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Bela IVHungarian king of the Arpad dynasty
Date of Birth: 01.01.1206
Country:  Hungary |
Content:
- Béla IV, King of Hungary
- Junior King and Conflict
- Reign as King
- Rebuilding and Consolidation
- Mongol Invasion and Devastation
- "Second Founder of the Country"
- External Acquisitions
- Conflict with his Son
- Later Years and Death
- Family
Béla IV, King of Hungary
Birth and Early LifeBéla IV was born in 1206 as the eldest son of Andrew II of Hungary and Gertrude of Merania. At his birth, he was sworn in as heir apparent by ecclesiastical and secular nobles at the behest of Pope Innocent III.
At age 7, Béla witnessed the assassination of his mother in 1213. His father's refusal to punish all of the conspirators led to a rift between them. Béla's desire for revenge was held in check only by the requests of his famous sister, Saint Elizabeth of Hungary.
Junior King and Conflict
In 1214, Béla was betrothed to the daughter of Tsar Boril of Bulgaria and crowned as "junior king." However, his father's marriage to Maria Laskarina in 1220 led to tension, as Andrew II annulled Béla's marriage in 1222. Seeking protection, Béla fled to Austria with his wife, Maria.
Andrew II eventually reconciled with his son and granted him control of Slavonia and Dalmatia. However, Béla's actions in these territories increased conflict with his father, and he was eventually exiled to Transylvania.
Reign as King
Upon his father's death in 1235, Béla IV became King of Hungary. He immediately accused his stepmother and his father's chief advisor of adultery and imprisoned them.
Rebuilding and Consolidation
Béla IV's primary goal was to restore strong royal authority. He strengthened the power of towns, confirmed the city charter of Székesfehérvár, and granted privileges to several key cities.
He also attempted to reconcile with his brother, Julian, who had left to search for lost Magyar tribes. Julian returned in 1238 with news of a Mongol invasion, prompting Béla IV to seek allies against the threat.
Mongol Invasion and Devastation
In 1241, Mongol hordes led by Batu Khan invaded Hungary. Béla IV's army was defeated, and he was forced to flee. The Mongols ravaged the kingdom, destroying cities and slaughtering the population.
"Second Founder of the Country"
After the Mongol invasion, Béla IV implemented significant changes to strengthen Hungary. He rewarded loyalists with land grants but required them to build fortresses for defense. He also ordered the construction of stone walls around large cities.
Within four years, Béla IV had largely repaired the devastation caused by the Mongols, earning him the epithet "second founder of Hungary."
External Acquisitions
After recovering from the invasion, Béla IV aimed to expand his control. He reclaimed lands lost to Austria, concluded a peace treaty with Venice, and intervened in the struggle for Galicia.
He also sought to acquire Austria and Styria, leading to conflict with King Ottokar II of Bohemia. In 1254, Béla IV gained control of Styria but renounced his claim to Austria in 1260.
Conflict with his Son
In 1246, Béla IV crowned his son Stephen as "junior king." However, tensions arose over power sharing. In 1258, Stephen revolted and forced his father to cede control of Transylvania to him.
The conflict escalated in 1264, with Stephen besieging his father. However, Béla IV was forced to recognize Stephen's authority over the eastern part of the kingdom in the Treaty of Isaszeg (1265).
Later Years and Death
Béla IV strengthened ties with Sicily and mediated a peace treaty between Hungary and Serbia. In 1270, he died at the age of 64, leaving behind a legacy of rebuilding and consolidating Hungary after the Mongol invasion.
Family
Béla IV married Maria Laskarina, with whom he had two sons, Stephen V and Béla, Duke of Slavonia, and three daughters, Anna, Elizabeth, and Katherine.
