Constantine III of Armenia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Constantine III |
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Constantine III (seated) with Hospitallers (1844 painting by Henri Delaborde)
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| Reign | 1344-1362 |
| Predecessor | Constantine II |
| Successor | Constantine IV |
| Born | 17 April 1313 |
| Died | 31 December 1362 (aged 49) |
| House | Hethumids |
Constantine III (born April 17, 1313 – died December 21, 1362) was a king of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. He ruled from 1344 until 1362. His full name was Constantine V in some historical records.
Constantine was related to the previous kings. His father was Baldwin, Lord of Neghir. Baldwin was a nephew of Hethum I of Armenia. This made Constantine a second cousin to Constantine II.
Becoming King of Armenia
Constantine III became king in 1344. This happened after King Constantine II died during a rebellion.
When he took the throne, Constantine III wanted to make sure no one else could claim it. He tried to remove other people who might want to be king. He even ordered the capture of Constantine II's nephews, Bemon and Leo. Luckily, they managed to escape to Cyprus before they could be harmed.
Challenges During His Rule
During Constantine III's time as king, the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia faced many challenges. The kingdom became smaller due to attacks from the Mamluks. The Mamluks were a powerful group from Egypt.
They launched raids and took over parts of the kingdom.
- In 1347, the Mamluks conquered the city of Ajazzo.
- In 1359, they took over Tarsus and Adana.
These losses made the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia much smaller.
Family and Successor
Constantine III was married to Maria. She was the daughter of Oshin of Corycos.
Constantine had two sons, but sadly, they both died before him. When King Constantine III passed away from natural causes in 1362, his cousin, Constantine IV, became the next king.
