Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia
The Kingdom of Cilician Armenia, 1199-1375.
The Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia (also known as Lesser Armenia; Armenian: Ô¿Õ«Õ¬Õ«Õ¯Õ«Õ¸Õµ ÕÕ¡ÕµÕ¯Õ¡Õ¯Õ¡Õ¶ Ô¹Õ¡Õ£Õ¡ÖÕ¸ÖÕ¸ÖÕ©Õ«ÖÕ¶, not to be confused with the Armenian Kingdom of Antiquity) was a state formed in the Middle Ages by Armenian refugees fleeing the Seljuk invasion of Armenia.[1] It was located on the Gulf of Ä°skenderun of the Mediterranean Sea in what is today southern Turkey. The country was independent from around 1078 to 1375.
The Kingdom of Cilicia was founded by the Roupenid dynasty, an offshoot of the larger Bagratid family that at various times held the thrones of Armenia and Georgia. Their capital was Sis. Cilicia was a strong ally of the European Crusaders, and saw itself as a bastion of Christendom in the East. It also served as a focus for Armenian nationalism and culture, since Armenia was under foreign occupation at the time.
Major cities and castles of the kingdom included the port of Korikos, Lampron, Partzerpert, Vahka (modern Feke), Hromgla, Tarsus, Anazarbe, Til Hamdoun, Mamistra (mod. Misis: the classical Mopsuestia), Adana and the port of Ayas (Aias).
Byzantine Cilicia
Armenian Genocide
Early Independence
Democratic Republic of Armenia
Cilicia was conquered from the Arabs by the Byzantine Emperor Nicephorus II Phocas around 965. He expelled the Muslims living there, and Christians from Syria and Armenia were encouraged to settle in the region. Emperor Basil II (976-1025) attempted to expand into Armenian Vaspurakan in the East and Arab-held Syria towards the south. As a result of the Byzantine military campaigns, the Armenians spread into Cappadocia and eastward from Cilicia into the mountainous areas of northern Syria and Mesopotamia.[2]
The Armenian immigration increased with the formal annexation of Greater Armenia to the Byzantine Empire in 1045 and the following Seljuk conquest 19 years later, giving two new waves of migration.[2] After the fall of Bagratid Armenia, and during the following centuries, the Armenian state was unable to re-establish itself and its sovereignty. It remained under the rule of Turkic tribes.
Foundation of Armenian power in Cilicia
Coat of Arms of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, given to Leo II of Armenia of the Rubenid Dynasty by Pope Celestine III of Rome
Rome
The Armenians came to serve the Byzantines, as military officers and governors; they were given control of important cities on the Byzantine Empire's eastern frontier. When Imperial power in the region weakened in the chaotic years after the Battle of Manzikert, some of these seized the opportunity to set themselves up as sovereign Lords, while others remained, at least in name, loyal. The most successful of these early warlords was Philaretos Brachamios, a former Armenian general of Romanus IV Diogenes. Between 1078 and 1085, Philaretus built a principality stretching from Malatia in the north to Antioch in the south, and from Cilicia in the east to Edessa in the west, but after his death his dominion disintegrated into local lordships again. He invited many Armenian nobles, and gave them land and castles.[2]
One of those princes was Ruben, who had close ties with the last Bagratuni Dynasty Armenian king, Gagik II. He thought that he would never be able to reinstate the Bagratid kingdom, so he rebelled against the Byzantine Empire in Cilicia. He rallied with him many other Armenian landlords and nobles. Thus, in 1080, the foundations of the independent Armenian princedom of Cilicia, and of the future kingdom, were laid under Ruben's (who would be called Rubenids) leadership and that of his descendants.[3]
By the end of the 11th century, upon Ruben's death in 1095, there were six important principalities in the area:
Lampron (after Namrun, now Camliyayla) and Babaron (Candir Kale), located at the southern end of the Cilician Gates, were controlled by the former Byzantine general Oshin, the founder of the important Hethumid dynasty.
To the north east was the principality of Constantine I of Armenia, the son of Prince Roupen I. His power was based around the fortresses of Partzapert and Vahka.
