Hetoum II Copper (Cilician Armenia)
Name/Title
Hetoum II Copper (Cilician Armenia)Description
The 1 Kardez copper coin from the reign of King Hetoum II of Cilician Armenia (1289–1307 AD) is a medieval Armenian coin minted in Sis, the capital of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. Hetoum II was born into the Hetoumid dynasty, he became king in 1289 after the death of his father, King Levon II, and ruled intermittently due to multiple abdications. Hetoum II sought to protect his kingdom from the Mamluks of Egypt, who posed a constant threat. To strengthen Cilicia's position, he maintained alliances with the Mongols and Western European powers, balancing between competing interests in the region. Despite these efforts, the kingdom faced repeated invasions and territorial losses. Deeply religious, Hetoum supported the integration of the Armenian Church with the Roman Catholic Church, reflecting his ties to Western Crusader states. He abdicated the throne several times, retreating to a monastic life, but returned to power when the kingdom required his leadership. In 1307, Hetoum II and his brother, Thoros III, were assassinated by the Mongol general Bilarghu. This marked the end of his tumultuous reign and contributed to the further decline of Cilician Armenia’s strength. His life illustrates the challenges faced by a small Christian kingdom navigating the complexities of regional power dynamics in the medieval era.Category
Coins and Banknotes