DNA Confirms Identity and Violent Death of 13th-Century Duke Béla of Macsó

An international research consortium, led by Hungarian scholars, has definitively identified the skeletal remains of Duke Béla of Macsó, a prominent 13th-century Hungarian nobleman. The comprehensive study, detailed in the November 2025 edition of Forensic Science International: Genetics, not only confirmed his identity but also allowed researchers to reconstruct the circumstances of his violent death in November 1272.

The remains were initially discovered in 1915 during excavations at the Dominican monastery on Margaret Island in Budapest, though the collection was presumed lost during World War II. A crucial rediscovery occurred in 2018 when the postcranial skeleton was found in an unlabelled container at the Hungarian Museum of Natural History, while the associated skull was located at Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE). The multidisciplinary investigation, coordinated by Tamás Hajdu of ELTE’s Department of Anthropology, integrated genetics, isotopic analysis, and forensic science to resolve this long-standing archaeological question.

Genetic analysis performed by Anna Szécsényi-Nagy and Noémi Borbély at ELTE’s Institute of Archaeogenomics provided conclusive evidence. Whole-genome sequencing revealed a complex aristocratic lineage, showing nearly half Scandinavian ancestry, consistent with the Rurik dynasty through his father, alongside Eastern Mediterranean ancestry from his maternal line. Further testing established that Duke Béla was the great-grandson of King Béla III, confirming his direct link to the Árpád royal house.

Forensic anthropology detailed the duke’s final moments, documenting 26 perimortem injuries inflicted by at least two different weapons, identified as a saber and a longsword. The pattern of trauma, which included nine wounds to the skull and seventeen to the rest of the body, strongly suggests a coordinated ambush involving a minimum of three assailants acting simultaneously. This forensic conclusion aligns with historical chronicles stating that his mutilated body was recovered by his sister Margit and niece Erzsébet for burial, supporting the theory of a politically motivated assassination rather than a standard duel.

Insights into Duke Béla’s life were derived from stable isotope and dental calculus analyses, which indicated an elite status. Isotope data suggested he spent his early childhood in the Macsó Banat region, corresponding to modern-day Serbia and Croatia, before moving toward Hungarian royal centers during his adolescence. Analysis of over a thousand microfossils in his dental calculus provided direct evidence of his high-status diet, confirming the consumption of cooked semolina and wheat bread. The high intake of fish and aquatic protein caused a 'freshwater reservoir effect' that initially complicated radiocarbon dating, requiring correction to align with the mid-13th century timeframe.

This successful identification makes Béla of Macsó one of the few medieval Hungarian nobles, alongside King Béla III, whose remains have been genetically verified with near-complete skeletal preservation. The integration of genetic markers, anthropological data, and historical records yields an exceptional level of detail regarding the life and brutal end of a key figure in the dynastic conflicts following King Stephen V’s death in August 1272, offering a rare, tangible link to the internal conflicts of medieval European ruling families.