"Medieval Armenia and Cilicia Timeline" by Keran R

[gamavor]

Armenia-TL-art - 2/24/99

 

"Medieval Armenia and Cilicia Timeline" by Keran Roslin.

 

NOTE: See also the files: Balkans-msg, Khazars-msg, Hungary-msg, Russia-msg,

fd-Turkey-msg, Bynzantine-msg, cl-Bynzantine-msg.

 

************************************************************************

NOTICE -

 

This article was submitted to me by the author for inclusion in this set

of files, called Stefan¹s Florilegium.

 

These files are available on the Internet at:

http://lg_photo.home.texas.net/florilegium/index.html

 

Copyright to the contents of this file remains with the author.

 

While the author will likely give permission for this work to be

reprinted in SCA type publications, please check with the author first

or check for any permissions granted at the end of this file.

 

Thank you,

Mark S. Harris

AKA: Stefan li Rous

stefan@texas.net

RSVE60@risc.sps.mot.com

************************************************************************

 

MEDIEVAL ARMENIA AND CILICIA - TIMELINE

by Keran Roslin

 

WHERE - Greater Armenia was east and south of the Black Sea. Its

boundaries changed during the centuries as invaders

carved out chunks for the empires of Rome, Byzantium and

the Mongols. It was eventually absorbed into the Ottoman

Empire.

 

Cilicia or Lesser Armenia - Cilicia was an important Armenian

kingdom from 1198 to 1375. It was along the eastern end

of the Mediterranean coast of Asia Minor. Its port cities

included Tarsus, Korykos, and Ayas. Cilicia's western

neighbor was Isauria. The Amanus mountains were on the

east. In the north, the plains meet the Taurus mountains

and these peaks separate Cilicia from Cappadocia. In

its mountains were the many large castles which controlled

the mountain passes, including the famous Cilician Gates,

through which pilgrims and Crusaders travelled to the

Holy Land and luxury goods from the east travelled to

Europe.

 

CONTEMPORARY ARMENIAN HISTORIANS AND WRITERS -

Agathangelos (5th century) Moses of Khorene

Gregory of Narek Smbat the Constable

Faustus of Buzanda St. Nerses Shnorhali

Ananias of Shirak

Lazarus of Pharpi Vardan of Maratha

Thomas Ardsruni Mkhitar Heratsi

Amirdovlat Amasiatsi John V of Draskhanakert (also

called Yovhannes Drasxanakertci)

 

IMPORTANT DATES -

 

36 B. C. - Marc Antony attacks the Parthians and loses 80,000

troops. He captures King Artavazd of Armenia and his

family, who he sends to Cleopatra of Egypt in golden

chains.

 

31 B. C. - Artavazd is beheaded in Egypt without revealing the

whereabouts of the royal Armenian treasury

 

66 A. D. - King Trdat (Tiridates) is crowned by Nero in Rome

and given 50,000,000 sesterces, reimbursed for the

cost of his 9 month overland journey to Rome, and skilled

artisans to rebuild his capital.

 

257 - Grigor (Gregory) Partev (the Parthian) is born (approx. date)

He is to be St. Gregory the Illuminator, who helped

to convert Armenia to Christianity

 

301 - Traditional date when Armenia becomes the first official

Christian state (303 is the alternate date) as declared

by King Trdat (Tiridates) III of Greater Armenia.

 

305 - St. Grigor becomes head or catholicos of the new Armenian

church

 

325 - St. Grigor dies in his cave on Mt. Sepouh

 

352 - Nerses becomes Catholicos, head of the Armenian church

 

364 - Nerses goes to Constantinople to ask for help against Persian

invasion

 

368 - Pap becomes king of Armenia with Roman help at age 22

 

371 - Battle of Bagrevand against the Persians is won by a

combined Roman and Armenian army

 

374 - King Pap is murdered at a Roman banquet

 

406 - Official acceptance of the Armenian alphabet created by Saint

Mesrop-Mashtotz and his staff. The alphabet contained 36

characters until the 12th century when 2 more were added.

 

428-885 - the Armenian "Dark Ages", internal civil wars and wars with

Persia, Byzantium, Baghdad and Egypt

 

451 - Armenian troops commanded by Vardan Mamikonian fight the Battle

of Avarayr against the Persians and lose Armenian churches

commemorate this battle and honor the Armenian dead annually

 

590 - the Persian lose Armenian lands to the Byzantium

 

600s-700s - the Byzantines and Arab Abbasids use Armenia for a

battleground; Armenian nobility and commoners who could traded

their Armenian lands for lands within the Byzantine empire

and many abandoned Greater Armenia to the invaders

 

885 - Ashot I crowned king of Armenia by his peers and acknowledged by

Byzantium and the Caliph

 

965 - Byzantium reconquers Cilicia

 

1042 - Ablgharib becomes governor of Tarsus and Mamistra in Cilicia and

makes it a refuge for displaced Armenians

 

1045 - Gakik II of Ani forced to abdicate leaving no opposition to stop

the invading Selchukid (or Seljuq) Turks

 

1064 - Alp Arslan, the Seljuk, conquers Greater Armenia

 

1071 - Seljuq Turks defeat the Byzantine Empire at the Battle of Mantzikert,

north of Lake Van

 

1091 - Gakik II is murdered at Cybistra Castle and his body hung out

over the castle wall

 

1115-1124 - sometime between these dates Gagik II's death revenged, his

weapons and clothes found, and the sons of Pantaleon tortured

by Thoros

 

1096-1102 - The First Crusade

 

1097-1098 - Bagrat contacts the crusading forces at Nicaea and accompanies

them across Asia Minor. He forms an alliance with Baldwin of

Boulogne, but Bagrat was later tortured as a traitor

 

1114 - large earthquake destroys the Hesuants vank' monastery, devastates

the countryside and kills 40,000+ people

 

1118 - another earthquake

Baldwin I of Jerusalem dies

 

1130 - The Franks conquer parts of Cilicia during the First Crusade but

their hold is insecure because of Byzantine invasions and the

objections of the native Armenian princes who get the upper

hand in the late 1130s

 

