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COAT OF ARMS OF CILICIAN ARMENIA. CA. 1334 AD.
FIVE RED CROSSES [FOUR ELEMENTS AROUND THE QUINTESSENTIAL FIFTH]
UPON WHITE FIELD AND FIVE [TWO VERT. ROWS ARRANGED IN 3 AND 2]
GOLDEN FLEUR DE-LYS UPON THE AZURE FIELD.



Hetum I (1226-1269)
Levon III (1269-1289)
Hetum II (1289-1296 & 1299-1301)
Smbat (1296-1298)
Constantine II (1298-1299)
Levon IV (1301-1308)
Oshin (1308-1320)
Levon V (1320-1342)

ROYAL TAKVORIN OF QUEEN ZABEL [ISABELLA] AND KING HETUM I AS THE
DIVINE COUPLE HOLDING THE VERT. POLE CAPPED WITH THE CROSS [TWO
 HALVES UNITE AT THE CENTER... MAKING ONE CIRCLE].

PORTRAIT OF [YOUNG] QUEEN K‛ERAN [KYR ANNE] AND KING LEVON [LEO/LION] III.
MINIATURE MANUSCRIPT BY THE GREAT ILLUMINIST T‛OROS ROSLIN. 1  250.

KING LEVON III SYMBOLICALLY KNEELING IN FRONT OF THE CHRIST CHILD
[WITHIN THE GOLDEN CHALICE/VESSEL OF GOD UPON THE RED SQUARE]
BARON VASAK, THE CROWNER OF THE MONARCH. MADE FOR BARON
STEPHEN OF VAHKA. CA. 1270.
ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT FROM THE GOSPEL OF BARON VASAK.
THE BRITISH LIBRARY, MS NO. Or. 13993, f° 9v.


CHRIST AND THE VIRGIN MOTHER SAFEGUARD THE BARON VASAK AND HIS TWO
SONS. MADE FOR BARON  STEPHEN OF VAHKA. CA. 1270.
ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT FROM THE GOSPEL OF BARON VASAK.
THE MONASTERY OF ST. JAMES, ARMENIAN QUARTER, JERUSALEM,
MS NO. 2568.

KING HET‛UM I [1226-1269/70] SILVER DRAM [TRAM]. THE KING ON HORSEBACK
HOLDING THE FLEUR-DE-LYS STAFF SOLAR EQUAL ARMED CROSS AND
LUNAR CRESCENT IN THE FIELDS.

KING HET‘UM I [IN HIS LATER YEARS] IN THE JUDGE'S ROBES
AS THE DEFENDER OF THE LAW OF THE LAND. THE CODEX OF THE COUNTRY
WAS ENSHRINED IN SUCH JURISPRUDENCE BOOKS LIKE THE DATASTANAGIRK‘
[LIT. BOOK OF THE LAW] BY CONSTABLE SMBAT.

THE AMBER STAFF OF KING HET‘UM I [HAYTON, REIGNED 1226-1269] WHICH
HE DONATED TO THE TREASURY OF THE ARMENIAN PATRIARCHATE OF JERUSALEM
DURING HIS STAY AT THE COVENANT OF ST. JAMES OF
THE ARMENIAN QUARTER OF JERUSALEM.

PRINCE HET‘UM II AS A YOUNG BOY CA. 1267 IN THE
ROYAL ARMENIAN GARB.

"...One of the most beautiful and sumptuous manuscripts of the late thirteenth century is the Gospel of Queen Keran (Jerusalem, Armenian Patriarchate, MS No. 2563). It was copied for the Queen at Sis, the capital of Cilician Kingdom, in 1272 by famous scribe Avetis. This is perhaps the most elegant manuscript of the Medieval Armenia. Unfortunately the name of the painter is not preserved in the colophons. May be it is Constantine, one of the best painters of that time. Among the canon tables and richly decorated headpieces, thirteen full-page miniatures illustrating the main events in the life of Christ and a hundred and three marginal miniatures, the portrait of royal family is the most remarkable (folio 380). This miniature can be regarded as the apogee of the medieval Armenian portrait illumination.

