The Armenian state of Cilicia is a medieval feudal principality, which later became a kingdom. It existed on the territory of the geographical region of Cilicia in the southeast of Asia Minor from 1080 to 1424. This article will focus on the history of its occurrence, political and economic features.
Backstory
Even before the emergence of the Armenian state of Cilicia, Armenians settled in these territories, starting from the 1st century BC. It was then that this region was annexed by Tigran II to Great Armenia.
However, soon Rome won back these lands. They became part of the empire along with the Armenians who managed to settle on them.
In the second half of the 11th century, mass migration of Armenians to this region began after the loss of statehood. Their own country was conquered by the Turks.
History of occurrence
The actual year of the founding of the Cilician Armenian state is considered to be 1080, when Prince Ruben, who defended the Antitaurus region, laid the foundation fornew dynasty, becoming the founder of the principality.
After the death of Ruben in 1095, his son Kostandin succeeded to the throne, expanding his influence beyond the mountains of Antitaurus. At that time, the Seljuk Turks were considered the main enemy of the Armenians. Therefore, the crusaders who appeared in the region were initially considered as potential allies. For example, the Armenians helped the knights with food and soldiers during the siege of Antioch.
Independence and relatively quiet life in the principality were due to its geographical position. At one time, neither the Seljuks nor the Crusaders claimed it, since it was located in the mountainous part of the region.
The situation became more complicated in 1100 after the death of Kostandin. The principality broke up into two destinies, which were ruled by his sons Toros and Levon. At the same time, Thoros managed to pursue an active foreign policy, expanding the boundaries of the principality, approaching the borders of the Cilician plain. He successfully fought both the Turks and the Byzantines. He built allied relations with the crusaders, supporting them in wars with Muslim rulers.
In 1169, Mleh comes to power, having usurped power after the death of his brother. He sought to ensure the independence of the Cilician Armenian state. In order to prevent the claims of the Byzantines to these lands once and for all, he concluded an agreement with the ruler of Syria, Nur ad-Din. With his support, Mlech defeated the Byzantine army. But a year later he was killed in a palace coup.
In 1187, Levon II becomes the ruler. This coincided with the third campaign of the crusaders. By the end of the century hebecomes the most powerful ruler in the region. Even the idea of an Armenian-Frankish state appears.
Realm Transformation
Levon II wanted to become a crowned ruler according to the traditions that existed in Western Europe. It was not easy to do this. It was necessary to fear a break in relations with Byzantium, which had been established by that time. At the same time, it was important, at least for appearances, to make concessions to the Roman Catholic Church so that the coronation of a king who was not a Catholic would be approved by the Pope.
In order to achieve this, Levon sent diplomats to Emperor Henry VI and Pope Celestine III. Another delegation went to Constantinople at the same time.
Thanks to his skillful and quirky politics, the official coronation took place in 1198. Prince Levon II became King Levon I. This was the final stage in the reorganization of the Armenian state of Cilicia from a principality into a kingdom.
Domestic policy
Becoming king, Levon was forced to solve long overdue internal problems. In particular, he was unhappy with the growing influence of religious leaders. He even tried to make his cousin the head of the Armenian Church, but the local clergy categorically rejected the candidacy.
Besides, he wanted to do away with the Hethumids, who did not obey him and constantly competed. To do this, he gathered an army, besieging Hetum III in the family estate. But, like his predecessors, he failed. Then hewent to the trick, inviting the prince to conclude an imaginary marriage between their families. As soon as Hetum arrived in the capital, he was arrested.
Levon continued after his coronation pro-Latin policy in the Armenian state of Cilicia. The arrival of the Latins was encouraged in every possible way, they were entrusted with responsible positions in the government. During this period, the ancient state of Cilicia was open to trade with Europeans. French was popular at court.
Strengthening Catholics
The next politician, under whom important changes took place in the Cilician state, was Hethum II. He came to power in 1289. Being a Franciscan, from the first days of his reign he began to revive the pro-Latin policy, which had been weakened by his predecessors. In particular, Levon III. The desire to develop Catholicism, which was previously hidden, has now taken on an open and even defiant character.
