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Bela IHungarian king of the Arpad dynasty in 1061-1063
Date of Birth: 01.01.1016
Country:  Hungary |
Content:
Béla I of Hungary
Béla I (reigned 1061-1063) was a Hungarian king of the Árpád dynasty who is best known for suppressing the last attempt of the Hungarian population to return to paganism.
Early Life and Reign
Béla I was the third son of Vazul, Grand Prince of the Hungarians, and younger brother of Andrew I. After a pagan rebellion in 1046, Andrew I became king and made Béla a duke, granting him lands in the east and north of the country, including the autonomous Duchy of Nitra in southern Slovakia and the historical county of Bihar.
Initially, Andrew I's elder brothers, Andrew and Levente, did not object to Béla's succession to the throne in order of seniority. However, after Andrew I's son Solomon was born in 1053, he declared him his heir.
Conflict with Andrew I
In 1057, a five-year-old Solomon was proclaimed the new heir to the throne. Legends recorded in Hungarian chronicles claim that Andrew I invited Béla to choose between a crown and a sword, symbolizing royal and ducal power, respectively. Andrew hinted at the possibility of killing Béla if he claimed the throne.
Fearing for his life, Béla fled to Poland in 1059 and sought the support of his brother-in-law, Bolesław II the Bold. From Poland, Béla waged a war for the Hungarian crown.
Reign
In 1060, Béla returned to Hungary with Polish support and rebelled against Andrew I. Béla defeated his brother, who died of his wounds in 1061. Béla was proclaimed King of Hungary in Székesfehérvár.
Shortly after Béla's accession to the throne, discontented Hungarians, particularly from the most oppressed social strata, demanded the expulsion of Christian priests and the restoration of paganism. After three days of deliberation, Béla dispersed the crowd with the help of garrison troops.
Reforms
During his brief three-year reign, Béla I introduced several successful reforms. He established laws regulating measures, weights, and coinage, making him the first organizer of trade relations in medieval Hungary. He also laid the foundations for parliamentary representation by inviting two representatives from each county to a meeting in Székesfehérvár instead of the entire nobility.
Death and Legacy
Béla I died in an accident in 1063 and was buried in the abbey he had founded in Szekszárd. After his death, Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV invaded Hungary and installed Andrew I's ten-year-old son Solomon on the throne.