The Queen Keran and her husband, King Levon III (1236-1289) are represented here together with their five children - three sons and two daughters - kneeling piously in front of a Deisis, which is the dominant element in the miniature. At the top of the picture Christ enthroned in a heavenly spheres, is flanked by two merciful mediators, the Virgin and St. John the Baptist, who are intercessing for members of family soliciting divine indulgence. The divine protection descents, from the heavenly sphere in the form of seven golden rays directed at the royal family.

Next to King Levon III are represented prince Hetum (future King Hetum II, 1289-1307), princes Toros (+ 1296) and Ruben, princesses Fimi and Sibile I.

The King and Queen are in full court dress: a tunic decorated with bands embroidered with gold and precious stones and a red mantle lined with vair. The tunics with dangling sleeves worn by the young princes show the variety of luxurious cloths used for the garments of the nobility: fine gold chains are attached to the princess's diadems. This miniature is a document of great historical importance, giving a comprehension about the fashions of the Cilician Armenian court..."

A PAGE FROM THE BEAUTIFULLY ILLUMINATED [GILDED] MANUSCRIPT FROM
THE MARSHAL OSHIN GOSPELS FROM THE CAPITAL SIS. ARCHBISHOP YOVHANNĒS
[JOHN] STANDING WITH MARSHAL OSHIN AND PRINCES HET'UM [HAYTON] AND CONSTANTINE
KNEELING UNDER THE PROTECTIVE MANTEL OF ENTHRONED VIRGIN OF MERCY
[MARYA/MARA] AND THE CHRIST CHILD. THE CILICIAN ILLUMINATION SCHOOL
OF HROMKLA [THE HOLY SEE OF THE MOTHER CHURCH BETWEEN 1151-1441]
UNDER THE BRILLIANT ARMENIAN PAINTER T‛OROS ROSLIN PRODUCED AND
INSPIRED SOME OF THE MOST STUNNING ART OF THE ERA THAT ENCHANTS
US TO THIS VERY DAY.

HISTORIAN LORD HAYTON OF CORYCUS [HET‛UM LORD OF KORYKOS,
NEPHEW OF KING HET‛UM I] IN 1307 GIVING A COPY OF HIS
MAGNUM OPUS LA FLOIR DES ESTOIRES D'ORIENT [IN LATIN
FLOS HISTORIARUM TERRE ORIENTIS - FLOWERS OF THE HISTORIES OF
THE EAST] TO POPE CLEMENT V [HAYTON WAS IN EXILE IN CYPRUS WHERE HE BECAME
A CONFRATER OF THE PRAEMONSTRATENSIAN ORDER AND LATER IN FRANCE
UNTIL HIS RETURN TO CILICIAN ARMENIA IN 1307 AND ASSUMING THE DUTIES OF THE HIGH
CONSTABLE OF THE KINGDOM AFTER THE DEATH OF HET‛UM II. HIS SON OSHIN OF
CORYCUS BECAME THE MARSHAL OF THE KINGDOM IN 1320].
 MINIATURE FROM HISTOIRES DES TARTARES BY THE NOTED HISTORIAN HAYTON.
HIS WORKS WERE WIDELY PUBLISHED IN MIDDLE AGES COMPARABLE
TO THE WORKS OF OTHER TRAVELERS LIKE MARCO POLO AND
ODORIC OF PORDENONE.

KING HET‛UM I [SEATED] IN 1254 IN THE MONGOL COURT OF KARAKORUM
RECEIVING THE HOMAGE OF THE MONGOLS. KING HET‛UM PERSONALLY MADE THE STATE
VISIT AND SEALED THE ARMENO-MONGOL ALLIANCE. MINIATURE FROM HISTOIRES
DES TARTARES BY HISTORIAN HAYTON OF CORYCUS. 1307.

MAY 1291, MAMLUKS SACK AND TAKE ACRE. A CATASTROPHIC LOSS FOR CRUSADER
FORCES. GUILLARD DE CLERMONT HEROICALLY DEFENDED THE CITY OF ACRE THAT
WAS TAKEN AFTER A NEARLY TWO MONTH SIEGE [FROM APRIL 5 TO MAY 28, 1291]
OF SOME 160,000 MAMLUKS OF EGYPTIAN SULTAN
EL-ASRAD KHALIL. HISTORIC PAINTING BY DOMINIQUE-LOUIS PAPETY.

