Helena of Serbia
Overview
Biography
(See also Genealogical Table(s): 2.2.)
Daughter of Urosh I, Prince of Serbia, and Byzantine princess Anna Diogenissa, Helena married Béla II, king of Hungary in 1129. They had four sons, three of whom ruled as king of Hungary (Géza II, Stephen IV, Ladislaus II), and Almos, and two daughters, Elizabeth of Hungary who married Mieszko III, duke of Poland, and Sophia of Hungary, who was engaged to Henry, son of king Conrad III of Germany, but became a nun at Admont after the engagement was broken and her dowry was not returned to her. Helena co-ruled with her husband, who had been blinded by an uncle, king Coloman; she had the nobles who had plotted with the king against her husband executed. Géza II (1141-62) was a child when his father died, and Helena served as regent of Hungary from 1141 to 1146 with her brother Belosh.