The kingdom of Cilicia had its origins in the principality founded by the Rubenid dynasty, an offshoot of the Bagratid family that had ruled Armenia and Georgia. The Rubenids established their power by allying with the Crusaders, who arrived in the region in the late 11th century to liberate the Holy Land from the Muslims.
One of the ways that the Rubenids and their successors, the Hethumids and the Lusignans, secured their relations with the Crusaders was through marital alliances. The Crusader era witnessed numerous marriages between Cilician Armenian royalty and nobility and Crusade leaders, especially from the principalities of Antioch, Tripoli, and Cyprus. These marriages served various political, military, and economic purposes, such as strengthening the defense against the Muslim enemies, expanding the territorial influence, and facilitating the trade and cultural exchange.
Some of the most notable examples of these marital alliances are:
Baldwin of Le Bourg married Morfia, daughter of the wealthy Gabriel of Melitene (Malatya), in 1101. Baldwin was the count of Edessa and later the king of Jerusalem. Morfia brought him a large dowry and the support of the Armenian population in Edessa. She also bore him four children, including Baldwin III, who succeeded his father as king of Jerusalem.
Stephanie, sister of Hetoum I, married Henry I of Cyprus in 1253. Hetoum I was the king of Cilicia and the founder of the Hethumid dynasty. Henry I was the king of Cyprus and Jerusalem. Stephanie brought him the alliance of Cilicia and the Mongols, who were Hetoum’s allies against the Mamluks. She also bore him two children, including Hugh III, who succeeded his father as king of Cyprus and Jerusalem.
Maria, another sister of Hetoum I, married John of Ibelin, count of Jaffa, in 1255. John was a prominent noble and crusader, who had fought against the Hohenstaufen claimants to the throne of Jerusalem. Maria brought him the friendship of Cilicia and the Mongols, as well as a large dowry. She also bore him three children, including Guy, who became the seneschal of Cyprus.
Sibyl, daughter of Hetoum I, married Bohemond VI of Antioch in 1254. Bohemond VI was the prince of Antioch and Tripoli. Sibyl brought him the alliance of Cilicia and the Mongols, who helped him recover Antioch from the Mamluks in 1268. She also bore him three children, including Bohemond VII, who succeeded his father as prince of Antioch and Tripoli.
Euphemia, another daughter of Hetoum I, married Julian, count of Sidon, in 1268. Julian was a crusader lord and a vassal of the king of Jerusalem. Euphemia brought him the support of Cilicia and the Mongols, who aided him in defending Sidon from the Mamluks. She also bore him two children, including Balian, who inherited Sidon and became the constable of Jerusalem.
Maria, a third daughter of Hetoum I, married Guy of Ibelin in 1278. Guy was the son of John of Ibelin and Maria of Cilicia, and the seneschal of Cyprus. Maria brought him the connection to the Cilician royal family and the Mongol allies. She also bore him two children, including Baldwin, who became the bailiff of Cyprus.
Rita, a fourth daughter of Hetoum I, married an Armenian lord of Sarvantikar, whose name is unknown, in 1280. Sarvantikar was a fortress in the Taurus Mountains, near the border of Cilicia and Antioch. Rita brought him the affiliation to the Cilician king and the Mongol allies. She also bore him a son, whose name is also unknown, who became the lord of Sarvantikar.
These are just some of the many examples of the marital alliances between Cilician Armenia and the Crusader states. These alliances had a significant impact on the history and culture of both regions, as they fostered cooperation, communication, and integration. They also created a complex network of kinship and loyalty, which shaped the political and social landscape of the Levant in the Middle Ages.
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