VATICAN FRESCO OF KING HET‛UM AS A FRANCISCAN
BROTHER IOANAES [YOVHANNĒS/IAN/JOHN].

THE SEAL OF CATHOLICOS CONSTANTINE II OF KATOUK [1286-1289].
LATER ON BECAUSE OF ECCLESIASTICAL DISPUTES, THE CATHOLICOS
WAS BRIEFLY IMPRISONED AND LATER RELEASED AND APPOINTED AS
THE PATRIARCH OF THE MONASTERY OF SKEVRA - WHERE IN 1293 HE
COMMISSIONED THE RELIQUARY OF SKEVRA, WHICH INCLUDED
RELICS OF CHURCH FATHERS. THE ARTIFACT INCLUDED A POEM
LAMENTING THE SIEGE OF HROMKLA WHICH WAS BRIEFLY CAPTURED
BY THE MAMLUKS IN 1292. THE RELIC [NOW IN THE HERMITAGE MUSEUM IN
ST. PETERSBURG] INCLUDES KING HET‛UM II IN PRAYER.

THE SIGNATURE OF CONSTABLE SMBAT THE BROTHER OF KING HET‛UM I.

SOME OF THE [DRAWINGS] VARIANTS OF THE COINS MINTED UNDER KING HET‛UM II.
THE WRAP AROUND INSCRIPTION ON THE OBVERSE AND REVERSE OF COINS READS:
HET‛UM KING OF ARMENIA - AND - MINTED IN THE CITY OF SIS, RESPECTIVELY.

THE GOLDEN [FIVE] CROSS ON THE OBVERSE CASE OF THE BARJRBERD GOSPEL.
1248, HROMKLA [MADE FOR THE SILVER BINDING SIX YEARS LATER IN 1254].

XIIITH CENTURY CILICIAN DRINKING VESSEL MADE FROM A SEASHELL.
SEASHELL AND CHASED, GILDED AND NIELLOED SILVER.

THE ITEM WAS FOUND IN BERDNIANSK HOARD IN THE TAURIDA PROVINCE
OF CRIMEA IN 1892 CONNOTING THE WIDE TRADING EXCHANGE
[ESPECIALLY MERCHANT MARINE] THAT EXISTED BETWEEN
CILICIAN ARMENIA AND MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD. THE SILVER
FESTOON-SHAPED HANDLE BEARS A RELIEF DEPICTION OF A PREDATOR
WITH THE MANE OF A LION AND PAWS OF A SNOW LEOPARD.
THE SILVER MEDALLION IN THE CENTER DEPICTS A RAM AND
AROUND THE EDGE THE INSCRIPTION IN ARMENIAN ŠAHUK, SERVANT OF GOD.



ARMENO-MONGOL FORCES CHASE THE REMNANTS OF THE MAMLUK INVADERS
BACK TO EGYPT AFTER THE VICTORY AT THE BATTLE OF HOMS IN 1299.
MINIATURE FROM HISTOIRES DES TARTARES BY HISTORIAN HAYTON OF
CORYCUS  [HET‛UM OF KORYKOS]. 1307


IN THE FIRST BATTLE OF HOMS IN 1260 THE COMBINED ARMENO-MONGOL FORCES
CRUSHED THE MAMLUKS AND PUT AN END TO THE AYUBBID SULTANATE OF ALEPPO.
EARLIER THE MAMLUKS WERE ABLE TO SCORE A VICTORY AT THE BATTLE OF
AIN JALUT. KHAN HULAGU WAS IN A BITTER BATTLE WITH HIS COUSIN BERKE
 FOR COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE VAST EMPIRE OF THE GOLDEN HORDE SO
HULAGU ONLY SENT A SMALL GARRISON OF 6,000 MEN AS A RELIEF FORCE
TO THE ARMENIAN ARMY. THE SECOND BATTLE OF HOMS TOOK PLACE IN
1281 [WHICH THE ABOVE MANUSCRIPT PAINTING DEPICTS] WHERE
THE MAMLUKS WERE ABLE TO WIN ANOTHER VICTORY.
THE ARMENIAN FORCES UNDER LEVON III - FIGHTING WITH ALLIED
MONGOLS - ROUTED THE MAMLUK LEFT FLANK BUT THE MONGOLS
UNDER MÖNGKE TEMUR WERE NOT ABLE TO HOLD THE CENTER.
TEMUR WAS WOUNDED AND FLED ALONG WITH HIS REMAINING FORCES.
THE THIRD BATTLE OF HOMS [ACTUALLY FEW MILES NORTH OF IT AT
WADI AL-KHAZANDAR] TOOK PLACE ON DECEMBER 25, 1299 WHERE THE COMBINED
ARMENO-MONGOL FORCES CRUSHED THE MAMLUKS AND CHASED THE REMNANTS
BACK TO EGYPT.