In 1292, the Mamluks captured the residence of the head of the Armenian church, capturing Stepanos IV. His successor, Gregory VII, was considered a staunch supporter of Rome. Therefore, he decides to transfer the headquarters of the Catholicos to the capital of the state of Cilicia, the city of Sis. After that, the clergy actually lost their independence, some subsequent leaders of the Armenian Church leaned so strongly towards Catholicism that they came into conflict with the rest of the clergy and parishioners.
Break with the Mongols
For Armenia in Cilicia, the existing alliance with the Mongols was of great importance. Together they opposed the Mamluks. At the same time, the rulersthe ancient Armenian state of Cilicia constantly sought to seek new allies and partners.
In 1293, the situation in the east of the country escalated after another attempted invasion by the Egyptian Mamluks. It was prevented, and soon it became known that the emperor of the Byzantine Empire expected to marry the sister of the king of the Armenian kingdom of Cilicia. Counting on new allies after the conclusion of such a marriage, the delegation of Armenians immediately left for Constantinople. At the beginning of 1294, the solemn marriage of Princess Rita with Emperor Michael IX of the Byzantine Empire took place.
At the same time, relations between the kingdom of Cilicia and the Mongols became more complicated when one of the sons of Arghun, Ghazan, came to power in the Persian Ilkhanate. He did it as a result of a coup d'état. At first, he confirmed to Hethum the allegiance of the alliance and joint actions against the aggressive Mamluks.
At the same time, Ghazan realized that he would not be able to govern Muslims without adopting their religion. Therefore, he entered Islam at the very end of the 13th century. This leads to the fact that his successors will decide to reconsider the traditional provisions of their foreign policy towards the Armenian kingdom of Cilicia. Ghazan will be the last Mongol ally of the Armenians.
In 1299 they still have time to defeat the Egyptian Mamluks at Homs together. This allowed the Armenians to return all the lost territories, and Ghazan to get Syria. After his imminent death in 1304, the Cilician-Mongolian alliance ceased to exist. This has a significant impact on the position of Armenia in Cilicia, since itloses a faithful and reliable ally. The Mongols now stop opposing the Mamluks. Those, in turn, threaten Cilicia more and more seriously. By 1304, they have regained some of the land lost five years earlier.
In the history of the Armenian kingdom of Cilicia, the end of the 13th century is marked by a cardinal reshuffling of forces throughout the Middle East. After the adoption of Islam by the Mongol Ilkhans, the Armenians finally lose their support. The threat looms over the state from two sides at once. From the east it is threatened by the Mamluks, and from the west by the Turks. Of the allies in the region, only Cyprus remains. Meanwhile, Western countries are less and less enthusiastic about the idea of equipping another crusade.
Struggle for power
It is noteworthy that the stay on the throne of Hethum II was interrupted twice. First, in 1293, just four years after coming to power, he abdicates the throne, retiring to a Franciscan monastery.
His place is taken by brother Thoros, who reigns for a very short time. It is not known for certain whether he was crowned at all. Thoros himself returns the throne to his brother, who returns from the monastery in about a year.
In 1296 both brothers go to Constantinople. Taking advantage of their absence, their third brother Smbat proclaims himself king. Even Catholicos Gregory VII comes over to his side, who hopes that the new ruler will be able to develop his pro-Latin policy.
Found in the position of the overthrown ruler, Hethum begins to seek support in Byzantium. Smbat makes an alliance withGhazan, marrying his close relative.
When the brothers Thoros and Hethum return from Constantinople, they are both arrested by order of the new king. Thoros dies in custody.
In 1298, the fourth brother Kostandin enters the political arena. He overthrows Smbat, taking the throne. At the same time, the country is in a critical situation. She has to resist the invasion of the Mamluks, who are devastating large territories. In such a situation, Kostandin leads the state for about a year, after which he voluntarily gives way to Hethum, who was imprisoned all this time.