1137-1138 - Byzantine conquest of Cilicia followed by seven years of

relative peace ruled by Byzantium

 

1143, April 8 - John Comnenus, Byzantine Emperor, died as a result of a

poisoned arrow

 

1147-1149 - The Second Crusade

 

1151 - Rubenid family controls the Cilician plain, allies and marries

Franks and fights the Turks and Byzantines

Hromkla is given to the Armenian catholicos by Beatrice

 

1153 - Nerses of Lampron born

 

1158 - Manuel and the Byzantine army invades Cilicia, Thoros is forced to

make peace in penitential garb and receives confirmation of his

position in Armenia, but Byzantine governors are left in the

main townships

 

1164 - Thoros, Bohemond, Raymond of Tripoli and the Greek commander at

Tarsus, Constantine Coloman, attacks Nur-ad-Din and wins. A

large force of Nur-ad-Din's troops come and Thoros advises

withdrawal and leaves. The other leaders are captured and only

released when Thoros threatens to burn his captives alive.

Thoros' brother Stephen is lured by the Greeks into the castle

of Hamus and boiled alive.

 

1168 - Thoros dies, Thoros' brother Mleh invades with Moslem troops and

throws out the regent and heir

 

1173 - Nerses the Gracious, Catholicos dies in August, and Grigor

Tgha is elected catholicos

 

1174 - Mleh's use of Moslem aid is very unpopular so the Armenian barons

rise and kill him

 

1179 - religious synod held at Hromkla to discuss: the celebration of

Christmas on December 25, instead of the Armenian custom of

combining it with the Epiphany on January 6; the method for

choosing the date of Easter; the use of fermented bread at

mass; and changes in the church service

 

1180 - death of Byzantine Emperor Manuel Comneus

 

1188 - Saladin campaigns against Antioch and destroys Baghras which

Leon later rebuilt

 

1189-1192 - The Third Crusade

 

1190 - Levon (or Leon)sends Nerses of Lampron as ambassador to meet Emperor

Frederick Barbarossa when he approaches Cilicia, but on June 10

Barbarossa drowns in the Saleph River near Silifke, ending

negotiations for Levon's royal crown

 

1193 or 1194 - Catholicos Grigor Tgha dies and his nephews, Hetoum and

Shahnshah, are assassinated

Gregory V is elected catholicos (patriarch) but doesn't get

along with Levon and is imprisoned and dies trying to escape

 

1198 - January 6 - Levon I or Leon I is crowned king of Lesser Armenia

by the new Armenian catholicos with a crown from the

Hohenstaufen emperor. In return, he is forced to recognize

the German emperor as his lord and the pope in Rome as the

head of the Armenian Church. The Armenian church however

stalls and does not change or adopt the Roman Catholic

forms of worship

(The Cilician kings named Levon are numbered differently by

various historians. It is easier to understand who is who by

the dates of their reigns than by I, II, etc.)

 

1202-1204 - The Fourth Crusade

 

1204 - Constantinople is sacked by crusaders of the Fourth Crusade

 

1205 - Catholicos John of Sis accuses Isabelle of Austria, Levon's

queen and mother of his daughter Rita, of adultery and she

is imprisoned at Vahka where she died

 

1210 - King Levon of Cilicia marries Sybilla of Lusignan, the

daughter of King Aimery of Cyprus and Queen Isabeau

Plantagenet, and later mother of Levon's daughter and

heir Zabel (aka Zapel or Isabelle)

 

1211 - Levon gives his wife's sister, Helvis, to Raymond-Roupen

of Antioch

 

1212 - The Children's Crusade

 

1217-1229 - The Fifth Crusade

 

1219 - King Levon I dies after reigning 32 years

Zabel becomes queen, Adam of Baghras is regent

 

1222 - Philip, either son of Raymond the One-eyed, Count of Tripoli;

or fourth son of Bohemond IV of Antioch, marries Zabel

 

1225 - Zabel's husband, Philip, is arrested, imprisoned in the

fortress of Sis and killed

 

1226 - King Levon I's daughter Zabel is forced to marry Hetoum I (or

Hetum I) which joined the Rubenid and Het'umian families.

Zabel runs away from her forced marriage to Hetoum, but

eventually reconciles to it

 

1233 - Kai-Khusrau I, Selchukid (Seljuk) sultan of Roum, invades

Armenia and requires tribute, but he proves to be a

generally peaceful neighbor and trading partner.

 

1236 - Birth of Prince Levon son of King Hetum I of Cilicia

 

1243 - The Mongols arrive and shatter the Turkish empire of the

Selchukids (Seljuks) in a battle near Siwas, where

Georgians and Armenians fight in the Mongol army

and 2,000 Frankish mercenaries in that of Roum.

 

1247 - King Hetum I of Cilicia sends his brother Smbat the Constable

to negotiate a treaty with the Mongols

 

1253 or 1254 - King Hetoum I (or Hetum I) goes to visit the Great Khan

for three years and comes back through Greater Armenia, the

homeland no Cilician ruler had previously been able to visit.

He has guarantees that the Mongols will protect the Christian

Churches in their lands. Armenian troops fight in the Mongol

armies, and Hetoum occupies Marash.

 

1254 - Bohemond VI of Tripoli and Antioch marries Hetoum's daughter,

Sybilla

 

1256 - Prince Levon is knighted at Mamistra

 

1258 - Mongol and Armenian troops defeat Baghdad and extend

Cilician territory to Hromkla, a fortified site east of

Cilicia on the Euphrates River

 

1260, March - The Armenians and Mongols take Aleppo and Damascus

September - The Mongol forces are destroyed by a Mamluk army

under their new leader, Baybars

 

1261 - Prince Kostandin follows his father as lord of the fortress

of Sarvandik'ar which dominates the main roads to Cilicia

from the east and at Sis he marries King Hetoum's daughter

Rita

 

1262 - Prince Levon of Cilicia marries Keran, daughter of Het'um of

Lambron (Keran and two of their children died of a plague

after 1272 and before Hetoum's death in 1270)

 

1265 - Baybars, Mamluk leader, take Syria, Caesarea, Haifa, Arsuf,

Tibnin, and Safad and then turn on Armenia

 

1266 - King Hetoum goes to the Mongols for help and while he is

gone Princes Levon and Thoros are imprisoned in Cairo and

the Mamluks sack Sis, Mamistra, Adana, Ayas, and Tarsus.

