The region of Cilicia was first incorporated into Armenia by Tigranes II, but was subsequently lost to the Romans. Later on, Eastern Cilicia was incorporated into the Armenian Kingdom of Commagene. Thereafter, it fell to succesive waves of Romans, Byzantines, and in the 7th century it fell under Arab domination until the 10th century, when the Byzantine Empire recovered the area. Starting in the 9th century, mass migrations of Armenians to central and southern Anatolia (including Cilicia) began to take place. This was partly a result of the Seljuq invasions of Armenia proper and partly a result of Byzantine foreign policy. The Byzantine foreign policy invoved not only subjugating the local Armenian kingdoms, but also populating the south-eastern borders of the empire with a people of known military valor*. However, this policy was disastrous in the long term, as these areas were stripped of their native Armenian elements. The Byzantine troops sent to occupy Armenia suffered defeat in the face of the Seljuq invasions. After the disaster of Manzikert, the Byzantines lost control of much of their eastern territories. In the chaotic period that followed, a Byzantine general of Armenian origin named Philaretus encouraged Armenian princes to settle in his domain between the Euphrates and Cilicia in hopes of establishing an Armenian dynasty. However, his realm began to cruble before his own death. Instead, a prince named Roupen revolted against the murder of Gagik II and established himself in Bardzrberd (High Fortress) in Cilicia, founding an Armenian state that lasted nearly 300 years.
| BARONIAL PERIOD |
|
| ROUPEN I |
|
| GOSDANTIN |
|
| TOROS I |
NO
SPECIMENS |
| LEVON I |
NO SPECIMENS |
| BYZANTINE OCCUPATION |
|
| TOROS II |
NO
SPECIMENS |
| MLEH |
NO
KNOWN COINS |
| ROUPEN II |
|
| LEVON II |
|
ROYAL
PERIOD |
|
| LEVON I |
|
| REGENCY FOR ZABEL |
NO KNOWN
COINS |
| ZABEL AND PHILIP |
NO KNOWN
COINS |
| HETOUM I |
|
| LEVON II |
|
| HETOUM II |
|
| REGENCY OF PRINCE TOROS |
NO KNOWN
COINS |
| SMBAT |
|
| GOSDANTIN I |
|
| LEVON III |
|
| OSHIN |
|
| LEVON IV |
|
| GUY LUSIGNAN or
GOSDANTIN II |
NO SPECIMENS |
| GOSDANTIN III |
|
| LEVON THE USURPER |
|
| GOSDANTIN IV |
|
| LEVON V LUSIGNAN |
|
POST
ROUPENIAN PERIOD |
|
| POST ROUPENIAN |
|
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