BELA, ba'le. The name of four Hungarian kings of the dynasty of Arplid. BELA 1. (1061-6:3) suppressed the last attempts to restore heathen ism. By fixing a standard of weights, measures, and coinage, lie gave a permanent stimulus to the commerce of Hungary. He was also the first to introduce the representative system into the Diet. —BELA II. (1131-41), surnamed 'The Blind,' was greatly influenced by his bloodthirsty wife. At the time of his marriage there was a general slaughter of the advisers in the preceding, reign. He managed. however, to live on good terms with the Greek and the German emperors. His death was due to intemperance.—BELA III. (1173-96), grandson of Bela II., was educated at Constanti nople, and showed a predilection for Byzantine customs and culture, which he introduced into Hungary. He greatly increased the number of religious houses. He the sister of Philip Augustus of France.—BELA IV. (1235-70) was the son of Andrew II., who granted the Golden
Bull (q.v.). His great object was the humilia tion of the nobles and the restoration of the royal power. His opponents appealed to Fred erick 11., Duke of Austria : but Bela, in 1236, overcame Frederick and forced him to pay trib ute. Not long after, Bela was compelled to seek refuge with his discomfited foe from the Mon gols, who in 1241 defeated him on the Sajo. Frederick robbed the King of all the treasure he had saved, and extorted from him three counties. Bela remained in Austria until the Mongols withdrew, and then returned, making it his espe cial care to rebuild the ruined villages and to encourage colonization in the devastated parts. He was so successful in recruiting his strength that he vanquished Frederick at Vienna and re pelled a second Mongolian invasion. He was un successful in war against Ottocar II. of Bohemia„, who defeated him in 1260.