KING HET‛UM [HAYTON] II INDUCTED INTO THE FRANCISCAN ORDER AFTER HIS
ABDICATION. ILLUMINATION FROM HISTOIRES DES TARTARES  BY
HISTORIAN HAYTON OF CORYCUS. 1307.

SILVER TAKVORINS OF KING OSHIN [1308-1320]. OBVERSE: THE KING ON HORSEBACK,
REVERSE: LION WALKING RIGHT WITH CROSS STAFF HELD IN THE FOREPAW.

ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT OF THE PENTECOST FROM THE
GOSPEL OF CONSTABLE SMBAT THE MATENADARAN, YEREVAN.

QUEEN KER‛ANE [KYR ANNE] (1245-1285) IN THE ROYAL GARB.

KING LEVON III (1236-1307) IN THE ROYAL GARB.

TAKVORIN OF KING LEVON III (1269-1289) ON HORSEBACK WITH
THE FLEUR-DE-LYS SCEPTER IN HIS RIGHT HAND

ILLUMINATED PAGE FROM THE GOSPEL OF ARCHBISHOP JOHN ALSO KNOWN
AS THE GOSPEL OF AKNER. 1289. THE MATENADARAN, YEREVAN.

OBVERSE OF THE GOLDEN COIN OF KING CONSTANTINE II (1298-1299).
THE CROWNED [SUN] KING ON HORSEBACK WITH DRAWN SWORD
HELD IN HIS RIGHT HAND OF POWER. ON DISPLAY IN THE MUSEUM
OF THE MEKHITARIST FATHERS IN ISLAND OF SAN LAZZARO, VENICE.

XIXTH CENTURY ENGRAVING OF THE RUINS OF THE CITY [MAINLAND] AND
THE CASTLE [ISLAND] OF CORYCUS.


XIXTH CENTURY ENGRAVING OF THE RUINS OF SPITAK BERD [WHITE CASTLE].

XIXTH CENTURY ENGRAVING OF NUR MOUNTAINS.

XIXTH CENTURY ENGRAVING OF THE RUINS OF A CATHEDRAL IN ASPENDOS.

KING HET‛UM II AS THE AMBASSADOR OF ARMENIA 1303 IN THE COURT OF MONGOL
ILKHAN GHÂZÂN. SCENE DEPICTING THE AGREEMENT TO FIGHT
THE EMIR OF DAMASCUS AND THE TURCOMAN [KARAMANS AND THE SULTANATE OF
RUM OR ICONIUM] INCURSIONS INTO CILICIA. ILLUMINATION FROM
HISTOIRES DES TARTARES  BY HISTORIAN HAYTON OF CORYCUS. 1307.

ARMENIAN KNIGHTS CHASE THE MAMLUK REMNANTS FROM ARMENIA -
- DETAILED ACCOUNT AND MINIATURE PAINTING FROM
LIBER SECRETORVM FEDILVM CRVCIS (1321) WRITTEN BY
VENETIAN NOBLEMAN MARINO SANUTO, WHO PRESENTED HIS TESTIMONIAL
WORK TO POPE JOHN XXII AFTER HIS EXTENSIVE STAY IN CILICIA.

