Solomon of Hungary
Encyclopedia
Solomon (1053–1087), King of Hungary
(1063–1074). He was crowned as a child during his father's lifetime in order to ensure his succession, but his uncle Béla managed to dethrone his father and ascend to the throne. Some years later, Solomon enforced his cousins, Géza, Ladislaus and Lampert to accept his reign with the military assistance his brother-in-law, King Henry IV of Germany provided him. During the following years, Solomon and his cousins cooperated efficiently in order to strengthen the position of the Kingdom of Hungary, but finally they broke with each other. Following his cousins open rebellion, the major part of the kingdom accepted his cousins' rule and Solomon could maitain his power only in the Western part of Hungary. Finally, he had to accept his cousin, Ladislaus' reign. He spent his last years in exile fighting against Hungary with the assistance of the Pechenegs.
, a daughter of Grand Duke Yaroslav I the Wise
of Kiev. Before his birth, his uncle, Béla was the designated heir to the crown, who was governing the Tercia pars regni (i.e. one third of the kingdom). However, Solomon's birth changed the situation radically, because King Andrew decided to ensure his son's inheritance and he had Solomon crowned in 1057.
After the child's coronation, Duke Béla left the royal court. In September 1058, when King Andrew concluded peace with King Henry IV of Germany
, the child Solomon was engaged to the German ruler's sister, Judith. In 1059, according to the chronicles, King Andrew called back Duke Béla to his court, and placed before him a crown and a sword, representing royal and ducal power, respectively, and asked his brother to take his choice. Having been forewarned by a courtier that choosing the crown would mean his life, Duke Béla instead selected the sword. Shortly afterwards, Duke Béla fled to Poland
and returned followed by Polish troops placed at his disposal by King Bolesław II of Poland
.
When King Andrew was informed on his brother's return, he sent his wife and children to Melk
in Austria
. Afterwards, the king lost two battles against his brother, and died before 6 December 1060, when Béla I was crowned.
Following his father's death, Solomon lived in the imperial court three years, during which his followers tried to acquire assistance against his uncle, but it was only in August 1063 when the Imperial Diet
decided in Mainz to send troops to Hungary. King Béla I died in an accident before the imperial army entered to the kingdom, and his three sons (Géza
, Ladislaus and Lampert
) left for Poland.
. When the German army left Hungary, his three cousins came back followed by Polish troops. The parties, however, wanted to avoid the civil war; therefore they accepted the mediation services of the bishops, and they made an agreement on 20 January 1064 in Győr
. Under the agreement Dukes Géza
, Ladislaus and Lampert
accepted Solomon's rule, and they received their father's former duchy, i.e., one third of Hungary. Following the conclusion of the peace, the king and his cousins celebrated Easter together in Pécs. However, when a fire broke out, the two parties accused the other's followers of incendiarism. The bishops had to intervene again in order to appease the king and the dukes.
In the next years, Solomon and his cousins collaborated successfully. In 1067, they lead an army together to provide assistance to the dukes' brother-in-law, at that time ban
of Croatia, Dmitar Zvonimir
against Venice
. In 1068, when the Pechenegs had overrun the territories of Transylvania
, Solomon and the dukes went together against them and they won a victory at Chiraleş.
In 1071, Solomon and the dukes lead a campaign against the Byzantine Empire
and laid siege to the fortress of Belgrade
(Nándorfehérvár). The siege lasted two months, and the Greek commander surrendered the fort to the dukes not to the king. Moreover, Duke Géza denied to hand over the king's share of the booty and set the Greek captives free without the king's permission. Having the Byzantine troops reoccupied Belgrade
in the next year, Solomon and Duke Géza lead their armies together against the Greeks, but Géza left his two brothers behind, because he was worrying about that the king's partisans would try to occupy their duchy during their absence. The campaign was a total failure, because the king and the duke were not able to cooperate during the siege any more.
.
