Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia: Map & History
Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia is mapped in the atlas for 1099 CE – 1374 CE, with a peak mapped extent of about 59,705 km².
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The Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, also known as Cilician Armenia, Lesser Armenia, Little Armenia or New Armenia, and formerly known as the Armenian Principality of Cilicia, was an Armenian state formed during the High Middle Ages by Armenian refugees fleeing the Seljuk invasion of Armenia. Located outside the Armenian Highlands and distinct from the Kingdom of Armenia of antiquity, it was centered in the Cilicia region, northwest of the Gulf of Alexandretta.
Modern Countries Once Part of Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia
At its mapped extent, Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia covered territory in 1 present-day country. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia in Depth
History
Armenian presence in Cilicia dates back to the first century BC, when under Tigranes the Great, the Kingdom of Armenia expanded and conquered a vast region in the Levant. In 83 BC, the Greek aristocracy of Seleucid Syria, weakened by a bloody civil war, offered their allegiance to the ambitious Armenian king. Tigranes then conquered Phoenicia and Cilicia, effectively ending the Seleucid Empire. The southern border of his domain reached as far as Ptolemais (modern Acre). Many of the inhabitants of conquered cities were sent to the new metropolis of Tigranakert (Latin: Tigranocerta). At its height, Tigranes' Armenian Empire extended from the Pontic Alps to Mesopotamia, and from the Caspian to the Mediterranean.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia: Key Facts
| Capitals | Tarsus, Kozan |
|---|---|
| Official languages | Middle Armenian, Old French, medieval Greek |
| Religion | Armenian Apostolic Church |
| Form of government | monarchy |
| Founded | 1080 |
| Dissolved | 1375 |
Facts from Wikidata Q335088 (CC0).
Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia appears, with the other states of the time.
Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 59,705 km² in 1196 CE.
Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia exist?
Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia is dated to 1099 CE – 1374 CE, in the High & Late Middle Ages era.
What was the capital of Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia?
The capital of Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia was Tarson (Tarsus, Mersin) (1080–1198), Sis (Kozan, Adana) (1198–1375).
How large was Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia at its peak?
At its peak in 1196 AD Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia covered about 59,705 km².
How did the map of Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia change over time?
Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia appears on 3 dated world maps in the atlas, from 1100 CE to 1300 CE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.
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