WI Bela of Hungary (future Bela III OTL) succeeds Manuel I as Byzantine Emperor?

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In 1164 Emperor Manuel I concluded a peace treaty with King Stephen III of Hungary by which the young Bela (second son of King Geza II) was sent to Constantinople...
There Emperor Manuel I lacking a male heir he engaged him with his daughter Maria gave him the greek name Alexius and created him "despotes" (a title second only to the Emperor) intending to name him his heir... In 1165 Bela and Maria were officially recognised as heirs of Manuel I (Manuel I and Bela presided over the Synod of Bishops more or less as co-emperors in early 1166)
However in OTL in late 1166 Manuel's I second wife Maria of Antioch gave birth to the future Emperor Alexius II... Bela was stripped off from his offices, lost the title of the Despotes (the much lower title of "Kaisar" was granted to him instead...) and the engagement to Maria was called off... He was forced to marry by Manuel I Agnes of Antioch (Maria's sister...)
WI Manuel remained heirless till his death and Bela succeeded him as Alexius II? Could this lead to a personal union of Byzantine Empire with the Kingdom of Hungary (since his Bela's brother Stephen III dies childless in 1172 Bela is the rightful heir...)?
Is this possible? How is this altering History? Any thoughts?
 
I know this is a very old thread but its so fascinating. I've been reading the primary sources from the Komnenian era and it seems as though Bela Alexius had a real chance to inherit the Rhomanian throne. Considering that he was a solid King of Hungary in OTL, could he have united Constantinople and the Arpad Kingdom in some way. The resources of these two states united would have created a powerful Empire if they were under a single recognized leader of Arpad and Komnenoi descent. If Manuel I had not had a son in 1170, things would have been interesting in the Balkans...
 
Bela of Hungary

A pro-western emperor such as Bela would in my opinion cause an anti-western reaction. This would lead to his overthrow and someone like Andronicus Comnenus coming to the thrown. Or perhaps someone from the land owning aristocracy of western Asia Minor.
 
Bela of Hungary

A pro-western emperor such as Bela would in my opinion cause an anti-western reaction. This would lead to his overthrow and someone like Andronicus Comnenus coming to the thrown. Or perhaps someone from the land owning aristocracy of western Asia Minor.
I wouldn't say Bela was pro-western. While nominally the Arpad kings of Hungary were indeed western and papal oriented, in reality the Arpads maintained very good relations with the eastern sphere as well. There were at least as much orthodox princesses and queens of Hungary at the time as much catholic were if not more. This good relation is especially true regarding Bela/Alexios, who fully adopted to the byzantine culture, which surrounded him.
 

CalBear

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I wouldn't say Bela was pro-western. While nominally the Arpad kings of Hungary were indeed western and papal oriented, in reality the Arpads maintained very good relations with the eastern sphere as well. There were at least as much orthodox princesses and queens of Hungary at the time as much catholic were if not more. This good relation is especially true regarding Bela/Alexios, who fully adopted to the byzantine culture, which surrounded him.
Please refrain from posting in threads that have been dead for almost six years.
 
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