Having regained power, he manages to reconcile the brothers, improve the situation. Having done this, in 1301 he abdicates the throne in favor of his nephew Levon III. At the same time, he remains the de facto ruler, regent for the young son of Thoros. In 1307, both died at the hands of the Mongol commander Filargun. Uncle Levon III, Oshin and Smbat, are entering the dispute for the throne.
End of a dynasty
Oshin wins the upper hand, in which the country falls into turmoil. After his death in 1320, Levon IV succeeded to the throne. He becomes the last ruler of the Hethumid dynasty.
He also started ruling as a minor, so a regency council was set up. It was headed by Prince Oshin, who, wanting to legalize his position, married off his daughter to a minor heir. The princes didn't like it.
As a result, a critical moment has come in the history of the state of Cilicia. The country is mired in internal strife, while the enemiespushing from all sides.
In 1321, the Mongols invaded the territory of the kingdom. The following year, the Egyptian Mamluks invaded and destroyed the fortress of Ayasi. Forgetting about the former feuds, the Cypriot king Henry II sends military assistance, and the Catholicos concludes a truce in Cairo for a period of 15 years. However, it doesn't actually work. The Mamluks, fearing another crusade, resume their raids the very next year.
Oshin asks the Pope to establish a Catholic episcopacy. This was an additional impetus to the development of pro-Catholic influence in the country. In 1329 Levon becomes an adult. Assuming the throne, he orders the death of Oshin and his wife Alice.
Unrest is growing in the country because of the struggle between supporters of the union and adherents of the traditional Armenian movement in Christianity. Levon himself took a pro-Latin position, which led to the resignation of the Catholicos Akop II. In his place, he appointed his protégé, who was opposed by the clergy.
Pope Benedict XII refused to enter into conflict, saying he was ready to help only after the Armenians convert to Catholicism.
Levon died in August 1342. Apparently, he was killed during the riots organized by the opponents of the union.
Fall of the Cilician state
With the death of Levon, the Hethumid dynasty was interrupted in the male line. The power struggle intensified. The Lusignans became the new rulers of Armenia, they were relatives of Levon through the female line.
FounderThe Armenian branch of this French noble family is Kostandin III. His reign did not last long. Already in 1394, the Armenian princes revolted, as a result of which the king was killed along with 300 of his entourage.
The Lusignan dynasty held on to power until 1375, until the fall of the Cilician kingdom. In fact, the state ceased to exist after the capture of the capital by the Egyptian Mamluks.
Until 1424 there was the so-called Mountainous Cilicia. It fell after being captured by the Egyptians. The Mamluk Sultanate was established in place of the kingdom.
Economy
The economy of the state was based on agriculture. Trade and industry were also considered important sectors. Cilicia played an important role in the development of cultural and economic ties between East and West.
The flat country was very fertile. The harvest was taken twice a year, citrus fruits, raspberries, grapes, cotton, barley, and wheat were grown. At the same time, cotton and wheat were massively exported. All this indicates that agriculture was highly developed.
There were many forests and pastures in the mountainous regions, minerals were stored in the bowels. Mining and animal husbandry developed. Evidence of the extraction of gold, iron, copper, silver, s alt, lead, vitriol, soda, mica and sulfur has been preserved. Lead was exported to European countries.
Handicraft production was also actively cultivated. In the cities of Adan and Mamestia, the coinage of copper and silver utensils, weapons, jewelry and pottery developed. processedfabrics and leather, glass was made. Camelot was mass-produced - this is a special matter that was made from the wool of camels. Armenian carpets were highly valued in Europe at that time.
However, economic development never reached the level of manufacturing production.
Trade played an important role in the economy. Within the country, money circulation was extremely developed. Moreover, Cilician Armenia had its own merchant fleet. Armenian merchants were simultaneously shipowners, engaged in overseas trade and navigation. The country occupied a special place in transit trade.
Cities became major centers of handicraft production and trade along the lines of the Italian city-states. The Armenian princes provided significant benefits to the Italians, cultivating the development of crafts and shipping industries in their kingdom.
Intensive economic development was cut short when the country was mired in internal strife. In addition, there was strong external pressure on her. As a result, the kingdom fell, conquered by the Mamluks.