MXIT‘AR GOŠ [1130-1213]. WROTE THE CODEX OF THE LAND
 - BOOK OF THE LAW - GIRK‘ DATASTANAC‘. GOŠ AMONGST
COUNTLESS PROJECTS THROUGHOUT ARMENIA SET UP
THE NOR GETIK MONASTERY AND LEARNING CENTER THAT
LATER CAME TO BE KNOWN AS GOŠAVANK‘ OR MONASTERY OF GOŠ.

GIRK‘ DATASTANAC‘ [BOOK OF THE LAW -- SURVIVING COPY FROM 1335].
BY MXIT‘AR GOŠ. THIS PARTICULAR COPY MADE BY SCRIBE GRIGOR YEREZ.
JUDICIAL HANDBOOK USED THROUGHOUT CILICIAN COURTS.
MATENADARAN MS NO. 2776. CONSTABLE SMBAT WOULD BE THE ONE WHO
WOULD CODIFY THE CIVIL AND CANON LAWS INTO THE CODEX THAT WE
KNOWN TODAY AS DATASTANAGIRK‘.
 

CONSTABLE SMBAT (1206-1276). THE GUARDIAN OF THE ARMENIAN KINGDOM.
OUTSTANDING MILITARY COMMANDER, STATESMAN, DIPLOMAT, LAWMAKER AND
CONTEMPORARY HISTORIAN OF HIS ERA. ELDER BROTHER OF KING HET‛UM I - SON
OF BARON CONSTANTINE AND TAMA VICI [SISTER OF CATHOLICOS NERSES OF LAMBRON].
CODIFIED THE WORKS OF MXIT‘AR GOŠ INTO THE DATASTANAGIRK THAT WAS USED
AS THE ARMENIAN LAW CODE UNTIL THE XVIIITH CENTURY IN CILICIAN ARMENIA,
GREATER ARMENIA AND ARMENIAN COMMUNITIES IN EUROPE.

XIVTH CENTURY COPY OF THE FEBRUARY 7, 1248, LETTER OF CONSTABLE SMBAT
TO HENRY I OF CYPRUS AND JEAN D'IBELIN, ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF
THE ARMENO-MONGOL ALLIANCE AGAINST THE SARACENS. THE LETTER WAS
ALSO SHOWN TO LOUIS IX OF FRANCE WHO WAS IN CYPRUS.

A MANUSCRIPT WITH MARGINAL NOTES FROM A BOOK ON CARETAKING OF
HORSES. THIS VALUABLE MANUAL [CONSISTING OF A TOTAL OF 184 PAGES]
ON HORSE MEDICINE AND HYGIENE WAS COMPLETED BETWEEN 1295-1298 IN
CILICIAN ARMENIA. THE EXPERTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF VIENNA WHO
TRANSLATED THE WORK [A TEAM HEADED BY ARMENOLOGIST DR. JASMINE DUM-
TRAGUT WHO PUBLISHED HER KILIKISCHE HEILKUNST FÜR PFERDE - DAS
VERMÄCHTNIS DER ARMENIER -OR - THE CILICIAN ART OF HEALING HORSES -
THE ARMENIAN  LEGACY] INTO GERMAN WERE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT
A WIDE ARRAY OF HERBAL MEDICINE THAT WAS USED TO HEAL BOTH
HORSES [AND OTHER DOMESTICATED ANIMALS] AND HUMANS. THE
BALMS WERE MADE FROM HERBS COLLECTED THROUGHOUT VARIOUS
PARTS OF ARMENIAN HIGHLAND. THE FIRST CHAPTERS OF THE MANUALS
INCLUDE TECHNIQUES OF BREEDING OF VARIOUS TYPES OF HORSES,
INCLUDING DETAILED EXPLANATION ON TRAINING AND EVERYDAY
CARE OF HORSES.

THE FINE TRADITION OF HORSES AND ARMENIAN HORSEMEN EXTENDED FROM
TIME IMMEMORIAL TO THE MIDDLE AGES AND EVEN SURVIVED INTO OUR OWN ERA.

