Remains of Hungarian King Béla II found, with two more relatives from House of Árpád also identified

The Institute for Hungarian Studies (Magyarságkutató Intézet) has successfully identified the remains of King Béla II (the Blind), according to MTI. By analyzing more than 400 genomes from the ossuary in Székesfehérvár, researchers identified three new lineage carriers of the Árpád dynasty on the paternal side. Their study on the subject was published in iScience. During research conducted by the Center for Archaeogenetics of the Institute for Hungarian Studies (Magyarságkutató Intézet Archeogenetikai Kutatóközpontja) and the Archaeogenetics Research Group of the Department of Genetics at the University of Szeged (Szegedi Tudományegyetem Genetikai Tanszék Archeogenetikai Kutatócsoportja) scientists identified three additional individuals who carry the genetic lineage of the Árpád dynasty’s male line (R-ARP).

Prior research had identified four individuals known to science as carrying the R-ARP haplogroup: Béla III, Saint László, one individual from the Árpád era (HU52), and one living individual whose identity is unknown. The remains of Béla III were discovered in 1848 beneath the basilica in Székesfehérvár while workers were digging a drainage ditch. With this latest discovery, there are now seven known individuals who carry the R-ARP haplogroup.

Various methods were used during the analyses to examine degrees of kinship and genetic relationships. This approach allows for a more precise examination of both intrafamilial and distantly related dynastic connections.

Based on this, one of the newly identified individuals is King Béla II (the Blind) (1131–1141) of Hungary, the grandfather of Béla III.

The second individual is a second-degree relative of Szent László, likely his paternal uncle, while the third individual is linked to the Árpád line on the paternal side, presumably through a more distant, but consciously established dynastic relationship.

The male line of the House of Árpád (R-ARP) belongs to the R1a-Z93 haplogroup, which represents a collection of genetic groups descended from a single common ancestor. This means it can be traced back to the peoples of the Eurasian steppes during the Bronze and Iron Ages, and its genetic parallels can be found in the steppe region that stretches from the Southern Urals to the Caucasus. During their research, the scientists also identified additional mutations specific to this branch, which will allow for a more precise examination of the origins of R-ARP.

Previous analyses have already revealed the genetic connections between the rulers of the House of Árpád and members of the Hungarian elite who participated in the conquest of the Carpathian Basin, as well as several medieval Hungarian noble families, such as the Abas, the Corvins, and the Báthorys. This is consistent with well-known historical connections, which suggest that Hungarian medieval nobility may have formed an even tighter network through dynastic marriages. The results also highlighted that while early members of the House of Árpád had a stronger Eastern genetic component, later kings predominantly belonged to the European genetic landscape.

The study confirms the genetic identification of Prince Béla Macsói and verifies his Rurikid ancestry. His Y-chromosome haplogroup matches the branch characteristic of the Rurik dynasty.

Genetic analysis of the fetal remains discovered next to the tomb of King Béla III did not confirm a close kinship with the individuals analyzed in this study. At the same time, the analyses revealed more distant genetic relationships with several members of the Árpád dynasty, as well as with one member of the Aba clan who was included in the study. Based on the available archaeological, historical, and genetic information, the exact identity of the deceased cannot currently be determined.

Another interesting finding is that the genetic results also revealed a detectable kinship between Béla II, Béla III, and HU52 and individuals from the northern Viking era. The explanation for this can be found in the dynastic marriages of the Kievan Rus.

These new findings represent both a scientific breakthrough and a symbolic step forward. They contribute to a more accurate understanding of the history of the House of Árpád, to the scientific exploration of the Hungarians’ network of connections in the East, and to the complex reconstruction of the genetic and historical connections of the medieval Hungarian elite.