 

1268, May 12 - The Mamluks take Antioch and massacre the inhabitants.

Hetoum gets his son released from Egypt, abdicates in Levon's

favor, and enters a monastery.

 

1269 or 1270 - Reign of Levon II or III (1269-88) began

 

1270 - death of King Hetum I; father of Fimi (Countess of Sidon) and

Levon (crown prince); brother of Bishop Hohannes (John)

 

1271 - Marco Polo sets out for Cathay from the Armenian port of Ayas

 

1272 - Thoros Roslin illuminates a gospel book for Queen Keran

 

1275 - another Egyptian (Mamluk) invasion of Cilicia

 

1276 - General Sempad, Levon's uncle, traps Mamluk troops in a

mountain pass and wins a major battle. Sempad and 300

knights die in the battle.

 

1285 - Levon III buys a 10 year truce with Egypt with an annual

tribute of one million silver dirhams to the Egyptians

and a promise to build no more castles

Levon III dies at age 53 (in 1285 or 1289) and on

February 6 Hetoum II (or Hetum II) becomes king

1292 - The Mamluks break the truce and take Hromkla (or Romgla) so

the catholicosate moves to Sis. Many church treasures

are lost.

 

1293 - Hetum II abdicates in favor of his brother Thoros (who was

strangled by their brother Smbat or Sempad). Hetum

retires to a Franciscan monastery

 

1294 - Hetum II resumes the throne

 

1296 - Hetum II's brother Smbat takes the throne, partly blinds

Het'um II, and kills Hetum's son Prince T'oros

Their brother Kostandin takes the throne from Smbat

 

1298 - Hetum II again resumes the throne with Kostandin's help

after regaining his eyesight

Smbat and Kostandin are sent to Hetum's brother-in-law

in Constantinople

 

1299 - Allied Mongols and Armenians fight the Mamluks at Homs

and win, regaining all their Cilician property

 

1303 - Mamluks win the battle at Merj-us-Safer against Mongol

and Armenian troops

Hetum chooses his nephew Levon, age 16, as heir

 

1304 - The Grand Khan, Gazan, declares Islam the official

religion in his lands and later his son ordera all

Christians throughout his lands to wear a black linen

strip over the shoulder.

 

1307 or 1308 - Hetum II and his nephew, now King Leon IV or V,

visit the Mongol emir Bilarghu at Anavarza and are

murdered with all their followers.

 

1308 - Oshin, Hetum's brother, chases the Mongol troops out

 

1320 - Oshin is poisoned

Young Levon is forced to marry his regent's (Oshin of

Corycus) daughter, Alice

 

1329 - King Levon IV or V, aged nineteen, takes charge of the

kingdom and has his unfaithful wife and her father

both killed.

 

1333 - King Levon marries Constance Eleanor of Aragon,

daughter of Frederick II of Sicily and widow of

Henry II of Cyprus, an unpopular match.

 

1337 - Cilician port city of Ayas is taken by the Mamluks

 

1341 - King Leon V, staying in the citadel of Sis, waits and

appeals for Western help, until the barons murder him.

 

1342 - The barons offer the crown to John of Lusignan who

offers the Cilician crown to his brother Guy. Guy

reluctantly agrees and comes to Cilicia. He brought

a European influence to the monarchy and encouraged

union with the Roman Church.

 

1344 - Guy Lusignan sends his younger brother, Bemon, to the Pope

in Avignon, France for help; but the negotiations rouse

resentment in the barons. Guy, Bemon and their

bodyguards are murdered.

Constantine III, son of Marshall Baldwin of Neghr, is

elected king. He is married to Marie, daughter of Oshin

(a former regent) and Jeanne of Anjou.

 

1360 - Peter I of Cyprus gets the port castles of Korykos in

Cilicia in return for helping Constantine VI against

the Karamanids

 

1363 - Constantine III dies of natural causes

Constantine IV becomes king of Cilicia and marries Marie

widow of Constantine III

 

1369 - Peter of Cyprus is murdered so Constantine VI makes a

treaty with the sultan of Cairo, which annoys barons

 

1372 - Queen Marie sends Pope Gregory XI a letter requesting

military help against the Moslems

 

1373 - Constantine is murdered, and the Pope wants Marie to

Othon of Brunswick.

Leon or Levon, son of John of Lusignan and Soldane, is

invited by the Armenians to become king.

(Soldane, daughter of King Georgi VII of Georgia, may

have been John of Lusignan's mistress and not his wife,

and her sons may or may not have been legitimate.

Levon's claims to his grandmother Isabella's estates

were rejected on those grounds by the Pope.)

Levon, delayed in Cyprus on his wife's lands, is "taxed"

by the Genoese 280 livres of gold plus 300 ducats

ransom for his crown, silver plate, and clothing. His

wife's lands are forfeited to Catherine of Aragon.

Levon is forced to sell his personal possessions to

travel and hire troops.

 

1374 - Levon VI, a Roman Catholic, and his wife, Margaret of

Soissons, are crowned at Sis on September 14 in both an

Armenian and Latin ceremony. They discover an empty

treasury.

 

1375, January 15 - The Mamluks of Egypt capture part of Sis

February 24 - The rest of Sis is evacuated and burned by

Levon and his supporters

April 13 - Levon VI, his wife, and their twin baby daughters

surrender to the Mamluks

July - Levon is taken to Cairo as a captive where he is

released from jail, constantly watched and given a

daily pension of 60 dirhems

 

1376 - Levon's wife, Marguerite de Soissons, and daughters die

in Cairo

 

1382 - Levon is ransomed using money from the Kings of Castile and

Aragon, 300 squirrel pelts, a gold and silver cup, and

a gilded jar.

 

1386 - Levon serves as an envoy to King Richard II of England

 

1393, November 29 - King Levon VI (John de Lusignan) dies.

