Isabella, Queen of Armenia

Template:Short description Template:Page numbers needed Template:Infobox royalty Isabella (Template:Langx; 27 January 1216/ 25 January 1217 – 23 January 1252), also Isabel or Zabel, was queen regnant of Armenian Cilicia from 1219 until her death in 1252. Under Constantine's regency, Isabella married Philip. Philip's offensive behavior offended the Armenian who had him imprisoned and poisoned. Constantine then had Isabella marry his son Hethum. Isabella died 23 January 1252 and was buried in the monastery of Trazarg.

Early years

Isabella was the only child of King Leo I by his second wife, Sybilla of Cyprus.Template:Sfn She was betrothed to Andrew, but the betrothal did not occur.Template:Sfn

King Leo I died on May, 1219.Template:Sfn At this juncture, Raymond-Roupen, grandson of Roupen III, attempted to claim the throne of Cilicia for himself, but he was defeated, captured, and executed. Isabella was proclaimed queen, under the regency of Adam of Baghras.Template:Sfn After Adam of Baghras was assassinated, Constantine of Baberon was nominated as guardian.Template:Sfn Regent Constantine arranged the marriage between Isabella and Philip in 1222.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn Philip, however, offended the Armenians' sensibilities, and even despoiled the royal palace, sending the royal crown to Antioch. The Armenians had him imprisoned at Sis and later poisoned.Template:Sfn

Wife of Hethum of Barbaron

File:В. Суренянц. Возвращение царицы Запел на престол, 1909.jpg

Queen Zabel’s return to the throne, Vardges Sureniants, 1909

In 1226, Isabella married Hethum, son of Constantine, her regent. The marriage was legalized by Rome in 1237.Template:Sfn There is evidence that Isabella shared a degree of royal power, for we learn from several sources that she co-signed with her husband an official deed transferring to the Knights of the Teutonic Order the strategic castle and town of Haronie.Template:Sfn She was buried in the monastery of Trazarg.

Marriages and children

Isabella married Philip of Antioch, who died in 1226.Template:Sfn

Isabella later married Hethum I, king of Cilician Armenia.Template:Sfn They had:

• EuphemiaTemplate:Sfn (? – 1309), the wife of Julian of Sidon (? – 12 January 1275/ 11 January 1276)Template:Sfn
• Sybilla (? – 1290), the wife of Prince Bohemond VI of Antioch (c. 1237 – May/ 11 July 1275)Template:Sfn
• Rita (? – ?), the wife of Constantine of ServantikarTemplate:Sfn
• Leo II, king of Cilician Armenia ( 24 January 1236/ 23 January 1237 – 6 February 1289)
• Thoros (1244 – 24 August 1266)Template:Sfn
• Isabella (? – c. 1268)
• Marie, who married Guy of Ibelin,Template:Sfn son of Baldwin of Ibelin, Seneschal of Cyprus.

Sources

• Template:Setton-A History of the CrusadesTemplate:Sfn whitelist
• Template:Setton-A History of the Crusades
• Template:Runciman-A History of the Crusades

Template:S-endTemplate:Armenian kingsTemplate:Authority control