BÉLA, son of ÁLMOS Prince of Hungary & his wife Predslava Sviatopolkovna of Kiev ([1109-13 Feb 1141, bur Székesfehérvár). He was blinded, together with his father, on the orders of his uncle King Kálmán and took refuge in the monastery of Pécsvárad[648]. The Chronicon Posoniense records that "Almus dux et Bela filius eius" were blinded in 1117[649]. He was appointed heir to the throne by his first cousin King István II in [1129][650]. He succeeded in 1131 as BÉLA II "the Blind" King of Hungary, crowned 28 Apr 1131, one of the rare exceptions of succession to a throne by a blind person in the Balkan region. The Chronicle of Otto of Freising records that the succession of "Bela Almi filio" was challenged by his cousin Boris[651]. King Béla was under the influence of his domineering wife who took an active part in the government of the country. A charter dated 3 Sep 1138 records the confirmation of his father´s donation by "Rege Bela secundo, bonæ memoriæ Almi ducis filio, cum Helena regina" to "ecclesiam…Martyris Margarethæ…Demesiensi"[652]. The Annales Gradicenses record the death in 1141 of "Bela rex Ungarorum" and the accession of his son[653]. The Chronicon Dubnicense records the death "Id Feb" in 1141 of "Bela cecus" and his burial "Albe"[654]. The necrology of Admunt records the death "Id Feb" of "Bela rex"[655]. The Gesta Hungarorum records that King Béla reigned for nine years and two months and was buried at Székesfehérvár[656]. The Chronica Ungarorum records the death in 1140 of "rex Bela" and his burial "in Alba"[657]. The Chronicon Varadiense records the death "Id Feb" in 1141 of "rex Bela cæcus filius ducis Almus" and his burial "Albæ"[658].
m (28 Aug 1127) JELENA of Serbia, daughter of UROŠ I Grand Župan of Serbia & his wife Anna [Diogenissa] (after 1109-after 1146). A charter dated 3 Sep 1138 records the confirmation of his father´s donation by "Rege Bela secundo, bonæ memoriæ Almi ducis filio, cum Helena regina" to "ecclesiam…Martyris Margarethæ…Demesiensi"[659]. The primary source which confirms her parentage has not yet been identified. She brought part of northern Serbia, probably north-eastern Bosnia and Macva, to Hungary as her dowry[660]. She led a campaign of revenge against the magnates alleged to have permitted the blinding of her husband, including the execution of 68 magnates at a meeting in Arad in [1131/32][661].
King Béla II & his wife had six children