He is interred with French Royalty in the Basilica of St.

Denis. He was in France for help to regain Cilicia.

His son Guyot becomes a military man and Philippe becomes

an archdecon.

 

1402 - the Tartars take Asia Minor and Syria

 

1441 - The seat of the Armenian Catholicos is moved from Sis to

Etchmiadzin

 

1453 - The Ottomans capture Constantinople and Armenians are

required to move into the capital

The Armenian patriarch is given civil authority over

marriage, charity work, and education of Armenians

under Ottoman control

 

1462 - Zacharia of Aghthamar removes the right arm of St. Grigor

Loosavorich, a relic required for church ceremony, from

Etchmiadzin to Aghthamar

 

1475 - Ottoman conquest of Crimea

 

1477 - Bishop Vrtanes of Odzop returns St. Grigor's right arm

to Etchmiadzin

 

1556-1602 - Reign of the Mongol Emperor Akbar, one of whose queens

was the Armenian lady Mariam Zamani Begum

Mariam's sister, Juliana, marries an exiled French prince

and serves as a physician in Akbar's seraglio.

Akbar's Chief Justice is also Armenian

 

1562 - Juliana and her husband Jean Phillippe Bourbon de Navarre

found the first Armenian church in India at Agra

Abgar of Tokat goes to Italy to study printing for

patriarch Michael of Sebastia

 

1605 - After burning and destroying what they could in the former

area of eastern Greater Armenia, the Persians require

their Armenian subjects to move to New Julfa and away

from the invading Turkish troops. Many Armenians escape

north to the Eastern European states such as Poland.

 

1620 - Eastern Armenia returns to Persian control

 

-----------

Copyright 1999, Karen Reinhart, P. O. Box 169, Windsor, NY 13865.

. Permission is given to use these articles in any

educational publication as long as you credit me for the authorship of the

article and send me a copy of the publication.

 

Edited by Mark S. Harris Armenia-TL-art 10

 

http://www.florilegium.org/files/CULTURES/...nia-TL-art.text

[hytga]

knoledge is power <_<

[River]

I emailed Keran re her interest in Armenian , especially, Cilician history. She is a bright lady who wants to do more research into Medieval Armenian History focusing on the interaction between Europeans (Crusaders) and Armenians. That falls right into my line of interest.

What we need is as much info as possible. She has access to books but any input would be much appreciated.

As 'hytga' says " KNOWLEDGE IS POWER".

Thanks in advance.

[gamavor]

By far the Vatican has the most comprehensive collection of books and resources regarding Crusaders and Armenians. There are also some very useful books about Armenians written by noble knights - travelers and geographers. Some of the ones that I read reveal some very interesting details about Armenians, especially during war times. It turns out that we have not been always the "good" guys.

[River]

Hi Gamavor, thanks for the info. I'll try to do a search of the Vatican archives- although i have not 'visited' their site.

As for the Crusades, i think, they reflected how brutal human beings can be. I would go as far as labelling it one of the ugliest ventures undertaken under the pretext of Christianity or religion ( any similarities with what's happening in Iraq - partially ?) Check out beliefnet.com for the last commentary. Another form of 'globalisation'. I believe that a good number of the Crusaders were there for their personal gains. Of course there were convicts who were given a chance to 'be free' if they participated in the armed forces. Why not ? Either way they were not in charge of their destiny.

Anything that has to do with overstepping the rights of another person does not contain 'noble' intentions.

Just to digress a bit here's what i read on another forum : it's attributed to Ben Franklin-

Democracy is two wolves and a lamb deciding what is for lunch.

Liberty is when a well-armed lamb disputes the decision.

Cheers !

[gamavor]

I agree. It seems to me that not being able to learn from our own mistakes is part of our human nature.

Friend of main says. "When we were born, we were hungry, naked, wet and crying... after some time the situation got worst than that!"

 

Cheers to you too:)

[axel]

The following document should be of great interest to you (especially if you know the french language). it includes, among other things, historical texts in armenian with their corresponding translation in french. the only drawback is that you need a good connection for the download ("téléchargement de l'ouvrage") as each page has been rasterized before being put in pdf format. I suggest you browse it first online before attempting any download .

 

http://gallica.bnf.fr/scripts/Consultation...e?E=0&O=N051557

[Arpa]

Here are a few sites about the Crusades and Armenia.

The book at the bottom seems interesting. Wonder if it is still available?

 

http://www.armenianhighland.com/christendo...ronicle706.html

 

http://www.armenianheritage.com/hicrusad.htm

 

Book

http://www.abrilbooks.com/Bookinfo/History...niaCrusades.htm

[axel]

actually the book I posted (which was printed in 1869!) includes extracts of the chronicle of Mathew of Edessa (both the original armenian text and the french translation)

[River]

Thanks a million

To think that i spent one full hour on google researching the crusades. This is great help. I shall refer Keran (her text appears on this thread) to your posts. I do read french, no problem- i live in Quebec, Canada.

[Arpa]

Now that we gloated with the virtues of the Armenians, and their hospitality and alliance with the Crusaders, let's see what happened once they rand away with their tails between their legs.

 

The principality of Cilicia became, the Kingdom of Cilician Armenia or Lesser Armenia as it was know to the European historians. The kingdom lasted for nearly 200 years. The Kingdom of Cilician Armenia, the last outpost of Christianity and Christian faith, fell to the Moslem Invaders, the Mameluks who having destroyed the Christian Crusader states of

Jerusalem and Antioch had turn their attention to the remaining obstacle in their reconquest of Near East. The last Armenian king of

the House of Lusignan, which had frankish descent and blood lines with the Royal House of Rubinian, king Levon VI th was captured

in the year 1375 A.D. by the Mameluks in the siege of Sis, the great capital of Cilicia, he was taken prisoner and later on released

for the runsack of his head, paid by the Franks. He spent the remainder of His life in Courts of France, Spain and other European

Royal Courts, trying to convince the European powers of a launch of a new Crusade for the liberation of Cilicia and Holy Land, from

the Moslem rule, which he was not able to accomplish.