After his defeat, Solomon run to the Western borders of Hungary and sought help from the German king, whose supremacy he accepted, while his eldest cousin, Géza was declared king, supported by the Hungarian tradition which preferred seniority. In August 1074, the imperial troops invaded the Northern part of the kingdom and advanced till Vác
, but the German king was obliged to return to his domain because of the Saxons
' uprising. King Solomon could only maintain his rule over the Counties (megye) of Moson and Pozsony
.
However, Solomon could beat off the troops Géza sent to siege Pozsony
and Géza, who became more and more ill, was thinking of his abdication and the acceptance of Solomon's rule. But after Géza's death on 25 April 1077, his followers proclaimed his brother, Ladislaus king. In 1079, King Ladislaus I managed to occupy the fortress of Moson from Solomon's adherents, and he also repealed the German king's troops. Solomon also lost the support of the clergy when Pope Gregory VII
, because of his alliance with the German king, acknowledged the legitimacy of King Ladislaus' rule.
Solomon had to realize that he did not have any chance to win over Ladislaus and he abdicated in 1081. In exchange for the acceptance of Ladislaus' rule, Solomon received extensive landholdings.
Solomon left for Regensburg, where he tried to obtain military assistance from his brother-in-law, the German king, but his attempts failed. Afterwards, following a long wandering, Solomon made an alliance with Kuteshk, the leader of a Pecheneg (besenyő) tribe that had settled in the territory of the future principality of Moldavia
. Solomon married Kuteshk's daughter, even though his first wife was still alive (she had left Solomon years before). Solomon promised to hand over parts of the kingdom of Hungary to Kuteshk in exchange for his new father-in-law's military assistance. In 1085, Solomon lead an army of Pecheneg troops against Hungary, but King Ladislaus I defeated them.
In 1087, Solomon took part in the Pechenegs' campaign against the Byzantine Empire. He was killed in battle near Hadrianopolis
. Later chronicles claimed that Solomon escaped from the battlefield and went to Pula
, where he lived as a monk. His remains are interred at the Pula Cathedral
.
Salomon did not father any children.
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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...
(1063–1074). He was crowned as a child during his father's lifetime in order to ensure his succession, but his uncle Béla managed to dethrone his father and ascend to the throne. Some years later, Solomon enforced his cousins, Géza, Ladislaus and Lampert to accept his reign with the military assistance his brother-in-law, King Henry IV of Germany provided him. During the following years, Solomon and his cousins cooperated efficiently in order to strengthen the position of the Kingdom of Hungary, but finally they broke with each other. Following his cousins open rebellion, the major part of the kingdom accepted his cousins' rule and Solomon could maitain his power only in the Western part of Hungary. Finally, he had to accept his cousin, Ladislaus' reign. He spent his last years in exile fighting against Hungary with the assistance of the Pechenegs.
Childhood
Solomon was the first son of King Andrew I of Hungary and AnastasiaAnastasia of Kiev
Anastasia of Kiev was Queen of Hungary as the wife of King Andrew the White. She was the eldest daughter of Grand Prince Yaroslav I the Wise of Kiev and Ingigerd of Sweden, and the older sister of Anne of Kiev, Queen consort of Henry I of France.-Life:Around 1039, Anastasia was married to Duke...
, a daughter of Grand Duke Yaroslav I the Wise
Yaroslav I the Wise
Yaroslav I, Grand Prince of Rus, known as Yaroslav the Wise Yaroslav I, Grand Prince of Rus, known as Yaroslav the Wise Yaroslav I, Grand Prince of Rus, known as Yaroslav the Wise (Old Norse: Jarizleifr; ; Old East Slavic and Russian: Ярослав Мудрый; Ukrainian: Ярослав Мудрий; c...
of Kiev. Before his birth, his uncle, Béla was the designated heir to the crown, who was governing the Tercia pars regni (i.e. one third of the kingdom). However, Solomon's birth changed the situation radically, because King Andrew decided to ensure his son's inheritance and he had Solomon crowned in 1057.
