The Last Armenian Capitals: Tarsus and Sis in the Cilician Kingdom

The last capitals of the Armenian Cilician kingdom before the Armenians lost their statehood for nearly five centuries were the cities of Tarsus and Sis. These cities played a significant role in the history of the Armenian people and their culture. This article will provide a detailed overview of Tarsus and Sis and their roles as the capitals of the Armenian Cilician kingdom.

Tarsus: The First Capital of the Cilician Kingdom (1080-1186)

Tarsus, founded by the Assyrian king Sennacherib in the 6th century BC, was a strategically important port city. Over time, it fell under the dominion of various powers, including the Persians, Arabs, and Byzantium. Tarsus is also famous for being considered the hometown of the Apostle Paul.

By the end of the 11th century, the Armenian princes in Asia Minor and Byzantium had a falling out. Ruben I, the former prince of Cilicia, managed to unite other principalities and establish the Cilician kingdom in 1080, with Tarsus as its capital. The city remained the capital until 1186.

Today, Tarsus is located in the Turkish province of Mersin.

Sis: The Second Capital of the Cilician Kingdom (1186-1375)

In 1186, Levon II of the Rubenid dynasty moved the capital of the Armenian Cilician kingdom to Sis after rebuilding the city. Sis was also an essential center in the history of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

However, in 1266, the Armenians were defeated at the Battle of Mari by the Mamluks of Egypt. The capital of Sis was ravaged, and many people were taken captive. Sis was later restored and remained the capital until 1375 when the Arab rulers of Egypt captured Cilicia once more.

During the Ottoman Empire, Sis was the main city of the Adana region, with a majority Armenian population. Sadly, the Armenian population of Sis was largely destroyed or expelled during the 1915 genocide.

Presently, Sis is called Kozan and is located in the Turkish province of Adana.

The cities of Tarsus and Sis were the last capitals of the Armenian Cilician kingdom, playing a significant role in the history and culture of the Armenian people. These cities bore witness to the rise and fall of the Armenian Cilician kingdom and the eventual loss of Armenian statehood.

Vigen Avetisyan

Sources:

1. Encyclopedia Britannica. (n.d.). Tarsus. https://www.britannica.com/place/Tarsus
2. The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. (2021, August 10). Saint Paul the Apostle. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Paul-the-Apostle
3. Cilician Armenia. (2021, September 29). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cilician_Armenia
4. Tarsus, Mersin. (2021, September 7). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarsus,_Mersin
5. Ghazarian, J. (2018). The Armenian Kingdom in Cilicia during the Crusades: The Integration of Cilician Armenians with the Latins (1080-1393). Routledge. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/978135189614

Photo by Александр Бакулин