Philippa of Armenia
Encyclopedia
Philippa of Armenia was a daughter of Ruben III of Armenia
and Isabella of Toron. Her maternal grandparents were Humphrey III of Toron and Stephanie of Milly
.
, later wife of Raymond IV of Tripoli
. Her father died in 1186 when Alice was four-years-old and Philippa was only three. He was succeeded by his younger brother of Levon I of Armenia who was initially the 'Regent and Tutor' of his young nieces. Their uncle eventually set them aside and was succeeded by his own descendants.
According to the writings of Sempad the Constable
, on 3 February 1189/1190, Philippa was betrothed to Schahenscah, second son of Tchordouanel, Lord of Sasun and an unnamed sister of Gregory IV the Younger, Armenian Catholicos of Cilicia.
At the same time, Alice was betrothed to Hathum, Lord of Sasun, older brother of Schahenscah. The area of Sasun which the two brothers controlled was relatively significant for the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia
at the time and Levon may have been attempting to secure their loyalty through the betrothals.
The marriages of Alice and Philippa occurred somewhere between their dates of betrothal and May, 1193. In May, 1193, Hathum and Schahenscah were both murdered. The sisters are mentioned by Sempad as their widows. Sempad also recorded contemporary rumors of Levon being behind both assassinations. Since Alice was only eleven-years-old and Philippa ten, the marriages were likely not consummated.
On 31 January 1198/1199, Philippa was betrothed to Oshin of Lampron
, eldest son of Hathum, Lord of Lampron (c. 1145 - 1218). The marriage never occurred but Sempad does not state any particular reason. Oshin may have succeeded his father in 1218. But in 1220, he was already deceased and the Lord of Lampron was his younger brother Constantine.
of the Empire of Nicaea
. Their marriage is recorded in the chronicle of George Acropolites. They had a son:
However in 1216, Theodore had the marriage annulled. Philippa was returned to her uncle Levon and Constantine was disinherited. Although religious reasons were cited the exact causes are not known. "The Lascarids of Nicaea: the Story of an Empire in Exile" (1912 - 1913) by Alice Gardner, reports a theory that Levon may have misrepresented Philippa as one of his own daughters in the marriage negotiations. Meaning that Theodore may have been looking to secure succession rights to the Armenian throne, while Philippa was only a niece of the monarch and not particularly close at succeeding.
When Levon died in May, 1219, he was succeeded by his daughter Zabel. Philippa is not mentioned among his living relatives by Sempad. She had probably predeceased him between 1216 and early 1219.
Ruben III of Armenia
Ruben III , also Roupen III, Rupen III, or Reuben III, was the ninth lord of Armenian Cilicia or “Lord of the Mountains” .Roupen remained always friendly to the Crusaders in spirit...
and Isabella of Toron. Her maternal grandparents were Humphrey III of Toron and Stephanie of Milly
Stephanie of Milly
Stephanie of Milly was Lady of Oultrejordain and an influential figure in the Kingdom of Jerusalem. She was also known as Stephanie de Milly, Etienette de Milly, and Etiennette de Milly...
.
Princess of Armenia
She was a younger sister of Alice of ArmeniaAlice of Armenia
Alice of Armenia was the eldest daughter of Ruben III, Prince of Armenia and his wife Isabella of Toron. She was heiress of Toron as well as a claimant to the throne of Armenia...
, later wife of Raymond IV of Tripoli
Raymond IV of Tripoli
Raymond IV of Tripoli was the count of Tripoli and prince regent of Antioch . He was the son of Bohemond III of Antioch and Orgueilleuse d'Harenc....
. Her father died in 1186 when Alice was four-years-old and Philippa was only three. He was succeeded by his younger brother of Levon I of Armenia who was initially the 'Regent and Tutor' of his young nieces. Their uncle eventually set them aside and was succeeded by his own descendants.
According to the writings of Sempad the Constable
Sempad the Constable
Sempad the Constable was a noble in Cilician Armenia, an older brother of King Hetoum I. He was an important figure in Cilicia, acting as a diplomat, judge, and military officer, holding the title of Constable or Sparapet, supreme commander of the Armenian armed forces...
, on 3 February 1189/1190, Philippa was betrothed to Schahenscah, second son of Tchordouanel, Lord of Sasun and an unnamed sister of Gregory IV the Younger, Armenian Catholicos of Cilicia.
At the same time, Alice was betrothed to Hathum, Lord of Sasun, older brother of Schahenscah. The area of Sasun which the two brothers controlled was relatively significant for the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia
Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia
The Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia , also known as the Cilician Armenia, Kingdom of Cilician Armenia or New Armenia, was an independent principality formed during the High Middle Ages by Armenian refugees fleeing the Seljuk invasion of Armenia...
at the time and Levon may have been attempting to secure their loyalty through the betrothals.
The marriages of Alice and Philippa occurred somewhere between their dates of betrothal and May, 1193. In May, 1193, Hathum and Schahenscah were both murdered. The sisters are mentioned by Sempad as their widows. Sempad also recorded contemporary rumors of Levon being behind both assassinations. Since Alice was only eleven-years-old and Philippa ten, the marriages were likely not consummated.
On 31 January 1198/1199, Philippa was betrothed to Oshin of Lampron
Lampron
Lampron - is a castle near the town of Çamlıyayla in Mersin Province, Turkey. While part of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia in the Middle Ages, the castle was known as Lampron and was the ancestral home of the Armenian Hethumid princes...
, eldest son of Hathum, Lord of Lampron (c. 1145 - 1218). The marriage never occurred but Sempad does not state any particular reason. Oshin may have succeeded his father in 1218. But in 1220, he was already deceased and the Lord of Lampron was his younger brother Constantine.
Byzantine Empress
On 24 November 1214, Philippa married Theodore I LaskarisTheodore I Laskaris
Theodoros I Komnenos Laskaris was emperor of Nicaea .-Family:Theodore Laskaris was born to the Laskaris, a noble but not particularly renowned Byzantine family of Constantinople. He was the son of Manuel Laskaris and wife Ioanna Karatzaina . He had four older brothers: Manuel Laskaris Theodoros...
of the Empire of Nicaea
Empire of Nicaea
The Empire of Nicaea was the largest of the three Byzantine Greek successor states founded by the aristocracy of the Byzantine Empire that fled after Constantinople was occupied by Western European and Venetian forces during the Fourth Crusade...
. Their marriage is recorded in the chronicle of George Acropolites. They had a son:
- Constantine Laskaris (born 1215). Named Duke of Thrakesion in 1249.
However in 1216, Theodore had the marriage annulled. Philippa was returned to her uncle Levon and Constantine was disinherited. Although religious reasons were cited the exact causes are not known. "The Lascarids of Nicaea: the Story of an Empire in Exile" (1912 - 1913) by Alice Gardner, reports a theory that Levon may have misrepresented Philippa as one of his own daughters in the marriage negotiations. Meaning that Theodore may have been looking to secure succession rights to the Armenian throne, while Philippa was only a niece of the monarch and not particularly close at succeeding.
When Levon died in May, 1219, he was succeeded by his daughter Zabel. Philippa is not mentioned among his living relatives by Sempad. She had probably predeceased him between 1216 and early 1219.
External links
- Her listing along with her sister in "Medieval lands" by Charles Cawley. The project "involves extracting and analysing detailed information from primary sources, including contemporary chronicles, cartularies, necrologies and testaments."