Thoros III

Thoros III, born in the year 1270, was a notable sovereign of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, ascending to the throne in 1293. He was the son of Leo II of Armenia and Kyranna de Lampron, and belonged to the esteemed House of Lampron. His reign, though brief, was marked by significant familial and political dynamics.

In a pivotal moment of his early rule, Thoros succeeded his brother Hethum II, who abdicated in his favor. However, in a surprising turn of events in 1295, Thoros invited Hethum back to share the throne as co-ruler. Together, they sought to strengthen their political alliances by arranging a marriage for their sister, Rita of Armenia, to the Byzantine emperor Michael IX Palaiologos.

Tragically, their plans were thwarted upon their return to Cilicia. The siblings were imprisoned in Bardzrberd by their brother Sempad, who had seized the throne during their absence. This betrayal set the stage for a grim fate.

On the twenty-third of July in 1298, Thoros III met a violent end, strangled to death by Oshin, the Marshal of Armenia, under Sempad's orders. His untimely demise marked a dark chapter in the history of the Armenian Kingdom, leaving a legacy intertwined with themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the complexities of royal succession.