Further to the north east, and outside of Cilicia, was the principality of Marash (modern KahramanmaraÅ). It was ruled by Tatoul, a former Byzantine official.
East of MaraÅ, the Armenian Kogh Vasil held the fourtresses of Raban (modern AltınaÅkale) and Kesoun as a Seljuk vassal.
To the north of these, on the Upper Euphrates, lay the principality of Malatya (Melitene), held by Gabriel, one of Philaretus' former officers, under Seljuk overlordship.
Finally, beyond Malatya, was Edessa, controlled by Thoros, another of Philaretus' officers, and son-in-law of Gabriel of Malatya.
F. Nansen writes: “When a people, which has experienced a terrible and unbearable destiny, manages to found a flourishing state in a foreign land, surrounded by enemies in all directions and continues to exist for three centuries, is this then not a sign of a supernatural force within this people?”
The First Crusade and the Roupenid principality
During the reign of Constantine I, the Crusaders, in retaliation for the Seljuk invasion of Jerusalem, descended
Rome
The Armenians came to serve the Byzantines, as military officers and governors; they were given control of important cities on the Byzantine Empire's eastern frontier. When Imperial power in the region weakened in the chaotic years after the Battle of Manzikert, some of these seized the opportunity to set themselves up as sovereign Lords, while others remained, at least in name, loyal. The most successful of these early warlords was Philaretos Brachamios, a former Armenian general of Romanus IV Diogenes. Between 1078 and 1085, Philaretus built a principality stretching from Malatia in the north to Antioch in the south, and from Cilicia in the east to Edessa in the west, but after his death his dominion disintegrated into local lordships again. He invited many Armenian nobles, and gave them land and castles.[2]
One of those princes was Ruben, who had close ties with the last Bagratuni Dynasty Armenian king, Gagik II. He thought that he would never be able to reinstate the Bagratid kingdom, so he rebelled against the Byzantine Empire in Cilicia. He rallied with him many other Armenian landlords and nobles. Thus, in 1080, the foundations of the independent Armenian princedom of Cilicia, and of the future kingdom, were laid under Ruben's (who would be called Rubenids) leadership and that of his descendants.[3]
By the end of the 11th century, upon Ruben's death in 1095, there were six important principalities in the area:
Lampron (after Namrun, now Camliyayla) and Babaron (Candir Kale), located at the southern end of the Cilician Gates, were controlled by the former Byzantine general Oshin, the founder of the important Hethumid dynasty.
To the north east was the principality of Constantine I of Armenia, the son of Prince Roupen I. His power was based around the fortresses of Partzapert and Vahka.
Further to the north east, and outside of Cilicia, was the principality of Marash (modern KahramanmaraÅ). It was ruled by Tatoul, a former Byzantine official.
East of MaraÅ, the Armenian Kogh Vasil held the fourtresses of Raban (modern AltınaÅkale) and Kesoun as a Seljuk vassal.
To the north of these, on the Upper Euphrates, lay the principality of Malatya (Melitene), held by Gabriel, one of Philaretus' former officers, under Seljuk overlordship.
Finally, beyond Malatya, was Edessa, controlled by Thoros, another of Philaretus' officers, and son-in-law of Gabriel of Malatya.
F. Nansen writes: “When a people, which has experienced a terrible and unbearable destiny, manages to found a flourishing state in a foreign land, surrounded by enemies in all directions and continues to exist for three centuries, is this then not a sign of a supernatural force within this people?” [4]
The First Crusade and the Roupenid principality
During the reign of Constantine I, the Crusaders, in retaliation for the Seljuk invasion of Jerusalem, descended upon Anatolia and the Middle East. With the First Crusade, the Armenians in Cilicia gained powerful allies among the Frankish crusaders. With their help, they secured Cilicia from the Turks, both by direct military actions in Cilicia and by establishing Crusader states in Antioch and Edessa.[3] The Armenians also helped the Crusaders to an extent that Pope Gregory XIII said:
Among the good deeds which the Armenian people has done towards the church and the Christian world, it should especially be stressed that, in those times when the Christian princes and the warriors went to retake the Holy Land, no people or nation, with the same enthusiasm, joy and faith came to their aid as the Armenians did, who supplied the crusaders with horses, provision and guidance. The Armenians assisted these warriors with their utter courage and loyalty during the Holy wars. (Ecclesia Romana, 1584)
The Armenians and crusaders were partly allied, partly rivals for two centuries to come.
