Boris Kalamanos
Encyclopedia
Boris Kalamanos was a pretender
who claimed the Hungarian throne. He desperately tried to assert his claims with the assistance of Poland
, the Holy Roman Empire
and the Byzantine Empire
, but he failed and died in exile.
, queen of King Coloman of Hungary who had been caught in adultery and sent back to Kiev
before her son's birth. Therefore, Boris was born in the court of his maternal grandfather, Grand Prince Vladimir II of Kiev
and he was never recognised by King Coloman as his son.
Boris may have gone to the Kingdom of Hungary
in 1128 when a group of aristocrats proclaimed a "Count Bors" king against King Stephen II
(who was King Coloman's son and successor), but Boris identification with Count Boris is under debate. Nevertheless, King Stephen II managed to overcome the conspiracy and he was followed by his cousin, King Béla II the Blind
who was crowned on 28 April 1131.
, in the court of the Emperor John II Komnenos
who granted him the honorary title panhypersebastos. Boris married one of the Emperor's relatives, Anna Dukaina.
When he realised that the emperor would not give him military assistance against King Béla II, he went to the court of King Boleslaus III of Poland who promised to assist him. Some Hungarian aristocrats also joined him, although King Béla II convoked an assembly in Hungary and ordered to murder all the participants who did not declare that Boris was a bastard. Shortly afterwards, King Boleslaus III invaded Hungary together with Boris, but their troops were defeated at the battle around the Sajó
River (22 July 1132).
Boris did not give up his claim for the Hungarian throne, but he could try to assert his claim only in 1146 when he occupied Pressburg assisted by mercenaries whom King Conrad III of Germany
provided to him. However, King Géza II of Hungary
managed to bribe his mercenaries who surrendered. On 11 September, the young king defeated the troops of Margrave Henry II of Austria
who had been assisting Boris.
led by King Louis VII of France
who were about passing through the Kingdom of Hungary. When King Géza II was informed that Boris had arrived to Hungary among the crusaders, he sought Boris' extradition. Although King Louis VII did not extradite Boris, but he was taken in custody to the Byzantine Empire.
Boris took part in the campaign of the Emperor Manuel I Komnenos
against the Kingdom of Hungary, and during the campaign he led an army pillaging the southern parts of the kingdom (around 1150). He was killed at a battle against the Pechenegs.
Pretender
A pretender is one who claims entitlement to an unavailable position of honour or rank. Most often it refers to a former monarch, or descendant thereof, whose throne is occupied or claimed by a rival, or has been abolished....
who claimed the Hungarian throne. He desperately tried to assert his claims with the assistance of Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
and 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...
, but he failed and died in exile.
His descent
Boris was the son of EufemiaEufemia of Kiev
Euphemia of Kiev was Queen Consort of Hungary. Euphemia was the daughter of Grand Prince Vladimir II of Kiev and his second wife whose name and ancestry are unknown. She was married to King Coloman of Hungary around 1112. However, her husband, who had been suffering from a serious disease, caught...
, queen of King Coloman of Hungary who had been caught in adultery and sent back to Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
before her son's birth. Therefore, Boris was born in the court of his maternal grandfather, Grand Prince Vladimir II of Kiev
Vladimir II Monomakh
Vladimir II Monomakh |Basileios]]) was a Velikiy Kniaz of Kievan Rus'.- Family :He was the son of Vsevolod I and Anastasia of Byzantium Vladimir II Monomakh |Basileios]]) (1053 – May 19, 1125) was a Velikiy Kniaz (Grand Prince) of Kievan Rus'.- Family :He was the son of Vsevolod I (married in...
and he was never recognised by King Coloman as his son.
Boris may have gone to the Kingdom of Hungary
Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
in 1128 when a group of aristocrats proclaimed a "Count Bors" king against King Stephen II
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...
