Isabella of Armenia

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Isabella
Queen regnant of Armenia
Queen Zabel with Hetoum I on a coin.
Coin showing Queen Zabel with her husband Hetoum I
Predecessor Levon I
Successor Hetoum I
Dynasty Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia
For other uses, see Isabella of Armenia (disambiguation).

Isabella or Zabel (Armenian: Զապել; died c. 1252) ruled the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia as queen from 1219–1252. She was the daughter of Levon I of Armenia (Prince Leo II) and Sybilla of Lusignan (daughter of Amalric I of Cyprus and of Isabella I of Jerusalem). Leo named Isabella as his heir, despite the existence of his grandson (the short-living John of Brienne, son of his eldest daughter Stephanie) and Raymond-Rupen (grandson of Rupen III of Armenia).[1]

She was married twice. Her first husband was Philip, son of Bohemund IV of Antioch, who she married in 1223. Philip was murdered in 1225.

Her second husband was Hetoum I, to whom she was married against her will on June 14, 1226. Hethum was co-ruler (or ruler) of Armenia from 1226 to 1270. The couple had six children:

  1. Leo II (d. 1289)
  2. Thoros (d. 1266),
  3. Sibylle (d. 1290), who married Bohemund VI of Antioch
  4. Euphemie (d. 1309), who married to Julien Grenier, Lord of Sidon
  5. Rita of Armenia
  6. Maria of Armenia, who married Guy d'Ibelin

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ "Dying on 2 May 1219 without male heirs, Leo II had his daughter Isabel (Zabel) proclaimed queen the day before." Toumanoff, p. 633

[edit] References

  • Boase, T. S. R. (1978). The Cilician Kingdom of Armenia. Edinburgh: Scottish Academic Press. ISBN 0-7073-0145-9. 
  • Toumanoff, C. (1966). "Armenia and Georgia", Cambridge Medieval History, vol. IV. 
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Levon I		 Queen of Armenia
1219–1252
with Hetoum I		 Succeeded by
Hetoum I