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Cilician Armenia. Hetoum II (first reign 1289-1293)
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Nercessian 398 var., Bedoukian 1611/1612 var.
AE kardez. Sis (now Kozan, Turkey) mint. 4.46 g., 24.65 mm. max., 180°
Obv.: Crowned head of king with two star pendants, facing, + ՀԵԹՈՒՄ ԹԱԳԱՒՈՐ ՀԱՅՈ (= Hetowm Tagawor Hayots = Hetoum King of Armenians).
Rev.: Ornate cross with two bars, + ՇԻՆԵԱԼ Ի ԳԱՂԱԳՆ Ի ՍԻՍ (= Shineal i kaghaks i Sis = Struck in the city of Sis).
Nercessian rarity for type 3R/relatively common (less than 1,000 known)
Hetoum succeeded to the throne in 1289 upon the death of his father, Levon/Leo II (1270-1289). At the time, Armenia was balanced between friendly relations with the Christian Europeans and Byzantine Empire, aggression from the Turkish Sultanate of Rum, a vassal relationship with the Mongol Empire, and incursions from the Mamluks. In 1293, Hetoun abdicated in favor of his brother Toros III (1293-1295) and entered a Franciscan monastery, although he remained active in the politics of the kingdom. In 1295, Toros asked Hetoum to resume the throne to help renew the Mongol alliance against the Mamluks. In 1296, Hetoum and Toros placed Armenia under the regency of their brother Smpad, and traveled to Constantinople for the wedding of their sister to the Byzantine Emperor Michael IX Palaeologus. During their absence Smpad (1296-1298) usurped the throne with the aid of another brother, Gosdantin/Constantine. Hetoum and Toros imprisoned upon their return. Hetoum was partially blinded and Toros was murdered. Gosdantin (1298-1299) then turned against Smpad, usurped the throne for himself, imprisoned Smpad and freed Hetoum. In 1299, Hetoum ousted Gosdantin and again resumed the crown. In 1303 he again abdicated and entered a monastery, passing the crown to Thoros's teenaged son, Levon/Leo III (1303-1307), but retaining the office of Regent. Hetoum and Levon were slaughtered by the Mongols while guests at the Mongol court, and Hetoum’s brother Oshin (1308-1320) assumed the throne.
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