He was blinded, together with his father, on the orders of his uncle King Kálmán and took refuge in the monastery of Pécsvárad. The Chronicon Posoniense records that "Almus dux et Bela filius eius" were blinded in 1117. He was appointed heir to the throne by his first cousin King István II in [1129].
He succeeded in 1131 as BÉLA II "Vak/the Blind" King of Hungary, crowned 28 Apr 1131, one of the rare exceptions of succession to a throne by a blind person in the Balkan region. The Chronicle of Otto of Freising records that the succession of "Bela Almi filio" was challenged by his cousin Boris. King Béla was under the influence of his domineering wife who took an active part in the government of the country. A charter dated 3 Sep 1138 records the confirmation of his father´s donation by "Rege Bela secundo, bonæ memoriæ Almi ducis filio, cum Helena regina" to "ecclesiam…Martyris Margarethæ…Demesiensi".
The Annales Gradicenses record the death in 1141 of "Bela rex Ungarorum" and the accession of his son. The Chronicon Dubnicense records the death "Id Feb" in 1141 of "Bela cecus" and his burial "Albe". The necrology of Admunt records the death "Id Feb" of "Bela rex". The Gesta Hungarorum records that King Béla reigned for nine years and two months and was buried at Székesfehérvár. The Chronica Ungarorum records the death in 1140 of "rex Bela" and his burial "in Alba". The Chronicon Varadiense records the death "Id Feb" in 1141 of "rex Bela cæcus filius ducis Almus" and his burial "Albæ". 1
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