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Wikipedia / Thoros II

Thoros II (; died 6 February 1169), also known as Thoros the Great, was the sixth lord of Armenian Cilicia from the Rubenid dynasty from 1144/1145 until 1169.

Thoros (together with his father, Leo I and his brother, Roupen) was kidnapped in 1137 by the Byzantine Emperor John II Comnenus during his campaign against Cilicia and the Principality of Antioch. All of Cilicia remained under Byzantine rule for eight years.

Whatever the conditions in which Thoros entered Cilicia, he found it occupied by many Greek garrisons.

Early life

Thoros was the second son of Leo I, lord of Armenian Cilicia.

In 1136, Leo I (Thoros's father) was arrested by Baldwin of Marash. After two months of confinement, Leo I obtained his liberty by consenting to harsh terms.

Leo I took refuge in the Taurus Mountains, but at last found the situation hopeless, and surrendered himself to the conqueror; Thoros was kidnapped with his father and his youngest brother, Roupen. They were dragged away to Constantinople, where Leo I died in imprisonment in 1141. Roupen, after being blinded, was assassinated by the Greeks.

Lord of Armenian Cilicia

The liberation of Armenian Cilicia

The first Byzantine attack against Cilicia

Wars with the Seljuks and Antioch

Other view is that after the battle Raynald was forced to return home, covered with humiliation; and later on, Thoros voluntarily surrendered to the brethren the fortresses in question, and the Knights in turn took oath "to assist the Armenians on all occasions where they needed help."

The Armenians attacked the few remaining Byzantine fortresses in Cilicia.

The sack of Cyprus

Last years

After his abdication, he became a monk.

He died in 1169. He was buried in the monastery of Drazark.

Marriages and children

c. 1149 An unnamed daughter of Simon of Raban (or, according to other views, Isabelle, daughter of Count Joscelin II of Edessa)

c. 1164 An unnamed daughter of the future regent Thomas

Real-time strategy video game Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition contains a five-scenario campaign centered around Thoros II and his rule of Cilician Armenia.

Footnotes

Sources

  • Edwards, Robert W.: The Fortifications of Armenian Cilicia, Dumbarton Oaks Studies XXIII, Dumbarton Oaks: Trustees for Harvard University, 1987, Washington, D.C.;

  • Ghazarian, Jacob G.: The Armenian Kingdom in Cilicia during the Crusades: The Integration of Cilician Armenians with the Latins (1080–1393); RoutledgeCurzon (Taylor & Francis Group), 2000, Abingdon;