A SECTION FROM THE 1339 PORTOLAN [NAVIGATION MAP] BY MALLORCAN
ANGELINO DULCERT WITH CILICIAN ARMENIA MARKED WITH THE RED LION UPON
THE GOLDEN BANNER [THE FLAG OF CILICIAN ARMENIA]

DETAIL [CLOSE UP] OF THE PORTOLAN OF DULCERT WITH CILICIAN ARMENIA
MARKED AS 'ERMINIA MINOR' CILICIAN ARMENIA WAS CALLED LITTLE ARMENIA
AND ALSO LESSER ARMENIA BY EUROPEAN HISTORIANS AND CARTOGRAPHERS.
THE NAVIGATIONAL LINES [FORMING VARIOUS GEOMETRIC SHAPES] WERE DESIGNED
FOR THE NAVIGATOR TO SAIL THE SHIP THROUGH THE SEAS INTO THE SAFETY OF
THE COUNTLESS HARBORS AND PORTS THAT COVERED THE CHART.



A CATALAN PORTOLAN ATTRIBUTED TO THE PROLIFIC CARTOGRAPHER
PETRUS ROSELLI [THUS IN ALL PROBABILITY DATING TO THE SECOND HALF OF
THE XVTH CENTURY] POINTING TO CILICIA AND THE CAPITAL SIS.

KING LEVON V [1309-1341] AS THE JUST RULER OF HIS LAND. BY RENOWNED ARMENIAN
MANUSCRIPT ILLUMINATOR SARGIS PITSAK [COMPLETED THE ABOVE WORK IN 1331].
 THE KING IS SEATED IN THE LOTUS POSITION WITH HAND MUDRAS AND
MOST INTERESTINGLY [SEE THE DETAIL IMMEDIATELY BELOW] THE ROYAL
GARB DEPICTS THE INTERWOVEN KUNDALINI RISING UP FROM THE BASE
CHAKRA [IN THE FORM OF A STYLIZED EYE/WINGED DISK] TO THE CROWN CHAKRA.
THE BLUISH HALO IN THE FORM OF THE RISEN SUN IS FUSED WITH THE GOLDEN
CORONET [CENTER IN THE FORM OF FLEUR-DE-LYS AND RIGHT AND LEFT POINTING
IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS]. THE THRONE IS REPRESENTED BY THE TWIN PILLARS
THAT ARE SUPPORTING THE KING. THE WORDS RIGHTEOUS  JUDGE IS IN A
RED BORDER MATCHED WITH THE RED CAPE OF THE KING. THE BLUE AND WHITE
GARB IS ADORNED WITH VEGETATIVE [FERTILITY] AND SUNBURST SYMBOLS.
NOTE THE HAND OF GOD WITH THREE EXTENDED AND TWO FOLDED FINGERS.

DETAIL - RECONSTRUCTION - FROM THE ABOVE ORIGINAL ILLUMINATED PORTRAIT.

COIN OF SMBAT I [1296-98]. OBVERSE: KING SEATED ON A THRONE ORNAMENTED
WITH LION HEADS, FEET RESTING ON A FOOTSTOOL, WEARING A CROWN AND
A ROYAL MANTEL, HOLDING A CROSS IN THE LEFT HAND AND FLEUR-DE-LIS
IN THE RIGHT.

COIN OF SMBAT I [1296-98]. REVERSE: TWO LIONS, RAMPANT, REGARDANT,
WITH THE PATRIARCHAL [DOUBLE] CROSS IN BETWEEN.

ENGRAVING OF THE RUINS OF THE CASTLE OF LAMBRON. THE CASTLE WAS
THE CENTER AND ONE OF IMPORTANT STRONGHOLDS OF HET‛UMID PRINCES.
LETTER OF POPE CLEMENT V TO THE INFAMOUS PHILIP THE FAIR NOTING THAT
HET‛UMIDS AND LUSIGNANS ARE RIGHTFUL HOLDERS OF POSSESSIONS IN
FRANCE [VILLE DE LUSIGNAN LANDS IN POITIERS AND SURROUNDING CANTOS]
AND ARMENIA [AMAURY LUSIGNAN OF TYRE], INCLUDING THE RENOWNED
CILICIAN PORT OF KORYKOS [CURC].

T A G A V O R A K A N   C O I N   A N D   S I G I L   O F   H E T U M   I
 

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