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?
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?