Isabella (; 27 January 1216/ 25 January 1217 – 23 January 1252), also Isabel or Zabel, was

queen regnant A queen regnant (: queens regnant) is a female monarch, equivalent in rank, title and position to a king. She reigns ''suo jure'' (in her own right) over a realm known as a kingdom; as opposed to a queen consort, who is married to a reigning ...

of Armenian Cilicia from 1219 until her death in 1252. Under Constantine's regency, Isabella married

Philip Philip, also Phillip, is a male name derived from the Macedonian Old Koine language, Greek (''Philippos'', lit. "horse-loving" or "fond of horses"), from a compound of (''philos'', "dear", "loved", "loving") and (''hippos'', "horse"). Prominen ...

. 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. She was betrothed to

Andrew Andrew is the English form of the given name, common in many countries. The word is derived from the , ''Andreas'', itself related to ''aner/andros'', "man" (as opposed to "woman"), thus meaning "manly" and, as consequence, "brave", "strong", "c ...

, but the betrothal did not occur. King Leo I died on May, 1219. 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. After Adam of Baghras was assassinated, Constantine of Baberon was nominated as guardian. Regent Constantine arranged the marriage between Isabella and Philip in 1222. Philip, however, offended the

Armenians Armenians (, ) are an ethnic group indigenous to the Armenian highlands of West Asia.Robert Hewsen, Hewsen, Robert H. "The Geography of Armenia" in ''The Armenian People From Ancient to Modern Times Volume I: The Dynastic Periods: From Antiq ...

' sensibilities, and even despoiled the royal palace, sending the royal crown to

Antioch Antioch on the Orontes (; , ) "Antioch on Daphne"; or "Antioch the Great"; ; ; ; ; ; ; . was a Hellenistic Greek city founded by Seleucus I Nicator in 300 BC. One of the most important Greek cities of the Hellenistic period, it served as ...

. The Armenians had him imprisoned at Sis and later poisoned.

Wife of Hethum of Barbaron

In 1226, Isabella married Hethum, son of Constantine, her regent. The marriage was legalized by Rome in 1237. 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 Teutonic Order is a religious order (Catholic), Catholic religious institution founded as a military order (religious society), military society in Acre, Israel, Acre, Kingdom of Jerusalem. The Order of Brothers of the German House of Sa ...

the strategic castle and town of ''Haronie''. She was buried in the monastery of Trazarg.

Marriages and children

Isabella married Philip of Antioch, who died in 1226. Isabella later married Hethum I, king of Cilician Armenia. They had: *Euphemia (? – 1309), the wife of Julian of Sidon (? – 12 January 1275/ 11 January 1276) * Sybilla (? – 1290), the wife of Prince Bohemond VI of Antioch (c. 1237 – May/ 11 July 1275) *Rita (? – ?), the wife of Constantine of Servantikar * Leo II, king of Cilician Armenia ( 24 January 1236/ 23 January 1237 – 6 February 1289) *Thoros (1244 – 24 August 1266) *Isabella (? – c. 1268) *Marie, who married Guy of Ibelin, son of Baldwin of Ibelin, Seneschal of Cyprus.

References

Sources

* * * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Isabella Of Armenia, Queen 1210s births Year of birth uncertain 1252 deaths Armenian people of Cypriot descent Queens regnant in Asia Hethumid dynasty 13th-century queens regnant Monarchs of the Rubenid dynasty Armenian princesses 13th-century Armenian people 13th-century Armenian women 13th-century rulers of Armenian Cilicia Medieval child monarchs