III. The Postclassical Period, 500–1500 > F. Europe, 461–1500 > 4. Eastern Europe, 1000–1300 > e. Hungary > 1204–5
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  The Encyclopedia of World History.  2001.
 
 
1204–5
 
Ladislas III, dethroned by Andrew.  1
 
1205–35
 
ANDREW II. The most disastrous reign in the Arpad period. Andrew was renowned for his extravagance and for his generosity to his foreign favorites. A crusade to the Holy Land (1217) cost him much money, which he raised by alienating huge tracts of the royal domain, facilitating the emergence of large landed magnates, or oligarchs.  2
 
1222
 
The Golden Bull, forced on Andrew by the lesser nobility or gentry, led by Andrew's own son, Bela. This document became the charter of feudal privilege. It exempted the gentry and the clergy from taxation, granted them freedom to dispose of their domains as they saw fit, guaranteed them against arbitrary imprisonment and confiscation, and assured them an annual assembly to present grievances. No lands or offices were to be given to foreigners or Jews.  3
 
1224
 
The privileges of the Transylvanian Saxons were set down. They were given practical self-government, directly under the king.  4
 
1235–70
 
BELA IV. A strong ruler who tried desperately to make good the losses of the preceding reign. The magnates, in reply, attempted to set up a rival ruler, and Bela in turn allowed some 40,000 families of Cumans, who were driven westward by the Mongol invasions, to settle in the Theiss (Tisza) region in the hope of securing support against the magnates.  5
 
1241
 
The great Mongol invasion, which took the country by surprise, in the midst of its own dissensions. Bela's army was overwhelmingly defeated at Muhi on the Theiss, and he was obliged to flee to the Adriatic. The Mongols followed him, but suddenly gave up their conquests when news arrived of the death of the Great Khan. Nevertheless, the Mongol invasion left the country devastated. For defense purposes, the nobility was allowed to build castles, and these soon became bases for feudal warfare and for campaigns against the king himself.  6
 
1246
 
Bela defeated Frederick of Austria, the last of the Babenbergs, who had taken advantage of the Mongol invasion to appropriate some of the western provinces.  7
 
1265–70
 
Wars of Bela against Ottokar II of Bohemia.  8
 
1270–72
 
Stephen V, a weak ruler.  9
 
1272–90
 
Ladislas (László) IV. His efforts to curb the feudal aristocracy were of little avail, but in alliance with Rudolf of Habsburg he succeeded in breaking the power of Ottokar in the battle of Dürnkrut (1278).  10
 
1290–1301
 
Andrew III, last of the native dynasty. He continued the struggle against the domination of the feudal aristocracy, but with little success. (See Hungary)  11
 
 
 
The Encyclopedia of World History, Sixth edition. Peter N. Stearns, general editor. Copyright © 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Maps by Mary Reilly, copyright © 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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