Constantine II, King of Armenia

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Constantine's arms, a combination of those of Lusignan, Jerusalem, and Cilicia.
Constantine's arms, a combination of those of Lusignan, Jerusalem, and Cilicia.

Constantine II (also Constantine IV; Armenian: Կոստանդին Բ, Western Armenian transliteration: Gosdantin or Kostantine; died 17 April 1344), born Guy de Lusignan, was elected the first Latin King of Armenian Cilicia of the Lusignan dynasty, ruling from 1342 until his death in 1344.

He was a son of Isabella, daughter of the Leo III of Armenia, and Amalric, a son of Hugh III of Cyprus, and was made Governor of Serres in 1328 and until 1341. When his cousin Leo IV, the last Hethumid monarch of Cilicia, was murdered by the barons, the crown was offered to his younger brother John, who urged Guy to accept it. Guy was reluctant — his mother and two of his brothers had been murdered by the Armenian regent Oshin of Corycos — but he eventually accepted and took the name Constantine.

Guy was killed or murdered in an uprising in Armenia on April 17, 1344 and was succeeded by a distant cousin, Constantine V. He had married twice, firstly in Constantinople ca 1318 or 1318 to Kantakuzene (died ca 1330), without issue, and secondly in 1330-1332, and left two children by his second wife, Theodora Syrgiannaina (died 1347/1349), daughter of Syrgiannes Palaiologos Philanthropenos, the Pinkernes ("Cupbearer") (died 1334) and wife. One of them, Isabella (or Zampea=Maria) de Lusignan (ca or after 1333 – in Cyprus, 1382-1387), Lady of Aradippou, married after February 26, 1349 Manuel Kantakouzenos (ca 1326April 10, 1380), Despot of Morea.

[edit] References

  • Boase, T. S. R. (1978). The Cilician Kingdom of Armenia. Edinburgh: Scottish Academic Press. ISBN 0-7073-0145-9. 

[edit] Notes

Constantine II, King of Armenia
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Levon IV
King of Armenia
1342–1344
Succeeded by
Gosdantin III