Ladislaus II of Hungary

Here is a revised version of the memorial story based strictly on facts well supported by reliable sources:

Ladislaus II of Hungary (born 1131 – died 14 January 1163) was a member of the Árpád dynasty, the second son of King Béla II of Hungary and Queen Helena of Rascia. A few months after his birth, his mother took him and his elder brother Géza to an assembly in Arad, where barons held responsible for blinding their father were executed (en.wikipedia.org). At an assembly in Esztergom in 1137, Béla II conferred upon Ladislaus the title Duke of Bosnia—though this appears to have been titular only, as he never exercised authority there; governance was handled by a Ban (en.wikipedia.org).

From around 1160, Ladislaus, along with his younger brother Stephen, lived at the Byzantine court in Constantinople. Their return to Hungary followed the death of their elder brother, Géza II, in May 1162. This return was orchestrated by Emperor Manuel I Komnenos, who aimed to increase Byzantine influence in Hungary. Although the emperor initially favored Stephen, Hungarian nobles ultimately accepted Ladislaus as king over the adolescent Stephen III, son of Géza II (en.wikipedia.org).

Ladislaus was crowned in Székesfehérvár in July 1162 by Mikó, Archbishop of Kalocsa. Archbishop Lucas of Esztergom, a staunch supporter of Stephen III, refused to perform the coronation and excommunicated Ladislaus; in response, Lucas was arrested (en.wikipedia.org). During his brief reign, Ladislaus is reported to have granted one‑third of the kingdom to his brother Stephen, bestowing upon him a ducal title and the Hungarian term “urum,” implying he was designated as heir (en.wikipedia.org). He released Archbishop Lucas at Christmas under pressure from Pope Alexander III, but Lucas remained defiant and continued to back Stephen III, who had returned to Hungary and captured Pressburg (present-day Bratislava) (en.wikipedia.org).

Ladislaus II’s reign lasted only about six months. According to the Illuminated Chronicle, he “usurped the crown for half a year” and died on 14 January 1163. He was interred in the Székesfehérvár Basilica (en.wikipedia.org).

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This version retains only information verified by historical sources, including dates, places, family relationships, political actions, and the context of his brief reign. Uncertain or unsupported details have been omitted to maintain accuracy and respect.