated him in the next year and the Byzantine troops occupied the Szerémség
.
Following the king's defeat, two parties was formed among the barons of the kingdom and they tried to unthrone Stephen and replace him by Comes Bors and Ivan, but Stephen managed to overcome their conspiracy and save his throne.
In 1129, Stephen called back to his court his cousin, the blinded Béla, the son of Duke Álmos, who had died in 1127. Shortly afterwards, allying himself with Duke Sobeslav I of Bohemia
, Stephen made a campaign against the Byzantine Empire and concluded peace with the Emperor John II Komnenos
who renounced his former conquests.
Stephen died of dysentery, and he was buried in Nagyvárad.
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King of Hungary
The King of Hungary was the head of state of the Kingdom of Hungary from 1000 to 1918.The style of title "Apostolic King" was confirmed by Pope Clement XIII in 1758 and used afterwards by all the Kings of Hungary, so after this date the kings are referred to as "Apostolic King of...
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. During his reign, the relations of Hungary and the Byzantine Empire became more and more tense.
Early years
Stephen was the elder son of King Coloman and his first wife, Felicia of SicilyFelicia of Sicily
Felicia of Sicily was a Queen Consort of Hungary.Felicia was the eldest daughter of Count Roger I of Sicily, and his second wife, Eremburga of Mortain...
. He had a twin brother, Ladislaus who died in childhood.
King Coloman wanted to ensure his son's succession; therefore he had Stephen crowned in 1105. The child's coronation resulted in the rebellion of the king's brother, Duke Álmos
Prince Álmos
Álmos was a Hungarian prince, the son of King Géza I of Hungary, brother of King Kálmán. He held several governmental posts in the Kingdom of Hungary....
, who had been governing Tercia pars Regni (i.e., one third of the kingdom). Following a decade of internal warfare with his brother, King Coloman ordered to make Duke Álmos and his infant son, Béla
Béla II of Hungary
Béla II the Blind , King of Hungary and Croatia . Still as a child, Béla was blinded by his uncle, King Coloman who wanted to ensure the succession of his own son, the future King Stephen II...
blind in order to secure his son's inheritance. The king's cruelty achieved its purpose, and some days after his death on 3 February 1116, the fifteen-year-old Stephen was crowned again, in Székesfehérvár
Székesfehérvár
Székesfehérvár is a city in central Hungary and is the 9th largest in the country. Located around southwest of Budapest. It is inhabited by 101,973 people , with 136,995 in the Székesfehérvár Subregion. The city is the centre of Fejér county and the regional centre of Central Transdanubia...
, without any resistance.
King of Hungary
Upon his barons' advice, Stephen initiated a meeting with Duke Vladislaus I of BohemiaVladislaus I of Bohemia
Vladislaus I , duke of Bohemia from 1109 to 1117 and from 1120 to April 12, 1125.Vladislav I was a son of Duke, later King, Vratislav II of Bohemia by his second wife Swatawa, a daughter of Casimir I of Poland. Together with his cousin Svatopluk, Vladislav expelled his brother Bořivoj II from...
in order to improve the two countries relations. However, during the meeting on the banks of the Olšava River (a left tributary of the Morava), on the so-called Lucko Field, their troops clashed with each other and in the consequent battle the Hungarian army suffered defeat (May 13, 1116). In the next month, the Venetian
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
troops defeated the Hungarian army in Dalmatia
Dalmatia
Dalmatia is a historical region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. It stretches from the island of Rab in the northwest to the Bay of Kotor in the southeast. The hinterland, the Dalmatian Zagora, ranges from fifty kilometers in width in the north to just a few kilometers in the south....
at Zára
Zadar
Zadar is a city in Croatia on the Adriatic Sea. It is the centre of Zadar county and the wider northern Dalmatian region. Population of the city is 75,082 citizens...
(Zadar), and the Signoria could occupy the province. In 1117, Stephen sent an army to reoccupy Zára, but his attempts failed; therefore he made a truce for five years with the Republic of Venice.
