Editing Andrew II of Hungary (section)

==Early life==

===Childhood and youth ({{circa}} 1177–1197)===

Andrew was the second son of King [[Béla III]] and Béla's first wife, [[Agnes of Antioch]].{{sfn|Kristó|Makk|1996|p=229, Appendix 4}} The year of Andrew's birth is not known, but modern historians agree that he was born around 1177,{{sfn|Kristó|Makk|1996|p=229, Appendix 4}}{{sfn|Kristó|1994|p=43}}{{sfn|Almási|2012|p=86}} considering that [[Margaret of Hungary|Margaret]], who was born in 1175 or 1176, was his elder sister, which, however, is far from certain.{{sfn|Zsoldos|2022|pp=13–14}} Andrew was first mentioned in connection to his father's invasion of the [[Principality of Halych]] in 1188.{{sfn|Kristó|Makk|1996|p=229}} That year, Béla III invaded Halych upon the request of its former prince, [[Vladimir II Yaroslavich]], who had been expelled by his subjects.{{sfn|Kristó|Makk|1996|p=229}}{{sfn|Dimnik|2003|p=191}} Béla forced the new prince, [[Roman Mstislavich]], to flee. After conquering Halych, he granted it to Andrew.{{sfn|Kristó|Makk|1996|p=224}}{{sfn|Dimnik|2003|pp=191, 193}} Béla also captured Vladimir Yaroslavich and imprisoned him in Hungary.{{sfn|Dimnik|2003|p=193}}

After Béla's withdrawal from Halych, Roman Mstislavich returned with the assistance of [[Rurik Rostislavich]], Prince of [[Belgorod Kievsky]].{{sfn|Dimnik|2003|p=193}} They tried to expel Andrew and his Hungarian retinue, but the Hungarians routed the united forces of Mstislavich and Rostislavich.{{sfn|Dimnik|2003|p=193}} A group of local [[boyar]]s offered the throne to Rostislav Ivanovich, a distant cousin of the imprisoned Vladimir Yaroslavich.{{sfn|Dimnik|2003|p=193}} Béla III sent reinforcements to Halych, enabling Andrew's troops to repel the attacks.{{sfn|Érszegi|Solymosi|1981|p=127}} Andrew's nominal reign remained unpopular in Halych, because the Hungarian soldiers insulted local women and did not respect [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] churches.{{sfn|Dimnik|2003|p=193}}{{sfn|Engel|2001|p=54}} Consequently, the local boyars allied themselves with their former prince, Vladimir Yaroslavich, who had escaped from captivity and returned to Halych.{{sfn|Dimnik|2003|pp=193–194}} Duke [[Casimir II of Poland]] also supported Vladimir, and they expelled Andrew and his retinue from the principality in August 1189 or 1190.{{sfn|Érszegi|Solymosi|1981|p=122}}{{sfn|Berend|Urbańczyk|Wiszewski|2013|p=249}}{{sfn|Dimnik|2003|pp=193–194}} Andrew returned to Hungary after his defeat.{{sfn|Kristó|Makk|1996|p=224}}

King Béla did not grant Andrew a separate duchy, but only gave his son some fortresses, estates and money.{{sfn|Kristó|Makk|1996|p=224}} According to historian Attila Zsoldos, these landholdings laid in [[Slavonia]].{{sfn|Zsoldos|2022|p=19}} On his deathbed, Béla, who had pledged to lead a [[crusade]] to the [[Holy Land]], ordered Andrew to fulfill his vow.{{sfn|Berend|Urbańczyk|Wiszewski|2013|p=234}} Andrew's father died on 23 April 1196, and Andrew's older brother, [[Emeric, King of Hungary|Emeric]], succeeded him.{{sfn|Bartl|Čičaj|Kohútova|Letz|2002|p=30}}

===Duke of Croatia and Dalmatia (1197–1204)===
{{main|Brothers' Quarrel (Hungary)}}

