Bela II "the Blind King" (1131-1141) Silver Denar - Coin of the Medieval Crusades

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Bela the Blind was King of Hungary and Croatia from 1131. He was blinded along with his rebellious father Almos on the order of Almos's brother, King Coloman of Hungary. Bela grew up in monasteries during the reign of Coloman's son Stephen II. The childless king arranged Bela's marriage with Helena of Rascia, who would become her husband's co-ruler throughout his reign.

Bela was crowned king at least two months after the death of Stephen II, implying that his accession to the throne did not happen without opposition. Two violent purges were carried out among the partisans of his predecessors to strengthen Bela's rule. King Coloman's alleged son Boris tried to dethrone Béla but the king and his allies defeated the pretender's troops in 1132. In the second half of Bela's reign, Hungary adopted an active foreign policy. Bosnia and Split seem to have accepted Bela's suzerainty around 1136.

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