Early life Andrew II of Hungary

1 life

1.1 childhood , youth (c. 1177–1197)
1.2 duke of croatia , dalmatia (1197–1204)
1.3 nephew s guardian (1204–1205)

early life
childhood , youth (c. 1177–1197)

andrew second son of king béla iii , béla s first wife, agnes of antioch. year of andrew s birth not known, modern historians agree born around 1177. andrew first mentioned in connection father s invasion of principality of halych in 1188. year, béla iii invaded halych upon request of former prince, vladimir ii yaroslavich, had been expelled subjects. béla forced new prince, roman mstislavich, flee. after conquering halych, granted andrew. béla captured vladimir yaroslavich , imprisoned him in hungary.

after béla s withdrawal halych, roman mstislavich returned assistance of rurik rostislavich, prince of belgorod kievsky. tried expel andrew , hungarian retinue, hungarians routed united forces of mstislavich , rostislavich. group of local boyars offered throne rostislav ivanovich, distant cousin of imprisoned vladimir yaroslavich. béla iii sent reinforcements halych, enabling andrew s troops repel attacks. andrew s reign remained unpopular in halych, because hungarian soldiers insulted local women , did not respect orthodox churches. consequently, local boyars allied former prince, vladimir yaroslavich, had escaped captivity , returned halych. duke casimir ii of poland supported vladimir yaroslavich, , expelled andrew , retinue principality in august 1189 or 1190. andrew returned hungary after defeat. did not receive separate duchy father, gave him estates , money. on deathbed, béla iii, had pledged lead crusade holy land, ordered andrew fulfill vow. andrew s father died on 23 april 1196, , andrew s older brother, emeric, succeeded him.

duke of croatia , dalmatia (1197–1204)

andrew used funds inherited father recruit supporters among hungarian lords. formed alliance leopold vi, duke of austria, , plotted against emeric. united troops routed royal army @ mački, slavonia, in december 1197. under duress, king emeric gave croatia , dalmatia andrew appanage. in practice, andrew administered croatia , dalmatia independent monarch. minted coins, granted land , confirmed privileges. cooperated frankopans, babonići, , other local lords. canons regular of holy sepulchre settled in province during rule. taking advantage of miroslav of hum s death, andrew invaded hum , occupied @ least land between cetina , neretva rivers. styled himself, grace of god, duke of zadar , of dalmatia, croatia , hum in charters.

pope innocent iii urged andrew lead crusade holy land, andrew hatched new conspiracy against emeric of john, abbot of pannonhalma, boleslaus, bishop of vác, , many other prelates , lords. pope threatened him excommunication if failed fulfill father s vow, andrew did not yield. conspiracy uncovered on 10 march 1199, when king emeric seized letters written andrew s partisans bishop boleslaus. summer, royal troops routed andrew s army near lake balaton, , andrew fled austria. papal legate mediated reconciliation between andrew , emeric, allowed andrew return croatia , dalmatia in 1200. andrew married gertrude of merania; father, berthold, duke of merania, owned extensive domains in holy roman empire along borders of andrew s duchy.

the Árpád stripes (four argent (silver) , 4 gules (red) stripes) on andrew s personal coat-of-arms

when emeric s son, ladislaus, born around 1200, andrew s hopes succeed brother king shattered. pope innocent confirmed child s position heir crown, declaring andrew s future sons inherit andrew s duchy. andrew planned new rebellion against brother, king emeric captured him without resistance near varaždin in october 1203.

[all] magnates of kingdom , whole of hungarian army deserted [king emeric] , unlawfully sided duke andrew. few men indeed remained king, , terrified @ extent of insurrection, , did not dare urge king hope success, rather advised him flee. happened 1 day both sides had drawn close each other , beginning prepare in earnest battle. ... [after] wise thought, inspiration heaven [king emeric] found successful way might recover right kingdom , still remain guiltless of bloodshed. said men, stay here while, , not follow me. laid down weapons, , taking leafy bough in hand walked enemy ranks. passed through midst of armed multitude, cried out in loud , strong voice, shall see dare raise hand shed blood of royal lineage! seeing him, fell back, , not daring mutter, left wide passage him on either side. , when [king emeric] reached brother, took him, , leading him outside body of troops, sent him castle custody.

andrew first imprisoned in fort of gornji kneginec, in esztergom. alexander of hont-pázmány clan freed him in 1204. having fallen ill, king emeric had son, ladislaus, crowned king on 26 august. andrew reconciled dying brother, entrusted him guardianship of son , administration of entire kingdom until ward should reach age of majority , according contemporaneous thomas archdeacon.

his nephew s guardian (1204–1205)

king emeric died on 30 november 1204. andrew governed kingdom ladislaus s regent, counted regnal years time of brother s death, showing regarded himself lawful monarch during ladislaus iii s reign. pope innocent told andrew should remain loyal ladislaus. instead, andrew seized money emeric had deposited ladislaus in pilis abbey. ladislaus s mother, constance of aragon, fled hungary, taking son austria. andrew prepared war against leopold vi, duke of austria, ladislaus died in vienna on 7 may 1205.