Andrew II “the Jerosolimitan” of Hungary

Andrew II the Jerosolimitan was King of Hungary and Croatia. Andrew was the second son of King Béla III and his first wife, Agnes of Antioch. As younger son, Andrew had no hope to inherite the Kingdom of Hungary from his father who wanted to ensure the inheritance of his elder son, Emeric and had him crowned already in 1182. When his brother Emeric and his infant son died, Andrew ascended the throne and started to grant royal domains to his partisans. He participated in the Fifth Crusade but he could not achieve any major military success. He was obliged to issue the Golden Bull confirming the privileges of the noblemen of Hungary and later he was also obliged to confirm the special privileges of the clergy. During his long reign, the central power and royal authority potentially weakened. He had several quarrels with his sons. Andrew married three times. His first marriage was around 1200 to Gertrude of Merania (1185 – September 8, 1213), a daughter of Berthold IV, Duke of Merania a