Helena of Raška
Encyclopedia
Helena of Serbia (after 1109 – after 1146) was Queen consort of Hungary through her marriage with Béla II
, who ruled 1131–1141.
and his wife, Anna Diogene-Vukanović. Around 1129, King Stephen II of Hungary
arranged her marriage with his cousin Béla
, who had been blinded on the order of the king's father, King Coloman of Hungary. The king granted estates near Tolna
to the couple.
Following the childless king's death, her husband was crowned King of Hungary
on 28 April 1131. Helena exerted material influence over her blind husband during his reign. It was she who persuaded her husband's partisans, with her two sons in her arms, to massacre, at an assembly in Arad, 68 aristocrats they suspected of having suggested King Coloman blind her husband.
When her husband died on 13 February 1141, their eldest son Géza II
ascended the throne while still a child. Therefore, Helena and her brother Beloš Vukanović
, whom she had invited to the court, governed the Kingdom of Hungary
till September 1146 when he came of age.
(c. 1110 – 13 February 1141)
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 ruled 1131–1141.
Life
Helena was the daughter of Duke Uroš I of RasciaUroš I of Rascia
Uroš I Vukanović was the Grand Prince of the Grand Principality of Serbia from ca 1112 to 1145.-Origin:Uroš I was the son of Marko, the brother of Grand Prince Vukan, who had swore an oath of loyalty to Constantine Bodin, the Grand Prince of Duklja, becoming his vassals...
and his wife, Anna Diogene-Vukanović. Around 1129, King Stephen II of Hungary
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...
arranged her marriage with his cousin 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...
, who had been blinded on the order of the king's father, King Coloman of Hungary. The king granted estates near Tolna
Tolna
Tolna is a town in Tolna county, Hungary. It lies about north of Szekszárd and south of Budapest....
to the couple.
Following the childless king's death, her husband was crowned King of Hungary
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...
on 28 April 1131. Helena exerted material influence over her blind husband during his reign. It was she who persuaded her husband's partisans, with her two sons in her arms, to massacre, at an assembly in Arad, 68 aristocrats they suspected of having suggested King Coloman blind her husband.
When her husband died on 13 February 1141, their eldest son Géza II
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...
ascended the throne while still a child. Therefore, Helena and her brother Beloš Vukanović
Beloš Vukanović
Beloš , a member of the Vukanović dynasty of Serbia, was the Regent of Hungary 1141-1146 alongside his sister Helen, who was married to Béla II with whom she had a son, Géza II, still an infant. He held the title of dux, and was the viceregal of Croatia 1142-1158 and 1163. Beloš, as a member of...
, whom she had invited to the court, governed 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...
till September 1146 when he came of age.
Marriage and children
# c. 1129: King Béla II of HungaryBéla 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...
(c. 1110 – 13 February 1141)
- ElisabethElisabeth of Hungary (1128–1154)Elisabeth of Hungary , was a Hungarian princess member of the House of Árpád and by marriage Duchess of Greater Poland.She was the eldest child of King Béla II of Hungary by his wife Helena, daughter of Duke Uroš I of Raška, Grand Župan of Serbia...
(c. 1129 – before 1155), wife of duke Mieszko III of PolandMieszko III the OldMieszko III the Old , of the royal Piast dynasty, was Duke of Greater Poland from 1138 and High Duke of Poland, with interruptions, from 1173 until his death.... - King Géza II of HungaryGéza II of HungaryGéza 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...
(c. 1130 – 3 May 1162) - King Ladislaus II of HungaryLadislaus II of HungaryLadislaus II , King of Hungary. As a younger son, he was able to ascend to the throne only with the assistance of the Byzantine Empire against his nephew, King Stephen III after his brother's death...
(1131 – 14 January 1163) - King Stephen IV of HungaryStephen IV of HungaryStephen IV , King of Hungary . In his youth, he rebelled against his brother, King Géza II of Hungary and had to flee to the Court of the Byzantine Emperor, Manuel I Komnenos...
(c. 1133 – 11 April 1165) - Sophia (c. 1136 – ?), nun at AdmontAdmont AbbeyAdmont Abbey is a foundation of the Benedictines on the River Enns in the town of Admont in Austria and is the oldest remaining monastery in Styria...
(Styria)
See also
- List of Hungarian consorts
- House of VukanovićHouse of VukanovicThe House of Vukanović was a medieval Serbian dynasty that reigned over Rascia and Zachlumia between late-11th century and mid-13th century. The house itself directly descended from the House of Vojislavljević, which ruled over medieval Serb lands. The dynasty was succeeded by its direct...