Leo I of Armenia
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Leo I of Armenia (died February 14, 1140) was Lord of the Mountains 1129–1140.
Leo, like his predecessors, continued to push the Armenian borders outward, expanding onto the Mediterranean littoral. He captured Korikos during the 1130s, and in 1132 he seized Tarsus, Adana, and Mamistra. This brought him into conflict with the Crusaders, particularly in 1135 when he seized Saravantikar, against the opposition of the Antiochenes. Raymond of Antioch coveted Saravantikar, and in 1136 he seized Leo by treachery and held him for a ransom: 60,000 gold pieces, the promise of help against John II Comnenus, and the surrender of Saravantikar, Mamistra, and Adana. In the ensuing chaos, there was infighting among Leo's sons, and Constantine was blinded by his brothers. Leo agreed to the terms, but quickly returned to the offensive. He recaptured those cities and attacked the Principality of Antioch and its allies from the Kingdom of Jerusalem, but Joscelin II of Edessa mediated a peace and alliance against the Emperor in 1137.
The invasion of John II Comnenus in that year resulted in the fall of Seleucia, Korikos, Tarsus, Mamistra, Adana, Til Hamdoun, and Anazarbe. Leo retreated into the Taurus Mountains with his second wife and their children, but Gaban and Vahka fell in 1138, and he was captured. (His sons by his first marriage had taken refuge in Edessa.) His wife and children were taken off with him to Constantinople, where he died in 1140. However, the Armenians were still active in resistance, and retook Vahka in 1139. On his death he was succeeded by his son Stephen I.
He had four children by his first wife Beatrice de Rethel:
- a daughter, married Vasil Dgha
- Constantine (bef. 1109 – bef. 1144, Edessa)
- Stephen (bef. 1110–1165)
- Mleh (bef. 1120–1175)
By his second wife, unknown but probably Armenian:
- a daughter, mother of the Regent Thomas (tenure 1168–1169)
- a daughter, married John Tzelepes Comnenus
- Thoros II
- Roupen (aft. 1120–1141, Constantinople), murdered in captivity
- a daughter, mother of Fulk of Bullion, Lord of Bagras
| Preceded by: Constantine II | Lord of the Mountains 1129–1140 | Succeeded by: Thoros II References
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