Kingdom of Small-Arménie

The kingdom of Small-Arménie (ԿիլիկիոյՀայկականԹագաւորութիւն, not to confuse with the Kingdom of Arménie of Antiquity) is a State founded in Cilicie, in the south-east of the Anatolia, by Armenian refugees fleeing the invasion Seldjoukide of Arménie. It was independent between 1078 and 1375, date of the fall of its capital, Sis, with the hands of the Mamelouks.

This kingdom was founded by the dynasty roupénide, a branch junior by the Bagratides which reigned at various times on Arménie and the Georgia. This bastion of Eastern Christendom was an invaluable ally for the Croisés, and it was also the heart of nationalism and the Armenian culture, Arménie itself being then under foreign occupation.

Among the main cities and castles of the kingdom, one counted the port of Korikos, Lampron, Partzerpert, Vahka (current Feke), Hromgla, Tarse, Anazarbe, Til Hamdoun, Mamistra (current Misis), Adana and the port of Ayas (Aias).

Cilicie Byzantine

The Byzantine Empereur Nicéphore II Phocas took again Cilicie with the Arab towards 965. It expelled the Musulmans which lived there and encouraged the Christians of Syria and Arménie to be settled there. The emperor Basile II extended his empire towards the Armenian kingdom of Vaspourakan, annexing it in 1021, like Syria. Consequently, the Armenians dispersed in Cappadoce and in the east of Cilicie, in the mountainous regions of the north of Syria and Mésopotamie.

Armenian immigration was accentuated with the formal annexation of Large Arménie to the Byzantine empire in 1045, then by the conquest seldjoukide, nineteen years later, these two events involving two new waves of migrations. After the fall of Arménie bagratide, and during the centuries which followed, the Armenian nation was unable to restore its sovereignty. It remained under the domination of Turkish tribes.

Foundation of the Armenian power in Cilicie

The Armenian immigrants are reflected with the service of the Byzantines, becoming military officers and governors: they accepted the control of major cities at the Eastern border of the empire. When the imperial capacity weakens in this area, in the years which followed disastrous the Bataille of Mantzikert (1071), some of them jumped on the occasion to proclaim itself sovereign independent, while others remained honest with the empire, at least in theory. Philatérios Brakhamios was most effective of these war leaders: this former general of Romain IV Diogène succeeds in building, between 1078 and 1085, a principality extending from Mélitène in north with Antioche in the south, and from the Cilicie in the west with Édesse in the east. However, its state crumbled with its death, divided into local seigniories.

Philatérios had attracted with him many noble Armenians, giving them grounds and castles. One of these princes was Roupen, former officer of the last king d' Arménie bagratide, Gagik II. Thinking that it could never recreate the kingdom bagratide, it rebelled against the Byzantine empire in Cilicie, rejoining with him many owners and noble Armenian. Thus, in 1080, the foundations of the Armenian principality independent of Cilicie, were posed by Roupen and its descendants, the Roupénides.

At the time of died of Roupen, in 1095, the area counted six major principalities:

Lampron and Babaron, located at the south of the Doors of Cilicie, was controlled by the Byzantine former general Oshin, founder of the dynasty héthoumide.
In the North-East was the principality of Constantin I {{er}}, the son of Roupen. Its capacity was centered on the fortresses of Partzapert and Vahka.
Further in the North-East, out of Cilicie itself, was the principality of Marash, on which Tatoul reigned, a former Byzantine officer.
In the east of Marash, the Armenian Kogh Vasil held the fortresses of Rope and Kesoun as vassal of Seldjoukides.
In the north of those, on the top Euphrate, was the principality of Mélitène, held by Gabriel, a former officer of Philatérios, subjected to Seldjoukides him too.
Lastly, beyond Mélitène was Édesse, controlled by Thoros, another officer of Philatérios, and son-in-law of Gabriel de Mélitène.

The first crusade and the principality roupénide

During the reign of Constantin Ier occurred the First crusade. The Armenians of Cilicie gained the powerful allied ones in the person of the Francs. With their assistance, they ensured Cilicie against the Turks, at the same time by direct military actions in the area and by the establishment of the Latin States of the East of Antioche and Édesse.

The kingdom of Arménie

Leon II became prince in 1187. It was one of the most important figures of Cilicie Armenian.

Under its reign, it had to face the sovereigns of Konya, Alep and Damas. By doing this, it integrated new grounds into Cilicie: the length of the coasts which it controlled doubled. It made also much to increase the military capacity of its country. Héthoum even tried, in vain, to convert the Mongols with Christianity]]

The Mongols seized the town of Alep, where it was joined by Héthoum, whose troops included/understood some Templiers and Hospitaliers of Arménie. Their combined forces were victorious with Homs the 23 or on December 24th, 1299. The large one of the Mongolian troops then had to beat a retreat, probably because their horses needed pastures. In their absence, the Mamelukes gathered and took again the control of the area in May 1300.

In 1303, the Mongols again tried to seize Syria, with forces much more important (approximately: 80000 men), but they were overcome in Homs on March 30th, and the decisive battle of Shaqhab, in the south of Damas, on April 21st. It is considered that it is about the last major Mongolian invasion of Syria. With died of Ghazan, on May 10th 1304, any hope of a fast reconquest of the Holy Land disappears.

Héthoum II abdicated in favor of its nephew Leon II and became a monk Franciscain. In 1307, it went to the Mongolian court to obtain from the assistance against the Mamelukes, but him and his/her companions were put at death.

Decline under Lusignan

Héthoumides reigned on the Smallone until the murder of Leon V in 1341. His/her cousin Guy de Lusignan was then elected king. The Maison of Lusignan resulted from France and reigned already on the island of Cyprus. There at all times had been close links between Lusignan of Cyprus and the Armenians. However, when Lusignan seized the power, they tried to impose Catholicism and the European lifestyle. The Armenian upper classeses accepted these changes, but the farming community opposed it, which involved internal conflicts

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