Andrew used the funds that he inherited from his father to recruit supporters among the Hungarian lords.{{sfn|Almási|2012|p=86}} It is plausible he demanded from his brother to install him as [[Duke of Slavonia]], which became increasingly the title of heir to the throne by the second half of the 12th century.{{sfn|Zsoldos|2022|p=19}} Andrew also formed an alliance with Duke [[Leopold VI of Austria]], and they plotted against Emeric.{{sfn|Almási|2012|p=86}} Their united troops routed the royal army at [[Mački, Croatia|Mački]], Slavonia, in December 1197.{{sfn|Érszegi|Solymosi|1981|p=124}} Under duress, King Emeric gave [[Kingdom of Croatia (1102–1526)|Croatia]] and [[Dalmatia]] to Andrew as an [[appanage]], as most historians believe.{{sfn|Curta|2006|p=347}}{{sfn|Zsoldos|2022|pp=20–21}} In contrast, historian György Szabados claims that Emeric never acknowledged Andrew's dominion in Croatia and Dalmatia and that Andrew used the title of duke without his brother's approval.{{sfn|Zsoldos|2022|pp=20–21}} In practice, Andrew administered Croatia and Dalmatia as an independent monarch. He minted coins ([[Frizatik|Croatian frizatik]]), granted land and confirmed privileges.{{sfn|Curta|2006|p=347}}{{sfn|Fine|1994|p=22}}{{sfn|Érszegi|Solymosi|1981|p=124}} In accordance with the agreement, [[Varaždin County (former)|Varaždin]] and [[Bodrog county|Bodrog]] counties also belonged to his suzerainty.{{sfn|Zsoldos|2022|p=24}} He cooperated with the [[Frankopans]], [[Babonići]], and other local lords.{{sfn|Curta|2006|p=347}} Some of the prominent barons also supported his aspirations, including their uncle [[Andrew, Ban of Slavonia|''comes'' Andrew]] and [[Macarius Monoszló]].{{sfn|Zsoldos|2022|pp=22–24}} The [[Canons Regular of the Holy Sepulchre]] settled in the province during his rule.{{sfn|Curta|2006|p=370}} Taking advantage of [[Miroslav of Hum]]'s death, Andrew invaded [[Zachlumia|Hum]] and occupied at least the land between the [[Cetina]] and [[Neretva]] rivers sometime before May 1198.{{sfn|Fine|1994|p=52}} He styled himself, "By the grace of God, Duke of Zadar and of all Dalmatia, Croatia and Hum" in his charters.{{sfn|Bárány|2012|p=132}}

[[Pope Innocent III]] urged Andrew to lead a crusade to the Holy Land, but Andrew hatched a new conspiracy against Emeric with the help of John, Abbot of Pannonhalma, [[Boleslaus, Bishop of Vác]], and many other prelates and lords.{{sfn|Érszegi|Solymosi|1981|p=124}} For instance, incumbent Palatine [[Mog, Palatine of Hungary|Mog]] also betrayed Emeric and swore allegiance to the Duke.{{sfn|Zsoldos|2022|p=31}} The Pope threatened Andrew with [[excommunication]] if he failed to fulfill his father's vow, but Andrew did not yield.{{sfn|Érszegi|Solymosi|1981|pp=124–125}} The conspiracy was uncovered on 10 March 1199, when King Emeric seized letters written by Andrew's partisans to Bishop Boleslaus.{{sfn|Érszegi|Solymosi|1981|p=125}} That summer, royal troops routed Andrew's army in the valley of Rád near [[Lake Balaton]], and Andrew fled to Austria.{{sfn|Almási|2012|p=86}}{{sfn|Érszegi|Solymosi|1981|p=125}} During Andrew's exile, Emeric appointed his own partisans to administer Slavonia, Croatia and Dalmatia.{{sfn|Zsoldos|2022|p=32}} A papal legate mediated a reconciliation between Andrew and Emeric, who allowed Andrew to return to Croatia and Dalmatia in 1200.{{sfn|Érszegi|Solymosi|1981|p=125}} Andrew married [[Gertrude of Merania]] sometime between 1200 and 1203; her father, [[Berthold, Duke of Merania]], owned extensive domains in the [[Holy Roman Empire]] along the borders of Andrew's duchy, in what is now [[Slovenia]].{{sfn|Curta|2006|p=347}}{{sfn|Érszegi|Solymosi|1981|p=125}}{{sfn|Kristó|Makk|1996|p=230}}

[[File:Coa Hungary Country History Andrew II (1205-1235).svg|thumb |right |190px |alt= The "Árpád stripes": four silver and four red stripes |The "[[Árpád stripes]]" (four [[Argent]] (silver) and four [[Gules]] (red) stripes) on Andrew's personal coat-of-arms]]

When Emeric's son, [[Ladislaus III of Hungary|Ladislaus]], was born around 1200, Andrew's hopes to succeed his brother as king were shattered.{{sfn|Almási|2012|p=86}}{{sfn|Kristó|Makk|1996|p=230}} Pope Innocent confirmed the child's position as heir to the crown, declaring that Andrew's future sons would only inherit Andrew's duchy.{{sfn|Kristó|Makk|1996|p=230}}{{sfn|Érszegi|Solymosi|1981|p=125}} Andrew planned a new rebellion against his brother, but King Emeric captured him without resistance near [[Varaždin]] in October 1203.{{sfn|Érszegi|Solymosi|1981|p=126}} In contrast, historian Attila Zsoldos considers it was the king who turned against his brother's province with an army initially convened for a crusade.{{sfn|Zsoldos|2022|pp=36–37}}

