(Medieval) Bela IV of Hungary: Mongol Invasion, International Intrigue, and Civil War

When we think of the middle ages, we often imagine western medieval kingdoms with their knights in shining armor, the code of chivalry, etc. But often forgotten are the remarkable stories of Europe’s eastern medieval kings and the fascinating kingdoms over which they ruled.

Today I hope to right the ship a little by covering the fascinating and colorful story of one of the most amazing kings in the history of medieval Hungary, Bela IV.

The early reign of Bela IV was uneventful. He was a brilliant medieval king, but one who ruled a relatively small and impoverished kingdom. However, fate decreed that the reign of Bela IV would become one of the most eventful in medieval history, and that his tiny kingdom would play an interesting chapter in mid-13th Century European history.


Hungary. Bela IV. 1235-1270.
AR denar.
Hungary. Bela IV. 1235-1270. AR denar (13.7 mm, 0.64 g, 11 h). REX*-BELA+, king enthroned facing, holding scepter / MONETA REGISP HVNGARIA, pearled cross, four stars around. Huszár 320; CNH 253. Good VF.

Sallent Collection
Ex. Kenneth Miller Collection of Ake-Ptolemaïs and Related Biblical Coins.


MONGOL INVASION OF HUNGARY

In 1240 CE the Mongol hoards took their worldwide tour of death and destruction to Hungary. Bela IV was badly outnumbered, but his wits secured the loyalty of the Cumans, a band of Asian warriors that had been forced by the Mongols to join the invading army, but were unhappy fighting for the Mongols. Things looked hopeful for Bela IV until the Austrians decided that Hungary’s misfortune was their gain, and Duke Frederick II of Austria came in with an army to swallow as much of of Hungary as he could and secure it for Austria. After some sketchy incidents between the Austrians and Cuman, the fragile deal Bela IV had made with the Cumans was ruined. With the Cumans abandoning the campaign, the Hungarians were left badly outnumbered and suffered a horrendous defeat. The Mongols conquered the land, and over the next two years would kill more than 20% of the Hungarian population.


Bela IV fleeing from the Mongol Hoard

The Austrians invited Bela IV into exile, but Bela quickly realized that the Austrians were pressuring him into giving vast areas of Hungary to them in exchange for nothing, and if he did not flee immediately he would end up dead under “mysterious circumstances” and whatever future free from the Mongols that Hungary might have would be as a subjugated peoples under the control of Austria. So Bela IV fled to Croatia and sought papal help for a crusade against the Mongols. However, for all his promises of aid, the Pope did nothing to aid in the liberation of Hungary. Things seemed hopeless until 1242 CE, when the great Kahn died and the Mongols retreated.


SECOND FOUNDING OF HUNGARY

When Bela IV returned to Hungary, the kingdom was non-existent. There was nothing but scorched earth and death everywhere he went. And it didn’t help that Austria sent an invading army to swiftly conquer what little was left of Hungary. After a desperate battle to save his smoldering Kingdom from the greedy hands of the Austrians, Bela IV killed Duke Frederick II of Austria and repelled the Austrian invaders. Bela IV set to founding a new Hungarian Kingdom and rebuilding his country back from the ashes. He knew that to promote growth and to defend against a future Mongol invasion, he would need a strong kingdom with fortified cities and a complex defense network of alliances. He gave charters for the creation of many independent cities and towns, and gave them leave to build strong city walls and defense systems. While the rest of medieval Europe was mostly made of vast feudal holdings and forests, cities and towns flourished throughout the new Hungarian Kingdom, and commerce was revived to heights never seen before in the history of medieval Hungary.