Eventually, there emerged some sort of centralized government in the area with the rise of the Roupenid princes. During the 12th century they were the closest thing to a ruling dynasty, and wrestled with the Byzantines for the power over the region. Prince Leon I integrated the Cilician coastal cities to the Armenian principality, thus consolidating Armenian commercial leadership in the region. He was eventually defeated by the Emperor John II in 1137, who still considered Cilicia as a Byzantine province, and was imprisoned with several other family members.[3] He died in prison three years later. Leon's son and successor, Thoros II, was also imprisoned, but escaped in 1141. He returned to lead the struggle with the Byzantines. Initially he was successful, but eventually, in 1158, he paid homage to the Emperor Manuel I.
Cilicia had become so significant in these years, that in 1151, the head of the Armenian Church transferred his see to Hromgla.[2]
The Roupenid princes continued to rule Cilicia
The Kingdom of Armenia
Leon II started his reign as a prince in 1187. He became one of the most important figures of the Cilician Armenian state.
During his reign, he had to face Konya's, Aleppo's, and Damascus' rulers. By doing so, he integrated new lands to Cilicia and doubled the state's ownership of the Mediterranean coast. He also put great effort into augmenting the state's military might.
Fortress of Korikos in Cilician Armenia. 13th century
At that time, Saladin of Egypt greatly weakened the Crusader states, forcing the Europeans to launch another Crusade. Leo II profited from the situation by improving relations with the Europeans. Thanks to the support given to him by the Holy Roman Emperors (Frederick Barbarossa, and his son, Henry VI), he was able to elevate the princedom's status to a kingdom. In 1198 the Roupenid prince Leon II managed to secure his crown, becoming the first King of Armenian Cilicia. [3]
The crown later passed to the rival Hethoumid dynasty through Leon's daughter Zabel and her second marriage to prince Hethoum. At that time, the Mongols reached the Middle East and conquered Greater Armenia, Mesopotamia, Syria, and advanced towards Egypt. The Mongol conquest was disastrous for the Armenians who still inhabited Greater Armenia, but this wasn't the case for those in Cilicia, as the Mongols never attempted to subjugate them. On the contrary, Hethoum established friendly relations with the Il-Khanate, and in doing so, he guaranteed the safety of the Armenians outside Cilicia. Hethoum even attempted, in vain, to convert the Mongols to Christianity.
Coin of the Cilician Armenian kingdom , 1080-1375.
Decline with the Lusignan dynasty
The Hethoumids ruled Cilicia until the murder of Leon V in 1341, when his cousin Guy Lusignan was elected king. The Lusignan dynasty was of French origin, and already had a foothold in the area, the Island of Cyprus. There had always been close relations between the Lusignans of Cyprus and the Armenians. However, when the pro-Latin Lusignans took power, they tried to impose Catholicism and the European way of life. The Armenian leadership largely accepted this, but the peasantry opposed the changes. Eventually, this led way to civil strife.
In the late 14th century, Cilicia was invaded by the Mameluks. The fall of Sis in April, 1375 put an end to the kingdom; its last King, Leon VI, was granted safe passage and died in exile in Paris in 1393 after, in vain, calling for another Crusade. The title was claimed by his cousin, James I of Cyprus, uniting it with the titles of Cyprus and Jerusalem.
Dispersion of the Armenian population of Cilicia
Although the Egyptian Mameluks had taken over Cilicia, they weren't able to firmly hold it. Turkic tribes eventually made their way to the region and affirmed themselves there, which led to the conquest of Cilicia by Tamerlane. As a result, 30 000 wealthy Armenians left Cilicia and settled in Cyprus, which continued to be under French rule until 1489. Only the humbler Armenians remained in Cilicia, and by doing so, conserved the Armenian foothold in the region until the Armenian genocide of 1915. Their descendants are now dispersed in the Armenian diaspora, and the Holy See of Cilicia is now based in Antelias, Lebanon. [3]
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