 

The above is not unique, our history is replete with betrayals by our so called allies, co-religionists and our so called European brothers. In fact this same scenario is being played at this very moment. Turkey may have suffered a slight setback yet, as we read these lines Turkey has already sent "observers" to Northern Iraq ostensibly to protect their "brothers" the Turkomans and their "executioners" the Kurds. Wait till Turkey gets a hold of those oil wells. You think gas prices are hign now??

 

BTW. Where is Bass/Bassam?

He stormed in here preaching antiIslam and proCatholic sermons and disappeared. I just surveyed a URL by the Assyrians/Chaldeans. See below and tell us where do they even mention the Armenian saga or show even the slightest sympathy and similarity in destiny? If the likes of him and his Pope had stuck with us rather than kissing Mordechai Cohen's v**** and seeking his approval to simply exist!!!???

Well.... EXCUUUUSE MEEE!!!

Assyria. Please click and follow leads to better understand.

http://www.aina.org/aol/peter/brief.htm#1918

[Arpa]

Let us reread below section from the above quote and consider some alternatives.

What would the outcome have been had we not welcomed the Crusaders and isntead allied ourselves with our neighbors? Had we negotiated with the Mamluks ans others, signed nonagression compacts and had military alliance and mutual defense agreements with them?

Look what King Levon had to do, kissing the feet of those so called cynical Crusaders to no avail.

They came, they enjoyed our hospitality, military and logistical assistance and at the end they abandoned us leaving the cross behind for us to bear the full brunt, and the vengeance of our neighbors.

I could tell them what to do with their "cross" but I won't.

There are ladies here.

"The last Armenian king of the House of Lusignan, which had frankish descent and blood lines with the Royal House of Rubinian, king Levon VI th was captured in the year 1375 A.D. by the Mameluks in the siege of Sis, the great capital of Cilicia, he was taken prisoner and later on released for the runsack of his head, paid by the Franks. He spent the remainder of His life in Courts of France, Spain and other European Royal Courts, trying to convince the European powers of a launch of a new Crusade for the liberation of Cilicia and Holy Land, from the Moslem rule, which he was not able to accomplish."

[gamavor]

Arpa,

 

I agree with you. We too often listen to our hearts rather than to the reason.

Bulgarians for example fought with Crusaders, although they were Christian at that time. They simply said no one can pass through our lands without testing the sharpness of our swords. They caused great damage to Crusaderes who later have choosen different roads to reach Jerusalem. After that the Latins were subjected to humiliating conditions under Bulgarian King. That way you gain respect.

[River]

Hi Arpa, the Turks are allowed to send 'observers' to Kirkuk. Yeah, right with all the military concentration at the border (bbc.co.uk sources) corresponds to ....as the saying goes......"aghvesseh havnotsin bahaban en garkel", aka the fox is in charge of the .....what does he like most? ...chicken. The Kurdish rejoice would be short-lived. What a catastrophy; how many fronts are opened up now ? Nobody would give up oil-rather- the economics of it. Have you read THE LAST JIHAD by Joel C.Rosenberg ? He quotes Jeremiah 51:24, 37 talking about .....and 'awe'.

Politics is nasty- never nice. You have to play dirty to stay in the game, unfortunately. I think we would be very naive to ever think there would be someone who out of the goodness of their heart will pat our back and say...Armenians are good people, hard-working, industrious, christian etc. ...they deserve to have a homeland, not lose their shirt, kingdom. If what Armenians want does not fall into their plans - like , perhaps, the last Cilician King's plans , then forget it. Remember Kherimian Hayrig with his 'Iron Ladle' analogy ?

As, for the Crusaders, i do not recall any good works done. Killing, in the name of religion, is never justified. Freeing Jerusalem from heathens resulted in the killing of numerous human beings. How disturbing and horrendous. Rather disgusting. The so called 'white european' proved to be no different from the Moors or the Seljuk Turks (?) with the brutality he performed. Have you read Dr. Runciman's account of the Crusades. He portrays the Armenians as one of the most conniving ethnic groups- basing himself on the accounts of the Byzantines. We could say the same about the Byzantines, too. Our relationship with them lacked trust. They are always at loggerheads stealing principalities, lands, crowns from each other. As Karl Marx implied economics is the fundamental reason for war between nations - even simple citizens.

Phew, i've been jumping from one topic to another !

Keep well.

[gamavor]

http://www.agbu.org/images/newsletter/kinglevon.jpg

 

The Tomb of King Levon at the Basilica of Saint Denis.

 

Jean-Claude Kebabdjian

 

Paris — An Armenian-style church at Germigny-des-PrËs south of Pithiviers on the River Loire, lost like a lonely jewel in the depths of France, is one of the examples of early contacts between the French and Armenian people dating back to between the 10th and 12th centuries.

 

Religious contacts were established during this period and these are documented in the country’s oldest historical records. The French were in no doubt, even way back, that Armenians would play an important role in the future.

 

The Crusaders were a glorious turning point. Political and commercial links flourished between the French and Armenians. First of all there were blood ties, stretching right up to almost the royal palaces. The last Regent of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia , Leon VI of Lusignan, of French stock, died in 1393 in Paris and was buried at the Saint Denis Basilica just to the north of the French capital.

 

After that, Cardinal Richelieu and Colbert helped the Armenians set up trading posts.

 

http://www.agbu.org/agbunews/display.asp?A_ID=87

[CCA]

Hmmmm ....

 

This article is just a collection of some common knoweledge on Cilician Armenia. Bedoukian, in his coinage of Cilician Armenia spends a great deal on the history. The history of Cilician Armenia comes from mostly original historic text and some works of Mekhitarists and Victor Langlois. For a good amount of bibliograbhy of Cilician Armenia see the sources Bedoukian provides.

 

Also missed an important historian Smbat, of the 13th century, commander in chief of Armenian forces when a Mamluk invasion was defeated.

 

Non-Armenian sources can sometimes be useful as well.

 

Best,

Levon

[gamavor]

The tomb of Levon V Lusignan on youtube! Saint Denis is a great place to visit, btw!

