After a century of questions, an international research project has definitively identified the remains of Duke Béla, a member of both the Árpád and Rurik dynasties. This breakthrough, coordinated by Hungarian researchers, offers unprecedented insights into a violent death from the 13th century and represents a powerful demonstration of how historical data can be verified through the combined efforts of humanities and natural sciences. The findings have been published in Forensic Science International: Genetics.
A Century of Uncertainty
The story began in 1915 when archaeological excavations on Margaret Island in Budapest uncovered the skeletal remains of a young man within the sacristy of the Dominican monastery. Based on the burial site, historical records, and evidence of traumatic injuries, it was initially believed these remains belonged to Duke Béla of Macsó, a 13th-century figure connected to both the Hungarian Árpád dynasty and the Scandinavian Rurik dynasty, which had produced many Grand Dukes of Kiev over seven centuries.
Duke Béla’s lineage was complex: he was the grandson of Hungarian King Béla IV through his mother and descended from the Rurik dynasty through his father. Historical accounts, specifically 13th-century Austrian chronicles, detailed his assassination in November 1272 at the hands of Ban Henrik “Kőszegi” and his companions. The remains were reportedly collected and buried by Béla’s sister, Margit, and niece, Erzsébet.
Following the initial discovery, the remains were analyzed by Lajos Bartucz, who identified 23 sword cuts and several fatal injuries to the skull, suggesting a coordinated attack rather than a duel. Despite this initial work, the bones largely disappeared from public knowledge until 2018, when researchers assumed they were lost during World War II.
Reassembling the Puzzle: A Collaborative Effort
In 2018, a multidisciplinary research team was formed, led by Tamás Hajdu (Eötvös Loránd University), bringing together anthropologists, geneticists, archaeologists, archaeobotanists, isotope and radiocarbon specialists, and dentists. The team’s primary objective was to genetically identify the remains and reconstruct Duke Béla’s life and death with exceptional detail.
The investigation involved collaborations with researchers from the Universities of Vienna, Bologna, and Helsinki, as well as Harvard University, alongside Hungarian researchers from several institutions, including the Budapest History Museum and the Hungarian Natural History Museum.
Unraveling the Details: Diet, Mobility, and Lineage
Through rigorous scientific analysis, researchers uncovered a wealth of information about Duke Béla’s life. Radiocarbon dating, performed by two independent laboratories, precisely dated the remains to the second half of the 13th century. Dietary analysis of dental calculus revealed a diet rich in wheat and barley, indicating the consumption of cooked wheat semolina and baked bread. Strontium isotope measurements demonstrated that Duke Béla was not born or raised in the location where he was buried, suggesting a childhood in areas now part of Croatia and Serbia and a later move toward the area of modern-day Budapest.
The conclusive identification as Duke Béla was achieved through genetic analysis at the Institute of Archaeogenomics, ELTE RCH, definitively linking him to both the Árpád and Rurik lineages. His genetic profile confirmed his status as a fourth-degree descendant of King Béla III, and the degree of genetic distance between Duke Béla and Saint Ladislaus, further supporting historical accounts. The genetic data showed a largely Scandinavian component, significant Eastern Mediterranean influence, and a smaller contribution from early medieval Central Europe, supporting his Rurik heritage.
The Violent End: Forensic Analysis
Forensic anthropological analysis revealed 26 perimortem injuries—nine to the skull and 17 to the postcranial bones—all stemming from a single, violent incident. The injuries suggest a coordinated attack by three individuals: one attacking from the front, and two others attacking simultaneously from the left and right. Analysis of weapons used—a saber and a longsword—and the intensity of the aggression (extensive facial injuries) suggest both premeditation and intense emotional involvement.
The sequence of attacks began with blows to the head and upper body, followed by defensive injuries as Duke Béla attempted to block the assault. Ultimately, he was incapacitated and suffered fatal injuries to the head and face while lying on the ground. The thorough analysis of these injuries provides a remarkably detailed picture of a brutal assassination.
Significance of the Discovery
The identification of Duke Béla’s remains represents a unique contribution to our understanding of medieval Hungarian history. It is currently the only confirmed, almost complete skeleton of a descendant of the House of Árpád besides that of King Béla III. The study not only provides valuable data on the genetic backgrounds of both the Árpád and Rurik dynasties but also demonstrates the power of interdisciplinary research to resolve historical mysteries and reconstruct the lives of those who lived centuries ago. > This remarkable collaboration highlights how the integration of humanities and natural sciences can yield profound insights into the past.
