Leo IV of Armenia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Leo IV
King Levon IV doing justice by Sarkis Pitzak, 1331
King of Armenia
Reign	1320 – August 28, 1341
Predecessor	Oshin of Armenia
Successor	Constantine II
Regent	Oshin of Korikos (until 1329)
Born	1309
Died	August 28, 1341(1341-08-28) (aged 31–32)
Spouse	Alice of Korikos Constance of Sicily
Issue	Hethum
House	Hethumids
Father	Oshin of Armenia
Mother	Isabel of Korikos

Leo IV (also known as Levon IV) was a king of Cilicia. He was the last king from the Hethumids family. Leo IV ruled from 1320 until his death in 1341. He was born in 1309.

Leo became king after his father, Oshin of Armenia, passed away. Since Leo was still a child, his uncle, Oshin of Korikos, ruled the kingdom for him. This period was a tough time for Cilicia. The kingdom faced many attacks from the Mamluks and Mongols.

Early Reign and Challenges

A Kingdom Under Attack

In 1320, the Egyptian sultan, Naser Mohammed ibn Kelaoun, attacked the Christian Armenian land of Cilicia. This invasion caused a lot of damage. The Armenians needed help to protect their kingdom.

Seeking Help from Far Away

In 1322, Pope John XXII from Avignon wrote a letter to the Mongol ruler, Abu Sa'id Bahadur Khan. The Pope reminded the Mongol leader that his ancestors had been allies with Christians. He asked the Mongol ruler to help Cilicia. Mongol troops were sent to support the Armenians. However, they arrived after a peace agreement had already been made. This agreement was for 15 years between the Armenian leader and the Egyptian sultan.

Taking Control of the Kingdom

Leo's Struggle for Power

While Leo was still young, his regent, Oshin of Korikos, married Leo's stepmother. Oshin also made Leo marry his own daughter, Alice. This marriage happened on August 10, 1321. Oshin tried to gain more power for himself. He even harmed members of the royal family.

Leo's Strong Actions

When Leo became an adult in 1329, he took strong action. He removed Oshin, Oshin's brother, and even his own wife Alice from power. Leo wanted to secure his rule and protect his kingdom. He also took action against other relatives who had caused trouble.

Changes and Disagreements

Connecting with the West

King Leo IV wanted to be closer to Western Europe. He also supported the idea of uniting the Armenian Orthodox Church with the Roman Catholic Church. However, many Armenian nobles did not like this idea. They preferred their traditional ways.

A New Marriage and More Discontent

On December 29, 1331, Leo married Constance. She was the daughter of Frederick III of Sicily. Constance had also been married before to Henry II of Cyprus. This marriage made the Armenian nobles even more unhappy about Leo's Western ideas.

Later Years and End of Reign

Another Invasion and a Difficult Peace

In 1337, the Egyptian sultan Al-Nasir Muhammad attacked Cilicia again. The city of Ayas was captured. Leo had to agree to a very difficult peace treaty. He had to give up some land and pay a large amount of money. He also promised not to have any dealings with Western countries.

Hoping for Help That Never Came

Leo spent his last years in the castle at Sis. He hoped that help would come from Western Europe, but it never did. On August 28, 1341, some of his own nobles killed him. Leo's only son, Hethum, had passed away before 1331. After Leo's death, the nobles chose his cousin, Constantine II, to be the next king.

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