 

[gamavor]

Just came back from a trip to San Lazzaro Armeni in Venice. A must visit place for every Armenian. This is allegedly the sword of Levon the VI donated by Alishan.

 

 

 

 

...and the memorial plaque for the great poet Lord Byron!

 

 

 

[MosJan]

hetaqrqir ashxatanq e

[gamavor]

 

 

 

 

 

Ayo Mosjan, scancheli portsarutiun er!

[gamavor]

[Yervant1]

UNIQUE GOLD COIN FEATURING CILICIAN ARMENIAN KING PUT UP FOR AUCTION

15:48 â~@¢ 14.12.15

A unique coin dating back to the period of the Cilician Armenian kind
Levon I (1198-1219) has been put up for an online auction.

The exceptional sample, featuring the king enthroned facing, holding
cross in right hand and branch in left, will be auctioned off on
January 5, according to Coinarchives.com

The starting price of the coin, included in the collection of Dr.

Lawrence A Adams, is US $ 50,000.

http://www.tert.am/en/news/2015/12/14/coin-levon/1873702

[gamavor]

I found this article by chance searching for something else. Very interesting factology not known to me:)

 

 

http://www.arak29.am/ANA/files/history/14th_Century_Mediation/The_Kings_of_England.pdf

 

THE KINGS OF ENGLAND AND MEDIEVAL ARMENIA

 

By NOUBAR MAXOUDIAN, L.L.B.

 

Relations between British and Armenian Kings flourished during the medieval period, when there existed an Armenian kingdom in Cilicia (1080-1375), which held sway over territories extending from the Taurus mountains to the Mediterranean. It was the period covered by 1189-1393 A.D. that imparted a touch of romantic glamour to the relations between five English and seven Armenian Kings:

 

ENGLISH KINGS: 1) Richard I, “Coeur-de-Lion”, 1189- 1199. 2) Edward I, 1239-1307. 3) Edward II, 1284-1327. 4) Edward III, 1312-1377. 5) Richard II, 1367-1400.

 

ARMENIAN KINGS: 1) Levon II, 1186-1219. 2) Hetoum II (Heyton), 1289-1305. 3) Levon IV, 1305-1308. 4) Levon V, 1320-1342. 5) Guy, 1342-1344. 6) Constantine III, 1344-1363. 7) Levon VI Lusignan, 1374-1375.

 

Note: The Armenians had 4 kings bearing the name Constantine.

 

The years 1189-1199 marked the beginning of Anglo-Armenian relationship Richard I of England, who figured prominently in the Third Crusade, occupied Cyprus in 1191, in which year he entered the Temple of Hymen. Levon II, King of Armenia, attended the wedding ceremony as best man. This same Armenian king lent Richard I a helping hand in the siege of Acre against Salaheddin, Sultan of Egypt, who captured Jerusalem in 1187 A.D.

 

Armenians may rightly pride themselves on the unstinted assistance they gave to the Crusaders from the very beginning, i.e., from 1096 onward. An eloquent proof of their steadfast loyalty is found in the praise which Pope Gregory lavished on the first bearers of the Christian torch, by inserting the following in his Bulls: “. . . In olden times when the princes and armies of Christendom went to the conquest of the Holy Land, no nation and no people helped them with men, horses, provisions and counsel, with more readiness and zeal than the Armenians . . .” (See this Pope’s Bull ’Ecclesia Romana, 1384).

 

Hetoum II, the Armenian King, (1289- 1305), had his heart and soul in the cause of the Crusaders. This earned him the hatred of Melik Ashraf, Sultan of Egypt, who wrote to him a threatening letter in 1291, the year of the fall of Acre.

 

In his letter to King Edward I of England, (1239-1307), expressing his jubilation over the fall of Acre, the Armenian king did not fail to mention the threats hurled at him by the Egyptian Sultan. A year later Hetoum II wrote also to Pope Nicholas, acquainting him with the insolent treatment meted out to him by Melik Ashraf. The Pope made it a point to keep the monarchs of England and France posted on what had passed between the Armenian and Egyptian rulers. In 1298 Hetoum’s brother sent fresh letters to the Pope as well as to King Edward I of England bearing on the same matter, and received an answer from the latter in December of the same year.

 

During the reign of Levon IV an Armenian Delegation, consisting of three Armenian nobles, set off to see King Edward I. Unfortunately, however, the English King had already died when the Armenians set foot on British soil. The journey was undertaken at the instance of Hetoum II, who acted as sponsor to Levon IV, after having handed him his scepter.

 

King Edward II of England (1284-1327), who had succeeded King Edward I, wrote to the Armenian King in March of 1308, intimating his intention of dealing at an opportune moment with the subject raised by the Armenian embassy, whose members were granted both free passage and a gift of fifty pounds in cash. In 1335 King Edward III, (1312-1377), also made a monetary present of forty pounds in silver to a certain George, who was likewise an Armenian envoy. In 1342. Edward wrote to King Levon V of Armenia, (1320-1342), holding out to him hopes of assistance by the Crusaders.

 

King Guy, (1342-1344), grandson of the deceased King Levon’s aunt, Zabella, succeeded Levon V on the throne of Armenia. In 1343 the Armenian king delegated Constant to proceed to England. This emissary delivered into the hands of Edward III a letter from his sovereign together with an epistle bearing the signature of the Pope. King Edward wrote back to the King of Armenia in September of the same year. Four years later Pope Clement VI advised King Edward to bury the hatchet with France and devote his time and energy to the Armenian cause.

 

On ascending the Armenian throne in succession to King Guy in 1349, King Constantine III made it his first task to send a general to the kings of England and France, requesting them to hasten to his succor. That King Edward III of 'England was kindly disposed towards the Armenians is seen from the fact that he had generously allowed Armenian monks to travel about England and collect funds on behalf of Armenian churches. This was in 1360. Four years had elapsed when Nerses, the Armenian Bishop of the Convent of St. George situated in the Black Mountains of Cilicia, secured King Edward’s permission to make a tour of pilgrimage in England accompanied by one of his monks. His stay in England lasted one year.