The young king's rule became more and more unpopular among his barons, because he did not want to marry and preferred living with his concubines. Finally, in 1120, his barons obliged him to marry a daughter of Prince Robert I of Capua
Robert I of Capua
Robert I , count of Aversa and prince of Capua from 1106, on the death of his elder and heirless brother Richard, was the second eldest son of Jordan I of Capua and Gaitelgrima, daughter of Guaimar IV of Salerno....
.
In 1123, Prince Yaroslav of Volhynia, who had been dethroned by his subjects, came to Stephen's court seeking assistance to recover his principality. Stephen lead his armies against Volhynia and laid siege to its capital, Vladimir
Volodymyr-Volynskyi
Volodymyr-Volynsky is a city located in Volyn Oblast, in north-western Ukraine. Serving as the administrative centre of the Volodymyr-Volynsky District, the city itself is also designated as a separate raion within the oblast...
. However, Prince Yaroslav was slain during the siege, and the Hungarian nobles wanted to give up the struggle. Although, Stephen wanted to continue the war, his barons threatened him with choosing a new king if they would not return home; therefore Stephen was obliged to leave Volhynia.
In 1124, taking advantage of the absence of the Venetian fleet, Stephen reoccupied Dalmatia, but the territory was lost again in the next year.
Stephen gave shelter to the Pechenegs (besenyő), who had been defeated totally by the Byzantine Emperor John II Komnenos
John II Komnenos
John II Komnenos was Byzantine Emperor from 1118 to 1143. Also known as Kaloïōannēs , he was the eldest son of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos and Irene Doukaina...
, and organised them in a troop of bodyguards, which resulted in a conspiracy aimed at the restoration of the king's blinded uncle, Duke Álmos. However, the conspiracy was revealed and Duke Álmos was obliged to escape to 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...
. In the autumn of 1126, Stephen had a meeting with Duke Sobeslav I of Bohemia
Sobeslav I of Bohemia
Sobeslaus I was Duke of Bohemia from 1125 until his death. He was a member of the Přemyslid dynasty, the youngest son of Vratislaus II , the first Bohemian duke to also rule as king, with his third wife Svatava of Poland.-Life:...
and they made peace.
In 1127, Stephen lead his armies against the Byzantine Empire, because the Emperor John II had refused to extradite his uncle, but the Byzantine Emperor defeated him in the next year and the Byzantine troops occupied the Szerémség
Syrmia
Syrmia is a fertile region of the Pannonian Plain in Europe, between the Danube and Sava rivers. It is divided between Serbia in the east and Croatia in the west....
.
Following the king's defeat, two parties was formed among the barons of the kingdom and they tried to unthrone Stephen and replace him by Comes Bors and Ivan, but Stephen managed to overcome their conspiracy and save his throne.
In 1129, Stephen called back to his court his cousin, the blinded Béla, the son of Duke Álmos, who had died in 1127. Shortly afterwards, allying himself with Duke Sobeslav I of Bohemia
Sobeslav I of Bohemia
Sobeslaus I was Duke of Bohemia from 1125 until his death. He was a member of the Přemyslid dynasty, the youngest son of Vratislaus II , the first Bohemian duke to also rule as king, with his third wife Svatava of Poland.-Life:...
, Stephen made a campaign against the Byzantine Empire and concluded peace with the Emperor John II Komnenos
John II Komnenos
John II Komnenos was Byzantine Emperor from 1118 to 1143. Also known as Kaloïōannēs , he was the eldest son of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos and Irene Doukaina...
who renounced his former conquests.
Stephen died of dysentery, and he was buried in Nagyvárad.
Titles
King of Hungary, Dalmatia, Croatia and Rama|-
Sources
- Engel, Pál (2001) Realm of St Stephen: a history of medieval Hungary; translated by Tamás Pálosfalvi; English edition edited by Andrew Ayton. London: I. B. Tauris
- Kristó, Gyula & Makk, Ferenc (1996) Az Árpád-ház uralkodói. IPC Könyvek
- Korai Magyar Történeti Lexikon (9-14. század), főszerkesztő: Kristó Gyula, szerkesztők: Engel Pál és Makk Ferenc. Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó 1994
- Magyarország Történeti Kronológiája I. – A kezdetektől 1526-ig, főszerkesztő: Benda Kálmán. Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó 1981