Gabriel of Melitene
Encyclopedia
Gabriel of Melitene was the ruler of Melitene (modern Malatya
). Along with Thoros of Edessa
, Gabriel was a former officer of Philaretos Brachamios
. Philaretos had installed Gabriel as the ruler of Melitene. Following the death of Philaretos in 1086 Melitene became completely independent of Byzantine control with the aid of the Danishmends
. Eventually the Danishmends began harassing Melitene. Gabriel appealed to Bohemund I of Antioch
for assistance.
In 1100 Bohemund came to Gabriel's aid along with his cousin Richard of Salerno
and the Armenian Bishops of Marash and Antioch, but they were both captured and the Bishops slain by Malik Ghazi Gumushtekin, the Danishmend Emir
of Sebastea
, in the Battle of Melitene
.
Malik was now constantly raiding Gabriel's territories. Fearing an imminent attack on the city itself, Gabriel asked for help from Baldwin of Boulogne despite concerns that Baldwin might take over Melitene, as he did Edessa
.
Baldwin relieved the siege of Melitene and rescued Bohemund after which Gabriel recognized him as overlord of the city. He married a daughter, of unknown name, of Constantine I, Prince of Armenia. In 1101 Baldwin of Bourcq married their daughter Morphia of Melitene
. Gabriel, who was reputedly very wealthy, gave 50,000 gold
bezant
s as a dowry
. William of Tyre
described Gabriel as Greek by religion, Armenian by race, language and custom. Byzantine seals bearing his name testify him as Gabriel, protonobelissimos and doux of Melitene. The Melitene Armenians initially met Crusaders with happiness but turned to the Danishmends due to Crusaders' lootings and cruelties. Melik Ghazi sieged Melitene in beginning of 1101. The siege was firstly relieved by Baldwin. But Baldwin left only 50 soldiers in Melitene. During the siege, the city suffered from shortages. Gabriel and the Greeks of Melitene used the pretext that the fault lied with the city's Armenians and Syriacs. They took goods from Armenians and Syriacs and killed a certain number of them.
The Melitene Syriacs sent Barsabuni, who was their Metropolitan of Melitene, as an envoy and wanted to surrender the city to the Turks. Gabriel considered this a challenge to his authority and killed Barsabuni and some notables of the city. Consequently, the Melitene Armenians and Syriacs invited Melik Ghazi to their rescue. He besieged the city again and breached on September 18, 1101 after a month-long siege with aid from the city's Christians. Gabriel was tortured and slain. .
Malatya
Malatya ) is a city in southeastern Turkey and the capital of its eponymous province.-Overview:The city site has been occupied for thousands of years. The Assyrians called the city Meliddu. Following Roman expansion into the east, the city was renamed in Latin as Melitene...
). Along with Thoros of Edessa
Thoros of Edessa
Thoros was an Armenian ruler of Edessa at the time of the First Crusade.Thoros was a former officer in the Byzantine Empire and a lieutenant of Philaretos Brachamios. He was Armenian but practised the Greek Orthodox faith...
, Gabriel was a former officer of Philaretos Brachamios
Philaretos Brachamios
Philaretos Brachamios was a distinguished Byzantine general and warlord of Armenian heritage, and for a time was a usurper against emperor Michael VII...
. Philaretos had installed Gabriel as the ruler of Melitene. Following the death of Philaretos in 1086 Melitene became completely independent of Byzantine control with the aid of the Danishmends
Danishmends
The Danishmend dynasty was a Turcoman dynasty that ruled in north-central and eastern Anatolia in the 11th and 12th centuries. The centered originally around Sivas, Tokat, and Niksar in central-northeastern Anatolia, they extended as far west as Ankara and Kastamonu for a time, and as far south as...
. Eventually the Danishmends began harassing Melitene. Gabriel appealed to Bohemund I of Antioch
Bohemund I of Antioch
Bohemond I , Prince of Taranto and Prince of Antioch, was one of the leaders of the First Crusade. The Crusade had no outright military leader, but instead was ruled by a committee of nobles...
for assistance.
In 1100 Bohemund came to Gabriel's aid along with his cousin Richard of Salerno
Richard of Salerno
Richard of Salerno , who is not to be confused with his homonym cousin Richard of Hauteville, was a participant in the First Crusade and regent of the County of Edessa from 1104 to 1108....
and the Armenian Bishops of Marash and Antioch, but they were both captured and the Bishops slain by Malik Ghazi Gumushtekin, the Danishmend Emir
Emir
Emir , meaning "commander", "general", or "prince"; also transliterated as Amir, Aamir or Ameer) is a title of high office, used throughout the Muslim world...
of Sebastea
Sebastea
Sebastea is the Latin name of two ancient cities:*Sebastia, Nablus, West Bank*Sivas, Turkey...
, in the Battle of Melitene
Battle of Melitene
In the Battle of Melitene in 1100, a Crusader force led by Bohemond I of Antioch was defeated by Danishmend Turks commanded by Malik Ghazi Gumushtekin.After acquiring the Principality of Antioch in 1098, Bohemond allied himself with the Armenians of Cilicia...
.
Malik was now constantly raiding Gabriel's territories. Fearing an imminent attack on the city itself, Gabriel asked for help from Baldwin of Boulogne despite concerns that Baldwin might take over Melitene, as he did Edessa
County of Edessa
The County of Edessa was one of the Crusader states in the 12th century, based around Edessa, a city with an ancient history and an early tradition of Christianity....
.
Baldwin relieved the siege of Melitene and rescued Bohemund after which Gabriel recognized him as overlord of the city. He married a daughter, of unknown name, of Constantine I, Prince of Armenia. In 1101 Baldwin of Bourcq married their daughter Morphia of Melitene
Morphia of Melitene
Morphia of Melitene, or Morfia, or Moraphia was the wife of Baldwin II, king of the crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem....
. Gabriel, who was reputedly very wealthy, gave 50,000 gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
bezant
Bezant
Bezant is a medieval term for a gold coin from the Byzantine Empire, which term is derived from the Greek name Βυζάντιον for the relatively minor city which in the 4th c. became the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, renamed Constantinople by the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great...
s as a dowry
Dowry
A dowry is the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings forth to the marriage. It contrasts with bride price, which is paid to the bride's parents, and dower, which is property settled on the bride herself by the groom at the time of marriage. The same culture may simultaneously practice both...
. William of Tyre
William of Tyre
William of Tyre was a medieval prelate and chronicler. As archbishop of Tyre, he is sometimes known as William II to distinguish him from a predecessor, William of Malines...
described Gabriel as Greek by religion, Armenian by race, language and custom. Byzantine seals bearing his name testify him as Gabriel, protonobelissimos and doux of Melitene. The Melitene Armenians initially met Crusaders with happiness but turned to the Danishmends due to Crusaders' lootings and cruelties. Melik Ghazi sieged Melitene in beginning of 1101. The siege was firstly relieved by Baldwin. But Baldwin left only 50 soldiers in Melitene. During the siege, the city suffered from shortages. Gabriel and the Greeks of Melitene used the pretext that the fault lied with the city's Armenians and Syriacs. They took goods from Armenians and Syriacs and killed a certain number of them.
The Melitene Syriacs sent Barsabuni, who was their Metropolitan of Melitene, as an envoy and wanted to surrender the city to the Turks. Gabriel considered this a challenge to his authority and killed Barsabuni and some notables of the city. Consequently, the Melitene Armenians and Syriacs invited Melik Ghazi to their rescue. He besieged the city again and breached on September 18, 1101 after a month-long siege with aid from the city's Christians. Gabriel was tortured and slain. .