Questions of parentage and family
In 1238, Khan Köten, her father according to historians, led the Cumans and a number of other clans in invading the Kingdom of Hungary in the Middle Ages, Kingdom of Hungary while fleeing from the advancing hordes of the Mongol Empire. In time, Béla IV of Hungary negotiated an alliance with Köten and his people, granting them asylum in exchange for their conversion to Roman Catholicism and loyalty to the King. The agreement was sealed with the betrothal of Elizabeth to Stephen V of Hungary, Stephen, eldest son of Béla IV. The agreement seems to have occurred while Stephen was an infant. Elizabeth was unlikely to have been older than her future husband. In 1241, the Mongol invasion of Europe under the leadership of Batu Khan and Subutai began, with Hungary among its primary targets. Köten was assassinated by Hungarian nobles fearing he would lead a defection to the other side. Other historians point out that a charter of her father-in-law, Béla IV, refers to a Cumans, Cuman chieftain Seyhan as his "kinsman," which can be interpreted to mean that Seyhan was in fact Elizabeth's father.Klaniczay, Gábor (2002). Holy Rulers and Blessed Princes: Dynastic Cults in Medieval Central Europe. Cambridge University Press. ., p.439. She also had an unidentified sister, who married Hungarian noble Gregory III Monoszló, Gregory Monoszló.Queen
Béla IV returned from Austria following the Mongol evacuation. Upon his return to power, Béla began rebuilding his country, including a massive construction campaign which produced the system of castles as a defense against the threat of a Mongol return. Köten was deceased but the betrothal was still in effect. Elizabeth was converted to Roman Catholicism in preparation for her marriage. The marriage of Stephen and Elizabeth occurred in 1253. The groom was twelve years old and the bride close in age to him. She became queen of Hungary upon her father-in-law's death on 3 May 1270.Regent
Stephen died on 6 August 1272. Elizabeth became regent for their ten-year-old son, Ladislaus IV of Hungary, Ladislaus IV. Her regency lasted until 1277 and saw palace revolutions and civil wars. Her upbringing of her son would cause further problems for his reign. Ladislaus favored the society of the "semi-pagan" Cumans, from whom he was descended through his mother. He wore Cuman dress as his court wear, surrounded himself with Cuman concubines and thus alienated the Hungarian nobility. His later attempts to regain Hungarian loyalty instead alienated parts of the Cumans. He was murdered in his tent by Cumans while camped in Bihar (county), Bihar county on 10 July 1290. By that time Elizabeth herself seems to have also been deceased. There is no mention of her in the reign of his successor, Andrew III of Hungary, Andrew III. There is a tradition that she died in the year 1290.Children
Elizabeth and Stephen V of Hungary were parents to six known children: *Elizabeth of Hungary, Queen of Serbia, Elizabeth (c. 1255 – 1313), married firstly to Zavis of Falkenstein, and secondly to King Stefan Uroš II Milutin of Serbia *Catherine of Hungary, Queen of Serbia, Catherine (c. 1257 – after 1314), married to King Stefan Dragutin of Serbia *Maria of Hungary (Árpád dynasty), Maria (c. 1258 – 25 March 1323), married to King Charles II of Naples *Anna of Hungary, Anna (c. 1260 – 1281), married to the Byzantine emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos *Ladislaus IV of Hungary, Ladislaus IV (August, 1262 – 10 July 1290), married to Elisabeth of Sicily, Queen of Hungary, Elizabeth of Sicily *Andrew, Duke of Slavonia, Andrew (1268–1278), Duke of SlavoniaReferences
Sources
*Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition {{DEFAULTSORT:Elizabeth the Cuman 1244 births 1290 deaths Hungarian queens consort Dukes of Macsó House of Árpád Converts to Roman Catholicism from pagan religions Cumans 13th-century women rulers 13th-century Hungarian people Turkic female royalty Queen mothers