Béla II of Hungary

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Béla II of Hungary, "The Blind" (Hungarian: Vak Béla, Serbian: Бела II) (1110- February 13, 1141) of the Arpad dynasty was King of Hungary from 1131 until his death.

His father Prince Álmos led a rebellion against his brother King Coloman of Hungary, and as a result of this he and Béla were blinded and forced to flee to Constantinople. Béla was recalled by Coloman's son and successor Stephen II, who, lacking offspring of his own, designated him his successor. Because Béla was blind, his wife Ilona (Serbian: Jelena) and brother-in-law Beloš played a large role in governing his Kingdom. Shortly after taking the throne, Ilona ordered the massacre of the men she considered responsible for her husband's blinding. She implaced her brother, Beloš, as the count palatine, giving him supreme command over the Hungarian Army and a commendable place in the Hungarian Royal Court.

Béla's reign was notable for his foreign policy - his sister Hedwig was married to a son of Leopold III of Austria and another sister to Sobeslav I of Bohemia, thereby allying Hungary with two previously inimical states. In 1136, Béla managed to recover part of Dalmatia from the control of the Republic of Venice, and sent an expedition into Bosnia. In 1137, he gave the title of Duke of Bosnia, with acceptance from the entire country, to his son Ladislaus.

Béla's entire reign was overshadowed by a conflict with Boris, a son of Coloman of doubtful legitimacy, in which Boris was supported by Poland and Rus'. In 1132 Boleslaus III of Poland led a campaign with Rus' and Polish troops on Boris' behalf. Boleslaus and Boris were defeated near the Sajó River, but Boris was to prove a persistent claimant for a number of years to come.

Béla died from the effects of an overindulgence of alcohol on February 13, 1141. His throne was succeeded by Géza II, but he was too young to rule, so Queen Ilona and Beloš continued to rule.