After the child's coronation, Duke Béla left the royal court. In September 1058, when King Andrew concluded peace with King Henry IV of Germany
Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry IV was King of the Romans from 1056 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1084 until his forced abdication in 1105. He was the third emperor of the Salian dynasty and one of the most powerful and important figures of the 11th century...
, the child Solomon was engaged to the German ruler's sister, Judith. In 1059, according to the chronicles, King Andrew called back Duke Béla to his court, and placed before him a crown and a sword, representing royal and ducal power, respectively, and asked his brother to take his choice. Having been forewarned by a courtier that choosing the crown would mean his life, Duke Béla instead selected the sword. Shortly afterwards, Duke Béla fled to 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...
and returned followed by Polish troops placed at his disposal by King Bolesław II of Poland
Bolesław II the Generous
Bolesław II the Generous, also known as the Bold and the Cruel , was Duke of Poland and third King of Poland .He was the eldest son of Casimir I the Restorer and Maria Dobroniega, daughter of Grand Duke Vladimir I of Kiev....
.
When King Andrew was informed on his brother's return, he sent his wife and children to Melk
Melk
Melk is a city of Austria, in the federal state of Lower Austria, next to the Wachau valley along the Danube. Melk has a population of 5,222 ....
in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
. Afterwards, the king lost two battles against his brother, and died before 6 December 1060, when Béla I was crowned.
Following his father's death, Solomon lived in the imperial court three years, during which his followers tried to acquire assistance against his uncle, but it was only in August 1063 when the Imperial Diet
Reichstag (Holy Roman Empire)
The Imperial Diet was the Diet, or general assembly, of the Imperial Estates of the Holy Roman Empire.During the period of the Empire, which lasted formally until 1806, the Diet was not a parliament in today's sense; instead, it was an assembly of the various estates of the realm...
decided in Mainz to send troops to Hungary. King Béla I died in an accident before the imperial army entered to the kingdom, and his three sons (Géza
Géza I of Hungary
Géza I was King of Hungary from 1074 until his death. During King Solomon's rule he governed, as Duke, one third of the Kingdom of Hungary. Afterwards, Géza rebelled against his cousin's reign and his followers proclaimed him king...
, Ladislaus and Lampert
Lampert of Hungary
Lampert was a member of the Árpád dynasty; Duke of one-third of the Kingdom of Hungary .Lampert was the third son of the future King Béla I of Hungary and his Polish wife...
) left for Poland.
King of Hungary
After his uncle's death and his cousins' escape, Solomon returned to Hungary where he was crowned again and he married the German king's sister in September 1063 in SzékesfehérvárSzékesfehérvár
Székesfehérvár is a city in central Hungary and is the 9th largest in the country. Located around southwest of Budapest. It is inhabited by 101,973 people , with 136,995 in the Székesfehérvár Subregion. The city is the centre of Fejér county and the regional centre of Central Transdanubia...
. When the German army left Hungary, his three cousins came back followed by Polish troops. The parties, however, wanted to avoid the civil war; therefore they accepted the mediation services of the bishops, and they made an agreement on 20 January 1064 in Győr
Gyor
-Climate:-Main sights:The ancient core of the city is Káptalan Hill at the confluence of three rivers: the Danube, Rába and Rábca. Püspökvár, the residence of Győr’s bishops can be easily recognised by its incomplete tower. Győr’s oldest buildings are the 13th-century dwelling tower and the...
. Under the agreement Dukes Géza
Géza I of Hungary
Géza I was King of Hungary from 1074 until his death. During King Solomon's rule he governed, as Duke, one third of the Kingdom of Hungary. Afterwards, Géza rebelled against his cousin's reign and his followers proclaimed him king...