 

* * *

 

We come to the last phase of Anglo-Armenian state relations during the reigns of King Richard II of England, (1367-1400) and King Levon VI of Armenia, (1374- 1375). The latter was the only Armenian king to have the privilege of seeing England and to enjoy the honour of becoming the guest of an English monarch. Levon VI being the last king of Armenia, the events which occurred during his reign assume a special importance. It is, therefore, advisable that I should dwell on them at some length in so far as they bear on European history in general and affect English history in particular.

 

King Levon VI, the brother of Guy, was crowned king on the 14th of September 1374. The following year he had to take the field against the Mamelukes of Egypt. He was made a prisoner and taken to Cairo. He suffered the degradation of seven years’ captivity. In 1382 he was released thanks to the intervention of Peter IV, king of Arragon, (1336-1387), and John I, King of Castille, (1377-1390).

 

Restored to freedom, the Armenian king undertook long journeys on the Continent. He visited Italy, Spain, and finally entered France on the 30th of June, 1384, and was received by Charles VI of France, (1380- 1422), with the customary homage due a king. Suffice it to say that the Armenian king was allowed to live in a palace of St. Quen and become the recipient of an annual income of 6000 frcs. in gold. The French King’s generosity exceeded the bounds of hospitality. King Levon or Leo, had earned his way into the sympathy and confidence of the French king, so much so that he frequently took part in the state councils held in Paris. The measure of his sagacity can be gauged by the strenuous efforts he put forth to reconcile England and France, which at the time were caught in the throes of the Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453). He was so keenly bent on inducing the two great nations to accept peace that he offered to mediate. The soundness of the advice he tendered to the French king and his proposals in 1385 are in Le Laboureur, Histoire De Charles VI, 6th Book, Chapter A.

 

But the means of communication between England and France were scant in those days, owing to the tension in Anglo-French relations. The Armenian king took his plunge by boldly asking the English king to see him in person. Richard II readily granted his request, convinced as he was of his bona fidas . He caused two permits to be issued, one for the Armenian King, and another for John de Rousp, who was his high “Seneschal” (See T. Rymer, Foedera, Vol. 3, Part III, pages 186-187).

 

The said two permits bear the dates of 24th and 28th October, 1385, respectively. Two passages culled from them, are given below for their historical interest:

 

“THE KING to all and each, admirals, etc.” “SALUTATIONS.

 

“BE IT KNOWN to you that when the illustrious Prince Leo, King of the Armenians, reaches our British soil, in order that he may come and return in safety, through this letter we take under our protection the King with his subjects and servants ... of every rank with forty horses and all their armour, all the time he is on our soil, on sea or on land, from the time he comes until he returns freely.” The second Permit for the “Seneschal of Armenia” is thus worded:

 

“ I HE KING to all and each, admirals, etc.” “SALUTATIONS.

 

“BE IT KNOWN to you that JOHN DE ROUSP, the high seneschal of the illustrious Prince Leo, King of Armenia, in company with five people, six horses, four archers, twenty-four bearded subjects with all their equipage . . . etc.”

 

* * *

 

King Levon VI arrived at Dover at the end of 1385. He was greeted by the Dukes e£ York and Lancaster. After seven days’ stay there, he started off for London. Followed by his suite, the English king met him

half way on the road. Rather touching was the scene when the procession came to a halt. The host embraced his guest. ..

 

(See Chronique du Religieux de Saint - Dewy s. Vol. A , pages 421-423 ).

 

The English monarch vied with the French king in being hospitable to his Armenian guest. A palace was put at the latter’s disposal for residential purposes. King Richard II and his statesmen met in Council at West-minister. King Leo urged upon them the need for reconciliation. He delivered a wise speech, stressing the fact that Christians in the West were bound in honour to lend a helping hand to the brethren in the East, and that they would be unable to accord such help, unless they sank their differences and marched hand in glove. The Armenian King’s speech is published in ( Chronique du Religieux de Saint Denys , Vide Vol. IV, pages 423-427).

 

In a graceful response made to King Leo’s appeal, Richard II intimated his willingness to cease hostilities immediately, if the terms laid down by his deceased father were adhered to.

 

On the 22nd of January, 1386, Richard II issued an edict, appointing a royal commission of six. These were to explore the possibilities of peace. Unfortunately for all concerned, the negotiations broke down. A vivid account of the episodes surrounding the desperate efforts at peace made by the last Armenian King is given in R. Holinshed’s Chronicles of England , 2nd ed., Vol. II, page 446.

 

Holinshed and Rymer, both Elnglish authors, attest that King Richard II allotted to the Armenian King an annual pension of £1,000, which was paid in two half - yearly installments, i.e. at Easter and at Michaelmas, in addition to many other magnificent presents.

 

Let me quote a passage from Rymer in support of my statement.

 

“FOR THE HONOUR OF GOD AND FOR THE HIGH POSITION OF THE ILLUSTRIOUS PRINCE AND OUR FELLOW - BROTHER LEON, KING OF THE ARMENIANS WHO IS ADORNED WITH THE ROYAL CROWN.

 

“Considering that our Brother, with the toleration of the Supreme King, has been robbed of and driven from his kingdom, by the enemies of God, we desire to help him a little as becomes us. Therefore we have granted our brother £1,000 liras in our Elnglish money, which he will receive every year from our treasury, half at Easter and half at Michaelmas, until he be able to repossess his kingdom with the help of God.”

 

Another gracious gesture on the part of the English sovereign was that he allowed King Leo to stay in England until Christmas, providing him with a “Safe Conduct to France with 140 horses.”

 

In May 1386, King Leo returned to France and acquainted Charles VI with the result of his mission. It was agreed that the English and French rulers should meet in France and thresh out the matter in person. But the projected royal meeting did not materialize. English and French representatives came together. Once more their deliberations ended in stalemate. (See Holinshed and Chronique de Religieux de Saint Denys ).

 

Desirous of trying his hand once more, the Armenian king proceeded to England. The second permit issued by order of King Richard II runs as follows “ ……….Our beloved fellow-brother Leo, King of the Armenians, to come to England with a retinue of sixty, their horses and equipages, and to remain in England for a year, or to pass on to other countries.”

