Louis VII & the Hungarian pretender Boris

Summary:
Boris the Hungarian pretender had written to Louis VII at Etampes explaining his claim on the throne of Hungary, but had failed to gain support from Conrad III. Boris now, with the help of two nobles in the French army, attached himself to the French as they began their march through Hungary. Meanwhile Geza II welcomed Louis to Hungary, but stayed beyond the Danube, begging Louis to cross to meet him. Louis graciously did so with an escort, and the two embraced, exchanged gifts and established conditions for the passage of the crusade. But soon after Geza discovered that Boris was with the French army. He at once sent men to rewrite the treaty to make Louis give Boris up, and they looked for him in the French camp, making him run away. He fled half-naked, and tried to steal a horse; when he was brought as a thief before Louis, the king with difficulty (through problems of language) established who he was. Louis held a council, facing a difficult decision: on one side, Boris's individual rights, on the other, those of their new ally Geza. After some discussion, they kept the status quo, pleasing Boris but not Geza 
Dates:
1147 
two French nobles who protected the Hungarian pretender Boris (Anonymi 207)
  • They were fully aware of the situation of Boris 17001, and it was through their support that he was able to join the French as they marched through Hungary (:) Odo of Deuil 34
Boris, Hungarian pretender (Boris 17001)
  • He had written to Louis 101 at Etampes explaining his claim on the throne of Hungary, but failed to gain support from Conrad 53; he now, with the help of Anonymi 207, attached himself to the French as they began their march through Hungary (:) Odo of Deuil 34
  • When he realised at night that Geza 52 had discovered he was in Louis 101's army, and had sent men to seize him, he fled, half-naked, and tried to steal a horse; when brought as a thief before Louis he with difficulty established who he was; Louis held a council and decided not to give him up (:) Odo of Deuil 36
Geza II, king of Hungary (Geza 52)
  • He welcomed Louis 101 to Hungary, but stayed beyond the Danube, begging Louis to cross to meet him; Louis generously did so with an escort, and the two embraced, exchanged gifts and established conditions for the passage of the crusade; then he discovered that Boris 17001 was in the French army (:) Odo of Deuil 34
  • Once he knew that Boris 17001 was with the French army, he sent men to rewrite the treaty to make Louis 101 give him up, and they looked for him in the French camp, making him flee; Geza used all the credit he had built up as Louis' ally to get hold of his enemy, but in vain (:) Odo of Deuil 36
Louis VII, king of France (Louis 101)
  • He was welcomed by letters from Geza 52, but the latter remained beyond the Danube, begging Louis to cross to meet him; Louis generously did so with an escort, and the two embraced and exchanged gifts, establishing conditions for the passage of the crusade; then Geza discovered that Boris 17001 was in the French army (:) Odo of Deuil 34
  • He received envoys from Geza 52 (who heard that Boris 17001 was in his camp) demanding that the recent treaty be rewritten to make him give Boris up; the envoys looked for Boris in the camp, making him run away, but he was caught as a thief and dragged before Louis, muddy and half-naked (:) Odo of Deuil 36
  • After discovering (with difficulty) who the bedraggled prisoner was, he and his council faced a difficult decision: on one side, Boris 17001's individual rights, on the other, those of their new ally Geza 52; after discussion, they kept the status quo, pleasing Boris but not Geza (:) Odo of Deuil 36-38