Contemporary Image of Bela IV

HUNGARIAN CIVIL WAR OF 1261-1266 CE

But fate is cruel, and whatever good fortune she bestows, she takes away the same just as swiftly. Bela’s son, Stephen decided to make a move for the throne which resulted in a prolonged and devastating civil war that threatened to undo much of the progress Bela IV had accomplished in the rebuilding of Hungary. Finally, after much bloodshed and indecisive battles, Bela IV and Stephen V agreed to a power sharing agreement where Stephen V ruled as a junior king over half the kingdom. While technically Bela IV was the senior King, Hungary would remain split until Bela IV’s death in 1270 CE.


Coinage depicting Bela IV and Stephen V as Joint Rulers
*I do not own this coin!

BELA IV’s LEGACY

Bela IV is today seen as a hero of Hungarian history. He courageously rebuilt the Hungarian nation from scratch after the devastating Mongol invasion, unified his people, encouraged the founding of towns and cities, reestablished the rule of law, repopulated the devastated countryside, and revived the economic life of the kingdom. Without him, there might not be a Hungary today, which is why Hungarians call Bela IV the “Second Founder of the State.”

 

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I know next to nothing about medievals and less about Bela. Your secondary coin of Bela and Stephen looks a lot like the AE scyphate type of Bela III 1172-1196 AD which I got mostly because of its similarity to the Byzantines of that period. Attribution details here are over my head but there are many variations of these common coppers online.

 

Yeah, I think they borrowed the design.

 

Very cool coin and a fascinating write-up!!!

Amazing, under the circumstances you described, considering the desolation, it seems 'miraculous' that Bela was able to kill Frederik even during a desperate battle....

 

I thought you were on the wagon.

 

LOL

 

During the Battle of Leitha River, Bela IV, with nothing left to lose, gathered what little remained of his Hungarian troops and made a desperate charge at the Austrians. I can't say for sure that it was Bela himself who killed the Austrian duke, but nevertheless the duke was killed and the Hungarians were miraculously spared bondage at the hands of the Austrians. Think about it, these people had just come from a bloody occupation under the Mongols and their kingdom was still in pieces, yet they defied the odds and preserved their freedom.

 

Come on @Bing , look at that coin again and tell me this is not worth getting off the wagon to own this exquisite piece of medieval history.

Are you going to tell me you disagree?



Or my Venetian Grosso, is that also not worth getting off the wagon for?



It's not my fault medieval coiners made these beauties. Who can resist?

 

Wow, excellent write up. That was a really neat read.

 

It is a nice coin, but I sure wish someone would have taken me up on that wager about you not buying another coin till next year. HA!

 

An excellent writeup and interesting coins.

 

Thank you. I'm glad to see that historical writeups are appreciated. I enjoy doing them much more than simply writing "Here's my new coin." It's much more fun and much more of a challenge. Before this writeup I knew nothing of Hungarian medieval history, now I know about this great king and the hard life he led.

 

Here is an interesting bit about Frederick II, Duke of Austria.

He had a reputation for being very war happy and quite quarrelsome, hence his nickname "Frederick The Quarrelsome." Apparently he was always picking fights with the Holy Roman Emperor, other dukes and nobles, and yes...Bela IV of Hungary.

But hey, you mess with Bela IV, you get an early grave. That ought to teach him not to be so quarrelsome. He hasn't caused any problems since Bella slapped him down in 1245 CE.

 

awesome new coin, and great write up!


this coin may be bela iv, a bracteate..




Bela III - Bela IV of Hungary, 1172-1270 AD, AR Bracteate

Head right, reverse incuse of obverse. Unger 122. 16 mm, 0.4 g

i have these hungarian coins of bela iii...

 

Very nice Sallent! I like the new coin too

 

Well done @Sallent ! Excellent write-up, and a great coin. That was the perfect coin to break your coin-fast.

 

What coin fast?

 

LOL, the one he stated emphatically he was going on until 2017!

 

Been there, done that!

 

Cut me some slack, I lasted three days in between purchases. One can't live without water for three days. I was thirsty...for coins.

Fine, considering I've now broken my promise not to buy more coins until 2017 a total of 10 times, I make no more promises on when I may or may not buy another coin.