 

* * *

 

The said permit bears the date of 11th December, 1392. King Leo died in Paris on the 29th November 1393, which proves that the Armenian king’s sojourn in England must have been a short one. During his last days spent in Paris, King Leo is said to have lost some of the jewels which he had received from the hand of Richard II. This constitutes an indirect proof of the English monarch’s munificence to the Armenian king. (See Jorga’s “ Philippe de Mesieres ”, page 464.)

 

Leo VI was 51 years old when he died in Paris at the palace of “TOURNELLES”. The funeral ceremonies were performed in accordance with the customs governing the burial of Armenian kings, which means that his mourners were all dressed in white. His gentle disposition and piety had won him many friends, which accounts for the great number of attendants at his funeral. (See Juvenal des Ursin’s, “ Histoi re de Charles VI ”.).

 

In his will, Leo VI appeals to King Richard II (as well as all his kith and kin in Europe) to assist his executors and administrators in the proper and integral execution of the clauses of his last will and testament.

 

King Leo VI was buried in the Church of Saint Denys. During the welter of the French Revolution in 1789, the costly ornaments of his tomb were filched. His desecrated tomb is still at the Abbey of Saint Denys, which suburb is prized by Parisians as a holy quarter, being situated by the side of the historic “ Mont - de - Mars ”. Here it was that Saint Dionysius was massacred with his two companions in 272 A.D., which is responsible for the erection of a beautiful abbey there.

 

Tradition will have it that the consecration of the church was made by Jesus Christ himself. He had alighted from heaven to bless the church of his three martyrs. One of its corners is believed by pious Frenchmen to have been the spot where Christ stood. This is where the tomb of the Armenian King lies. (See Guilhermy’s “ L’Abbaye de Saint Denys et ses Tombeaux ”, pages 2 and 58.).

 

What is now left of the remains of Leo VI is his effigy and the inscriptions. The bones of the Armenian King along with those of other notables were removed to the subterranean cemeteries known as “Les Catacombs de Paris”.

 

The various donations Leo had received from different princes of Eurpoe had made him wealthier than when he sat on the throne of Armenia. To this view subscribe such well-known historians as Walshingham, Eve-sham, and Buchon.

 

On this tombstone the last Armenian king is inscribed as “Leo V”. This error is traceable to the fact that of the six Leos who ruled over Armenia, five only wore the crown. I prefer mathematical exactitude to theoretical distinctions. This is why I class the last Armenian king as Leo VI, whose tombstone carries the following inscription in French:

 

“ Cy Gist Tres Noble Et Excelle nt Prince “Lyon De Lusigne, Quint, Roi Latin Du “Roya ume D’Armenie, Qui Rendit L’Ame “A Di eu A Paris Le XXIX Jour De No - v embre, L’An De Grace MCCC XX Et “XIII.

Priez Pour Lui.”

[gamavor]

[Yervant1]

Sept 23 2024

 

The years in which Madrid became the capital of Armenia

Long before being the capital of Spain, Madrid was for a few years the capital of little Armenia: one of the most unusual episodes in the history of the city.

 Isabel Nieto - Redactora • September 23, 2024

 

 

Miniature from the 'Book of Wonders' (15th century) showing the defeat of the Armenians of Cilicia against the Mamelukes in 1266 || Public Domain

 

There are episodes in the history of Madrid that are as difficult to believe as they are interesting to tell. Moments that could seem to be taken from a random generator of historical events and that, however, are based on reality. In that bag we could put, for example, when a neighborhood of Madrid became independent for a week or the one that concerns us: when Madrid, before being the capital of Spain, was the capital of Armenia -and it is fair to say that who enlightened us about it was our follower Julio Sandoval-.

If this were a movie, now the image would freeze and a voice-over -allegory of Madrid- would say: “Yes, this is me. You may wonder how I got here”. And to find the answer we must go back to the fourteenth century, specifically to the year 1374.

 

It was then when Leo V, who had only been on the throne of Cilicia -also known as “little Armenia”- for a few months, was kidnapped and taken to Egypt as a prisoner . A captivity that lasted 8 years.

The impossible kingdom: Madrid, capital of Little Armenia, a territory thousands of kilometers away.

Privilege of Leon V King of Armenia, confirming to Madrid all the privileges, privileges, uses and ordinances || Editorial credit: Biblioteca digital memoriademadrid

During this time, Leo V dedicated himself to writing letters and sending emissaries to different Christian crowns of Europe, as well as to other authorities, asking for help. And that longed-for liberation finally arrived in 1382.

Immediately afterwards, the monarch began a journey to recover his kingdom which, among other stops, took him to Badajoz, where he met with Juan I of Castile. Moved by its history, he gave him multiple gifts: among them, the territories of Ciudad Real, Andújar and Madrid.

At that time the capital of a kingdom was wherever its court was, and since León chose Madrid to settle, the then still village became in 1383 the capital of the small Armenia: a territory thousands of kilometers away.

The opposition of a people and the return of Madrid to Castile

The Iberian Peninsula in 1360 || Image courtesy of: J. B. Bury. Courtesy of the University of Texas Library (Austin) / Public Domain

As was to be expected – and although the foreign king tried to win the favor of the people with measures such as lowering taxes or repairing the now disappeared Alcazar – the decision was not very well received by the people of Madrid. So much so that Juan I of Castile had to promise to return Madrid to the crown when King Leon died.

Finally, on November 29, 1393, León V died surrounded by privileges but without having fulfilled his greatest wish: to recover his kingdom. Madrid returned to the Crown of Castile and the passage of the monarch through the city has remained as a picturesque episode of our history.

Nowadays there are few traces left of that unusual moment, which is not likely to be repeated: the son of John I of Castile, Henry III, forbade anyone to do again what his father had done. But among the traces of Leon V’s passage through Madrid there are historical documents (such as the one that illustrates the previous section) or, as we have found in this entry from Ediciones La Librería, a street that bears his name near Carpetana.

https://madridsecreto.co/en/madrid-capital-of-armenia/