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Michael Krešimir II was King of Croatia from 949 until his death in 969. He was a member of the Trpimirović dynasty. Michael Krešimir II was a son of King Krešimir I and the younger brother of King Miroslav, who preceded him as King of Croatia in 945.

King Michael Krešimir II was brought to the throne by the powerful Ban Pribina, who rebelled against King Miroslav for having his jurisdiction restrained from some areas. The resulting Civil War between the two brothers eventually ended with Miroslav’s death in 949 and the reign of Michael Krešimir II began.

The Croatian kingdom reached its former glory during Michael Krešimir II’s reign.

Bosnia

Because of the Civil War between Michael Krešimir II his brother, King Miroslav lost most of his lands in Bosnia, and the Byzantines wanted to take back his holdings in Dalmatia.

As King, Michael Krešimir II ravaged the Bosnian regions of župas Uskoplje, Luka and Pleva, and eventually conquered the whole region of Bosnia that was originally lost during the reign of his brother Miroslav. The Bosnian ban fled to Hungary, after realizing he couldn’t fight back and, by 968, Michael Krešimir II pacified the local tribes, establishing full control.

King Michael Krešimir II of Croatia married Helen of Zadar. She is said to have originated from the old patrician family Madi from Zadar.

King Michael Krešimir II and his wife Helen of Zadar had good relations with the Dalmatian cities. Helen built the royal family mausoleum in Solin where, at the end of the 19th century, an inscription of her grave was found and translated, bearing her title “Queen”. She outlived Michael Krešimir II for 7 years.

According to historian Rudolf Horvat, King Michael Krešimir II was a victor in a conflict with the Arab pirates near the Italian peninsula of Gargano in 969.

King Michael Krešimir II ruled until his death in 969, and his son Stephen Držislav succeeded him.

Note on his ordinal number: There does not seem to be a King Michael Krešimir I of Croatia so his ordinal number relates to his father King Krešimir I of Croatia.