{{Blockquote|[All] the magnates of the kingdom and almost the whole of the Hungarian army deserted [King Emeric] and unlawfully sided with Duke Andrew. Very few men indeed remained with the king, and even they were terrified at the extent of the insurrection and did not dare to urge the king to hope for success, but rather advised him to flee. Then it happened that one day both sides had drawn close to each other and were beginning to prepare themselves in earnest for {{nobr|battle. ...}} [After] much wise thought, with inspiration from heaven [King Emeric] found a successful way by which he might recover his right to the kingdom and still remain guiltless of bloodshed. So he said to his men, "Stay here a while, and do not follow me." Then he laid down his weapons, and taking only a leafy bough in his hand he walked slowly into the enemy ranks. As he passed through the midst of the armed multitude, he cried out in a loud and strong voice, "Now I shall see who will dare to raise a hand to shed the blood of the royal lineage!" Seeing him, all fell back, and not daring even to mutter, they left a wide passage for him on either side. And then when [King Emeric] reached his brother, he took him, and leading him outside the body of troops, he sent him to a certain castle for custody.|[[Thomas the Archdeacon]]: ''History of the Bishops of Salona and Split''<ref>''Archdeacon Thomas of Split: History of the Bishops of Salona and Split'' (ch. 23.), pp. 141–143.</ref>}}

Andrew was first imprisoned in the fort of [[Gornji Kneginec]], then in [[Esztergom]].{{sfn|Érszegi|Solymosi|1981|p=126}} Alexander of the [[Hont-Pázmány]] clan freed him in early 1204.{{sfn|Bartl|Čičaj|Kohútova|Letz|2002|p=30}}{{sfn|Érszegi|Solymosi|1981|p=126}} It is uncertain whether Andrew was freed by his partisans or his release took place with Emeric's consent.{{sfn|Zsoldos|2022|pp=36–37}} Having fallen ill, King Emeric had his son, Ladislaus, crowned king on 26 August.{{sfn|Engel|2001|p=89}} As Pope Innocent already ordered Archbishop [[Ugrin Csák, Archbishop of Esztergom|Ugrin Csák]] to perform the coronation in April, it is plausible that the king decided on Andrew's release, therefore, the coronation was not vitally urgent.{{sfn|Zsoldos|2022|p=38}} Andrew reconciled with his dying brother, who entrusted him with "the guardianship of his son and the administration of the entire kingdom until the ward should reach the age of majority",<ref>''Archdeacon Thomas of Split: History of the Bishops of Salona and Split'' (ch. 23.), p. 143.</ref> according to the nearly contemporaneous [[Thomas the Archdeacon]].{{sfn|Almási|2012|p=86}}

===Nephew's guardian (1204–1205)===

King Emeric died on 30 November 1204.{{sfn|Engel|2001|p=89}} Andrew governed the kingdom as Ladislaus's regent, but subsequently he counted his regnal years from the time of his brother's death, showing that he already regarded himself as the lawful monarch during Ladislaus III's reign.{{sfn|Engel|2001|p=89}} Pope Innocent told Andrew that he should remain loyal to Ladislaus,{{sfn|Kristó|Makk|1996|pp=227, 231}} also instructing him to fulfill his vow to lead a crusade, to secure the incomes of Emeric's widow and Ladislaus III's mother, [[Constance of Aragon, Holy Roman Empress|Constance of Aragon]], and to keep royal property intact. The pope's letters suggest that serious tensions burdened the relationship between Andrew and Constance after Emeric's death.{{sfn|Zsoldos|2022|p=39}}

Instead, Andrew seized the money that Emeric had deposited for Ladislaus in [[Pilis Abbey]].{{sfn|Kristó|Makk|1996|pp=227, 231}} He also confiscated a significant portion of private wealth from Constance, who deposited it in the [[Order of Hospitaller Canons Regular of St Stephen|Stephanites]]' convent in Esztergom prior to that, in addition to the denial of her [[dower]].{{sfn|Zsoldos|2022|p=40}} Queen Constance fled from Hungary, taking her son and the [[Holy Crown]] to [[Duchy of Austria|Austria]].{{sfn|Érszegi|Solymosi|1981|p=127}} According to the Annals of Admont, "some bishops and nobles" escorted them, breaking through the blockade that Andrew erected along the Austrian border.{{sfn|Zsoldos|2022|p=41}} Andrew prepared for a war against Leopold VI of Austria, but Ladislaus suddenly died in [[Vienna]] on 7 May 1205.{{sfn|Kristó|Makk|1996|pp=227–228}} Andrew sent Bishop [[Peter II, Bishop of Győr|Peter of Győr]] to Austria, who successfully recovered the Holy Crown.{{sfn|Zsoldos|2022|pp=48–49}}