Stephen IV of Hungary
Stephen IV (Hungarian István IV, Croatian Stjepan IV ( kralj Hrvatske i Ugarske ); * to 1133, † April 11, 1165 ) was a Hungarian anti-king to Stephen III. He reigned from 27 January 1163 to the 1165. His father's name was Béla II, his mother's name was Ilona and was the daughter of the Serbian ruler Uros I. He was the third son of Bela, and the struggles for power filled his whole and feelings.
Struggle for power among Géza II
Stephen IV was first mentioned in 1152. At that time, the two nephews of Géza II, ie Ladislaus and Stephen ( IV ) appointed Hungarian prince. During the reign of Géza the royal power was still stable, slowly but created a new social class, the claimed the title of king and were dissatisfied with the government of Géza II.
After a quarter of a century so the struggles for the throne in Hungary monarchical flared up again. According to a Greek source Stephan ( IV ) was very power-hungry. To support his claim to the throne, Stephen conspired with the Ban of southern Hungary, Belus. Your conspiracy against Géza II in the spring of 1157 had failed and they had to flee. Stephan sought refuge at the court of Frederick Barbarossa. The Emperor made a decision for King Géza on 13 January 1158 at the same time he allowed Stephan to leave the farm and flee to Constantinople Opel.
Frederick I was in fact at that time engaged in the Italian campaigns, but played a big role in this decision also means that Géza began after the Battle of Fischa in the summer of 1157 with such a policy, the very improved the German -Hungarian contacts. He gave his daughter to the Czech throne, Frederick Barbarossa allies ( the rest of Frederick called). In addition, Géza armies offered to the Emperor Frederick at disposal to support the Italian campaigns.
Times of the Byzantine interference
Stephan has been received in the Byzantine court with joy. Manuel's niece, Maria became Stephen's wife. But the imperial court could not deal with Stephen's plans for Manuel I. led to 1161 fights to secure the eastern enlargement.
Meanwhile in Hungary led by Ladislaus a conspiracy, but also failed. 1160 also had to flee to Constantinople Opel the Prince. He was offered a wife, Ladislaus rejected the offer but back.
Following the death of Géza II Manuel decided that he makes Hungary to the Byzantine vassal. The Hungarian Kingdom had to strive in the coming periods to preserve its independence.
Persuasion, military actions and corruption were all the means by which Manual wanted to achieve his goal. After the fighting the Hungarians made with Byzantium a compromise, according to the non- Stephan ( IV ), but Ladislaus became king. Stephan was Duke, who had the power over a third of the country. Stephen III. had to flee to Pozsony.
On January 14, 1163 Ladislaus died, Stephan could satisfy his lust for power now and became the king of Hungary. He was crowned by Miko, Archbishop of Kalocsa on January 27, 1163. Lukács, the Archbishop of Gran, but recognized this decision not to. Stephan was anyway very unpopular in Hungary. When he realized that taught a rebellion against him, he called Greek soldiers for his support.
But the thing pleased Frederick Barbarossa not because he did not want Byzantium gains too much influence on the southeastern border region of the Holy Roman Empire. The emperor therefore supported Stephen III. in the fighting and after the Greek armies had left the country, marched the armies of Stephen III. off towards the interior. On June 19, 1163 Stephan IV lost the battle next to Székesfehérvár. In this battle also Ban Belus and Stephan IV died was caught, but Stephen III. allowed him to flee to Byzantium.
Three more times until 1165 tried to force under his influence, without success Manuel Hungary. Stephen IV already had no supporters in the country. In the closed peace Manuel recognized the sovereignty of Stephen III. of. Prince Béla, Stephen 's brother also went to the Byzantine court.
Stephen IV was murdered by his followers in the Zimonyer (now in Serbia: Zemun ) castle. He was accused for a long time for the instability of the royal throne, and you wanted a long time not to bury him.
Finally, Stephen IV was buried in Székesfehérvár.
About the throne conclusion see: Stephen III. or the list of Hungarian rulers