, Ladislaus and Lampert
Lampert of Hungary
Lampert was a member of the Árpád dynasty; Duke of one-third of the Kingdom of Hungary .Lampert was the third son of the future King Béla I of Hungary and his Polish wife...
accepted Solomon's rule, and they received their father's former duchy, i.e., one third of Hungary. Following the conclusion of the peace, the king and his cousins celebrated Easter together in Pécs. However, when a fire broke out, the two parties accused the other's followers of incendiarism. The bishops had to intervene again in order to appease the king and the dukes.
In the next years, Solomon and his cousins collaborated successfully. In 1067, they lead an army together to provide assistance to the dukes' brother-in-law, at that time ban
Ban (title)
Ban was a title used in several states in central and south-eastern Europe between the 7th century and the 20th century.-Etymology:The word ban has entered the English language probably as a borrowing from South Slavic ban, meaning "lord, master; ruler". The Slavic word is probably borrowed from...
of Croatia, Dmitar Zvonimir
Dmitar Zvonimir
Demetrius Zvonimir was King of Croatia from 8 October 1076 until his death. He also ruled as Ban of Slavonia , and was named Duke of Croatia in around 1075. His native name was Zvonimir, while the name Demetrius was adopted at his coronation.He began as a Ban of Slavonia in the service of King...
against Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
. In 1068, when the Pechenegs had overrun the territories of Transylvania
Transylvania
Transylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical...
, Solomon and the dukes went together against them and they won a victory at Chiraleş.
In 1071, Solomon and the dukes lead a campaign against 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...
and laid siege to the fortress of Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
(Nándorfehérvár). The siege lasted two months, and the Greek commander surrendered the fort to the dukes not to the king. Moreover, Duke Géza denied to hand over the king's share of the booty and set the Greek captives free without the king's permission. Having the Byzantine troops reoccupied Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
in the next year, Solomon and Duke Géza lead their armies together against the Greeks, but Géza left his two brothers behind, because he was worrying about that the king's partisans would try to occupy their duchy during their absence. The campaign was a total failure, because the king and the duke were not able to cooperate during the siege any more.
Struggle for the throne
During 1073, both the king and his cousins were preparing for the coming struggle; Solomon sent his envoys to his brother-in-law, King Henry IV of Germany, while his cousins were seeking the help of their Polish and Czech relatives. In the beginning of 1074, before the Polish and Czech troops arrived, Solomon led his armies against the dukes' territory and defeated Duke Géza on 26 February at Kemej. However, after the arrival of the reinforcement from Poland and Bohemia, the dukes' armies started a counter-attack and they won a decisive victory over Solomon's troops on 14 March in the Battle of MogyoródBattle of Mogyoród
The Battle of Mogyoród took place on 14 March 1074. It was an internal conflict between the king of Hungary, Solomon and his cousins duke Géza and Ladislaus, who were claiming rights to the throne....
.
After his defeat, Solomon run to the Western borders of Hungary and sought help from the German king, whose supremacy he accepted, while his eldest cousin, Géza was declared king, supported by the Hungarian tradition which preferred seniority. In August 1074, the imperial troops invaded the Northern part of the kingdom and advanced till Vác
Vác
Vác is a town in Pest county in Hungary with approximately 35,000 inhabitants. The archaic spellings of the name are Vacz and Vacs.-Location:...
, but the German king was obliged to return to his domain because of the Saxons
Saxons
The Saxons were a confederation of Germanic tribes originating on the North German plain. The Saxons earliest known area of settlement is Northern Albingia, an area approximately that of modern Holstein...
' uprising. King Solomon could only maintain his rule over the Counties (megye) of Moson and Pozsony
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
.
However, Solomon could beat off the troops Géza sent to siege Pozsony
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
and Géza, who became more and more ill, was thinking of his abdication and the acceptance of Solomon's rule. But after Géza's death on 25 April 1077, his followers proclaimed his brother, Ladislaus king. In 1079, King Ladislaus I managed to occupy the fortress of Moson from Solomon's adherents, and he also repealed the German king's troops. Solomon also lost the support of the clergy when Pope Gregory VII
Pope Gregory VII
Pope St. Gregory VII , born Hildebrand of Sovana , was Pope from April 22, 1073, until his death. One of the great reforming popes, he is perhaps best known for the part he played in the Investiture Controversy, his dispute with Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor affirming the primacy of the papal...
