The Hungarian peasants, still largely pagan, suspected he was intent on bringing Hungary into the fold of the Holy Roman Empire.

Urseolo fled to Bavaria, in exile allying himself with German king and Holy Roman Emperor Henry III.

During the reign of Samuel Aba, they had fled the country in fear of their lives, Béla to Poland and András and Levente to Kiev.

The pagan Vata (or Vatha), lord of the castle of Békés and leader of a Hungarian tribe in Körösvidék was a longstanding enemy of the king.

[1][2] ...Vata was the name of who first offered himself to the devil, shaved off his head, and left three pigtails according to the pagan custom...When the opportunity came, he started the uprising of the masses which quickly spread to all of Eastern Hungary.

As András and Levente's men moved towards Pest, the bishops Gerard, Besztrik, Buldi and Beneta gathered to greet them.