Editing Ladislaus I of Hungary (section)

== Duke in Hungary (1064–1077) ==

Ladislaus and Géza probably divided the administration of their duchy; Ladislaus seems to have received the regions around [[Biharia|Bihar]] (now Biharia, Romania).{{sfn|Makk|1994|p=394}}{{sfn|Steinhübel|2011|p=27}}{{sfn|Kristó|Makk|1996|p=106}} Géza and Ladislaus cooperated with King Solomon between 1064 and 1071.{{sfn|Kristó|Makk|1996|p=106}} The most popular story in Ladislaus's later legends{{spaced ndash}}his fight with a "[[Turkic peoples|Cuman]]" warrior who abducted a Christian maiden{{spaced ndash}}occurred during this period.{{sfn|Klaniczay|2002|pp=176–177}}{{sfn|Kristó|Makk|1996|pp=107–108}} The relationship between the king and his cousins became tense in the early 1070s.{{sfn|Kristó|Makk|1996|p=109}} When Géza accompanied Solomon on a military campaign against the [[Byzantine Empire]] in 1072, Ladislaus stayed behind with half of the ducal troops in [[Nyírség]] to "avenge his brother with a strong hand"<ref>''The Hungarian Illuminated Chronicle'' (ch. 79.111), p. 119.</ref> if Solomon harmed Géza.{{sfn|Kristó|Makk|1996|p=109}}{{sfn|Kosztolnyik|1981|p=85}}
[[File:Képes_krónika_-_72.oldal_-_László_herceg_birokra_kél_a_leányrabló_kunnal_(4).jpg|alt=|thumb|After the [[Battle of Kerlés]] in 1068, Saint Ladislaus is fighting a duel with a [[Cumans|Cuman]] warrior who kidnapped a girl ([[Chronicon Pictum]], 1358)]]
Realizing that another civil war was inevitable, the king and dukes launched negotiations to obtain the assistance of foreign powers.{{sfn|Kristó|Makk|1996|p=109}}{{sfn|Kosztolnyik|1981|p=85}} First, Ladislaus visited the [[Kievan Rus']], but he returned without reinforcements.{{sfn|Makk|1994|p=394}}{{sfn|Kosztolnyik|1981|p=85}} He then went to [[Moravia]], and persuaded Duke [[Otto I of Olomouc]] to accompany him back to Hungary with [[Czechs|Czech]] troops.{{sfn|Makk|1994|p=394}}{{sfn|Kristó|Makk|1996|p=110}} By the time they returned to Hungary, the royal army had already invaded the duchy and routed Géza's troops at the [[Battle of Kemej]] on 26 February 1074.{{sfn|Kristó|Makk|1996|p=109}}{{sfn|Steinhübel|2011|p=28}}{{sfn|Érszegi|Solymosi|1981|p=90}} Ladislaus met his fleeing brother at [[Vác]], and they decided to continue the fight against Solomon.{{sfn|Steinhübel|2011|p=28}} A legend preserved in the ''Illuminated Chronicle'' mentions that before the battle, Ladislaus "saw in broad daylight a [[Vision (spirituality)|vision from heaven]]" of an angel placing a crown on Géza's head.{{sfn|Klaniczay|2002|p=177}}<ref>''The Hungarian Illuminated Chronicle'' (ch. 83.120), p. 123.</ref> Another legendary episode also predicted the dukes' triumph over the king: an "[[Stoat|ermine]] of purest white" jumped from a thorny bush to Ladislaus's lance and then onto his chest.{{sfn|Klaniczay|2002|p=177}}<ref>''The Hungarian Illuminated Chronicle'' (ch. 85.121), p. 124.</ref> The decisive [[Battle of Mogyoród]] was fought on 14 March 1074.{{sfn|Steinhübel|2011|p=28}}{{sfn|Érszegi|Solymosi|1981|p=90}} Ladislaus commanded "the troops from [[Bihar County|Byhor]]" on the left flank.{{sfn|Steinhübel|2011|p=28}}<ref>''The Hungarian Illuminated Chronicle'' (ch. 84.121), p. 124.</ref> Solomon was defeated,{{sfn|Érszegi|Solymosi|1981|p=90}} but instead of surrendering to his cousins, he fled to the western borders of the kingdom to seek assistance from his brother-in-law [[Henry IV of Germany]].{{sfn|Kristó|Makk|1996|p=94}}

Géza was proclaimed king, but Solomon established himself in [[Mosonmagyaróvár|Moson]] and [[Pressburg]] (now [[Bratislava, Slovakia]]).{{sfn|Steinhübel|2011|p=28}}{{sfn|Kristó|Makk|1996|p=94}} During his brother's reign, Ladislaus administered all of their father's former duchy.{{sfn|Kristó|Makk|1996|p=110}} He repelled Solomon's attack on [[Nyitra]] (present-day [[Nitra, Slovakia]]) in August or September 1074, but he could not seize Pressburg.{{sfn|Kristó|Makk|1996|p=110}} Ladislaus was also his brother's main advisor.{{sfn|Kristó|Makk|1996|p=110}} Legend says that Géza decided to build a church dedicated to the [[Holy Virgin]] in [[Vác]] after Ladislaus explained the significance of the wondrous appearance of a [[red deer]] at the place where the church would be erected:{{sfn|Klaniczay|2002|pp=177–178}}

{{Blockquote|As [King Géza and Duke Ladislaus] were standing at a spot near [Vác], where is now the church of the [[Saint Peter|blessed apostle Peter]], a stag appeared to them with many candles burning upon his horns, and it began to run swifly before them towards the wood, and at the spot where is now the monastery, it halted and stood still. When the soldiers shot their arrows at it, it leapt into the [[Danube]], and they saw it no more. At this sight the blessed Ladislaus said: "Truly that was no stag, but an [[angel]] from God." And King [Géza] said: "Tell me, beloved brother, what may all the candles signify which we saw burning on the stag's horns." The blessed Ladislaus answered: "They are not horns, but wings; they are not burning candles, but shining feathers. It has shown to us that we are to build the church of the Blessed Virgin on the place where it planted its feet, and not elsewhere."|''[[Illuminated Chronicle|The Hungarian Illuminated Chronicle]]''<ref>''The Hungarian Illuminated Chronicle'' (ch. 87–88.124), p. 125.</ref>}}