(who was King Coloman's son and successor), but Boris identification with Count Boris is under debate. Nevertheless, King Stephen II managed to overcome the conspiracy and he was followed by his cousin, King Béla II the Blind
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...
who was crowned on 28 April 1131.
The pretender
Around 1130, Boris appeared in ConstantinopleConstantinople
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:...
, in the court of 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 granted him the honorary title panhypersebastos. Boris married one of the Emperor's relatives, Anna Dukaina.
When he realised that the emperor would not give him military assistance against King Béla II, he went to the court of King Boleslaus III of Poland who promised to assist him. Some Hungarian aristocrats also joined him, although King Béla II convoked an assembly in Hungary and ordered to murder all the participants who did not declare that Boris was a bastard. Shortly afterwards, King Boleslaus III invaded Hungary together with Boris, but their troops were defeated at the battle around the Sajó
Sajó
The Sajó is a river in Slovakia and Hungary.Its length is 229 km, of which 110 km is in Slovakia. Its source is in the Stolica Mountains range of the Slovak Ore Mountains. It flows through the Slovak town Rožňava and the Hungarian city Miskolc. In Hungary it flows through the county of...
River (22 July 1132).
Boris did not give up his claim for the Hungarian throne, but he could try to assert his claim only in 1146 when he occupied Pressburg assisted by mercenaries whom King Conrad III of Germany
Conrad III of Germany
Conrad III was the first King of Germany of the Hohenstaufen dynasty. He was the son of Frederick I, Duke of Swabia, and Agnes, a daughter of the Salian Emperor Henry IV.-Life and reign:...
provided to him. However, King Géza II of Hungary
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...
managed to bribe his mercenaries who surrendered. On 11 September, the young king defeated the troops of Margrave Henry II of Austria
Henry II, Duke of Austria
Henry II , Count Palatine of the Rhine, 1140–1141, Margrave of Austria from 1141 to 1156 and, as Henry XI, also Duke of Bavaria from 1141 to 1156, Duke of Austria, 1156–1177, was a prince of the Babenberg dynasty....
who had been assisting Boris.
His last years
Before July 1147, Boris joined the crusadersCrusades
The Crusades were a series of religious wars, blessed by the Pope and the Catholic Church with the main goal of restoring Christian access to the holy places in and near Jerusalem...
led by King Louis VII of France
Louis VII of France
Louis VII was King of France, the son and successor of Louis VI . He ruled from 1137 until his death. He was a member of the House of Capet. His reign was dominated by feudal struggles , and saw the beginning of the long rivalry between France and England...
who were about passing through the Kingdom of Hungary. When King Géza II was informed that Boris had arrived to Hungary among the crusaders, he sought Boris' extradition. Although King Louis VII did not extradite Boris, but he was taken in custody to the Byzantine Empire.
Boris took part in the campaign of 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....
against the Kingdom of Hungary, and during the campaign he led an army pillaging the southern parts of the kingdom (around 1150). He was killed at a battle against the Pechenegs.
Marriage and children
#1128-1130 or 1141-1143: Anna Dukaina (?–?), a relative of the Byzantine Emperor John II Komnenos, who became nun Arete after his death- sebastosSebastosSebastos was an honorific used by the ancient Greeks to render the Roman imperial title of Augustus. From the late 11th century on, during the Komnenian period, it and variants derived from it formed the basis of a new system of court titles for the Byzantine Empire. The female form of the title...
Konstantinos KalamanosKonstantinos KalamanosConstantine Kalamanos or Coloman was a Byzantine governor of Cilicia.Constantine was the elder son of Boris Kalamanos and his wife, Anna Doukaina...
(1137/1145–after 1173) - Stephanos Kalamanos
Sources
- Kristó, Gyula (editor): Korai Magyar Történeti Lexikon - 9-14. század (Encyclopedia of the Early Hungarian History - 9-14th centuries); Akadémiai Kiadó, 1994, Budapest; ISBN 963-05-6722-9.