In 1303, while still a minor, he was crowned King of Armenia upon the retirement of his uncle Hethum II, who became Regent. Cilician Armenia at the time was in a volatile situation, maintaining a fragile relationship as a vassal state of the Mongol Empire, while defending from attacks by the Muslim Mamluks from the south. The throne of Armenia had changed hands multiple times during Leo's brief lifetime, being held variously by his uncle Hethum II in 1295, passed peacefully to his father Thoros III in 1296, then usurped by another uncle Sempad, who was usurped by his brother Constantine III of Armenia, who himself was deposed by his brother Hethum II in 1299. Thoros III having been killed in 1298, Hethum then passed the crown to Thoros's son, Leo, in 1303.
In 1305, Hethum and Leo led the Armenian army to defeat a Mamluk raiding force at Bagras.
On November 17, 1307, Leo and Hethum were murdered with their retinue at a banquet while visiting the Mongol general Bilarghu at Anazarbus. Bilarghu, a Mongol who had converted to Islam, had sought to build a mosque in the capital city of Sis, but Hethum had blocked the move as he wanted Armenia to be a completely Christian kingdom and complained to the leader of the Mongol Ilkhanate, Oljeitu. Bilarghu invited Hethum, Leo, and many other important Armenian nobles to a banquet at the castle of Anazarbus, presumably for discussions, but then his forces suddenly attacked and massacred the Armenians while they were having their meals and all of the Armenian nobles were killed along with Leo and his uncle Hethum II. Bilarghu was later executed by the Mongol ilkhan Oljeitu for his actions.
After the murder of Hethum II and King Leo at the banquet, Leo was succeeded as king by another of his uncles, Oshin as Leo had no heirs when he was killed since he was too young.
Stewart, Angus (2005), "The Assassination of King Het'um II: The Conversion of The Ilkhans and the Armenians", Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, 15: 45–61, doi:10.1017/S1356186304004687, hdl:10023/1563
Ghazarian, Jacob G (2000). The Armenian Kingdom in Cilicia during the Crusades: The Integration of Cilician Armenians with the Latins (1080–1393). Abingdon: RoutledgeCurzon (Taylor & Francis Group). ISBN0-7007-1418-9.
armenia, another, armenian, monarch, occasionally, referred, king, armenia, leon, armenian, Լեւոն, romanized, levon, occasionally, numbered, 1289, 1307, young, king, armenian, kingdom, cilicia, ruling, from, 1303, 1305, 1307, along, with, uncle, hethum, member. For another Armenian monarch occasionally referred to as Leo III see Leo II King of Armenia Leo III or Leon III Armenian Լեւոն Գ romanized Levon III occasionally numbered Leo IV 1289 1307 was a young king of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia ruling from 1303 or 1305 to 1307 along with his uncle Hethum II A member of the House of Lampron he was the son of Thoros III of Armenia and Margaret of Lusignan who was the daughter of King Hugh III of Cyprus Leo IIIKing of the Armenian Kingdom of CiliciaReign1303 or 1305 to 1307PredecessorHethum IISuccessorOshinRegentHethum IIBorn1289DiedNovember 17 1307 1307 11 17 aged 17 18 AnazarbusSpouseAgnes Marie de LusignanFatherThoros IIIMotherMargaret of Lusignan In 1303 while still a minor he was crowned King of Armenia upon the retirement of his uncle Hethum II who became Regent Cilician Armenia at the time was in a volatile situation maintaining a fragile relationship as a vassal state of the Mongol Empire while defending from attacks by the Muslim Mamluks from the south The throne of Armenia had changed hands multiple times during Leo s brief lifetime being held variously by his uncle Hethum II in 1295 passed peacefully to his father Thoros III in 1296 then usurped by another uncle Sempad who was usurped by his brother Constantine III of Armenia who himself was deposed by his brother Hethum II in 1299 Thoros III having been killed in 1298 Hethum then passed the crown to Thoros s son Leo in 1303 In 1305 Hethum and Leo led the Armenian army to defeat a Mamluk raiding force at Bagras On November 17 1307 Leo and Hethum were murdered with their retinue at a banquet while visiting the Mongol general Bilarghu at Anazarbus Bilarghu a Mongol who had converted to Islam had sought to build a mosque in the capital city of Sis but Hethum had blocked the move as he wanted Armenia to be a completely Christian kingdom and complained to the leader of the Mongol Ilkhanate Oljeitu Bilarghu invited Hethum Leo and many other important Armenian nobles to a banquet at the castle of Anazarbus presumably for discussions but then his forces suddenly attacked and massacred the Armenians while they were having their meals and all of the Armenian nobles were killed along with Leo and his uncle Hethum II Bilarghu was later executed by the Mongol ilkhan Oljeitu for his actions After the murder of Hethum II and King Leo at the banquet Leo was succeeded as king by another of his uncles Oshin as Leo had no heirs when he was killed since he was too young Family editHe was married to his cousin Agnes Marie de Lusignan died 1309 daughter of Princess Isabella of Armenia and Amalric de Lusignan without issue References editStewart Angus 2005 The Assassination of King Het um II The Conversion of The Ilkhans and the Armenians Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society 15 45 61 doi 10 1017 S1356186304004687 hdl 10023 1563 Ghazarian Jacob G 2000 The Armenian Kingdom in Cilicia during the Crusades The Integration of Cilician Armenians with the Latins 1080 1393 Abingdon RoutledgeCurzon Taylor amp Francis Group ISBN 0 7007 1418 9 Leo III of ArmeniaHouse of Lambron Regnal titles Preceded byHethum II King of Armenia1303 1307 Succeeded byOshin Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Leo III of Armenia amp oldid 1212472669, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