, because of his alliance with the German king, acknowledged the legitimacy of King Ladislaus' rule.
Solomon had to realize that he did not have any chance to win over Ladislaus and he abdicated in 1081. In exchange for the acceptance of Ladislaus' rule, Solomon received extensive landholdings.
Conspiracy and failure
Solomon, however, did not give up his ambitions and tried to plot against the king, but he was betrayed and Ladislaus had him imprisoned. On 15 August 1083, on the occasion of the canonization of Stephen I, the first King of Hungary, Solomon was released. His release was attributed to the newly canonized Saint Stephen's intercession, whose coffin could only be opened when Solomon retrieved his freedom.Solomon left for Regensburg, where he tried to obtain military assistance from his brother-in-law, the German king, but his attempts failed. Afterwards, following a long wandering, Solomon made an alliance with Kuteshk, the leader of a Pecheneg (besenyő) tribe that had settled in the territory of the future principality of Moldavia
Moldavia
Moldavia is a geographic and historical region and former principality in Eastern Europe, corresponding to the territory between the Eastern Carpathians and the Dniester river...
. Solomon married Kuteshk's daughter, even though his first wife was still alive (she had left Solomon years before). Solomon promised to hand over parts of the kingdom of Hungary to Kuteshk in exchange for his new father-in-law's military assistance. In 1085, Solomon lead an army of Pecheneg troops against Hungary, but King Ladislaus I defeated them.
In 1087, Solomon took part in the Pechenegs' campaign against the Byzantine Empire. He was killed in battle near Hadrianopolis
Edirne
Edirne is a city in Eastern Thrace, the northwestern part of Turkey, close to the borders with Greece and Bulgaria. Edirne served as the capital city of the Ottoman Empire from 1365 to 1453, before Constantinople became the empire's new capital. At present, Edirne is the capital of the Edirne...
. Later chronicles claimed that Solomon escaped from the battlefield and went to Pula
Pula
Pula is the largest city in Istria County, Croatia, situated at the southern tip of the Istria peninsula, with a population of 62,080 .Like the rest of the region, it is known for its mild climate, smooth sea, and unspoiled nature. The city has a long tradition of winemaking, fishing,...
, where he lived as a monk. His remains are interred at the Pula Cathedral
Pula Cathedral
The Pula Cathedral or fully the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a co-cathedral in Pula, Croatia. Along with the Euphrasian Basilica it is one of the two official seats of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Poreč and Pula...
.
Marriages
- 1063: Judith of SwabiaJudith of SwabiaJudith-Maria of Swabia was a German princess, a member of the Ottonian dynasty and by her two marriages Queen of Hungary and Duchess of Poland renamed Sophia in 1089....
(c. 1054 – c. 1092/1096), daughter of Henry III, Holy Roman EmperorHenry III, Holy Roman EmperorHenry III , called the Black or the Pious, was a member of the Salian Dynasty of Holy Roman Emperors...
and his second wife, Agnes de PoitouAgnes de PoitouAgnes of Poitou, Agnes of Aquitaine or Empress Agnes was Holy Roman Empress and regent of the Holy Roman Empire from 1056 to 1062.-Family:... - 1084/1085: (bigamiously) Unnamed daughter of Kuteshk, leader of a Pecheneg tribe
Salomon did not father any children.
Sources
- Kristó Gyula - Makk Ferenc: Az Árpád-ház uralkodói (IPC Könyvek, 1996)
- Korai Magyar Történeti Lexikon (9-14. század), főszerkesztő: Kristó Gyula, szerkesztők: Engel Pál és Makk Ferenc (Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, 1994)
- Magyarország Történeti Kronológiája I. – A kezdetektől 1526-ig, főszerkesztő: Benda Kálmán (Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, 1981)
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