Thoros II
Thoros II, also known as Thoros the Great, was the sixth lord of Armenian Cilicia from the Rubenid dynasty from 1144/1145 until 1169.
Thoros was kidnapped in 1137 by the Byzantine Emperor John II Comnenus during his campaign against Cilicia and the Principality of Antioch. All of Cilicia remained under Byzantine rule for eight years.
Whatever the conditions in which Thoros entered Cilicia, he found it occupied by many Greek garrisons.
Early life
Thoros was the second son of Leo I, lord of Armenian Cilicia.In 1136, Leo I was arrested by Baldwin of Marash. After two months of confinement, Leo I obtained his liberty by consenting to harsh terms.
Leo I took refuge in the Taurus Mountains, but at last found the situation hopeless, and surrendered himself to the conqueror; Thoros was kidnapped with his father and his youngest brother, Roupen. They were dragged away to Constantinople, where Leo I died in imprisonment in 1141. Roupen, after being blinded, was assassinated by the Greeks.
Lord of Armenian Cilicia
The liberation of Armenian Cilicia
The first Byzantine attack against Cilicia
Wars with the Seljuks and Antioch
Other view is that after the battle Raynald was forced to return home, covered with humiliation; and later on, Thoros voluntarily surrendered to the brethren the fortresses in question, and the Knights in turn took oath "to assist the Armenians on all occasions where they needed help."The Armenians attacked the few remaining Byzantine fortresses in Cilicia.
The sack of Cyprus
Last years
After his abdication, he became a monk.He died in 1169. He was buried in the monastery of Drazark.
Marriages and children
- c. 1149 An unnamed daughter of Simon of Raban
- *Rita, the wife of Hethum III of Lampron
- *Irene, the wife of Isaac Komnenus of Cyprus
- c. 1164 An unnamed daughter of the future regent Thomas
- *Roupen II of Cilicia
In popular culture