Thoros II (; died 6 February 1169), also known as Thoros the Great, was the sixth lord of Armenian Cilicia from the Rubenid dynasty from 1144/1145Kurkjian 1958, p. 506 until 1169.
Thoros (together with his father, Leo I and his brother, Roupen) was kidnapped in 1137 by the Byzantine Emperor John II Comnenus during his campaign against Cilicia and the Principality of Antioch. All of Cilicia remained under Byzantine rule for eight years.Kurkjian 1958, p. 221
Whatever the conditions in which Thoros entered Cilicia, he found it occupied by many Greek garrisons.Kurkjian 1958, p. 224
Early life Thoros was the second son of Leo I, lord of Armenian Cilicia.
In 1136, Leo I (Thoros's father) was arrested by Baldwin of Marash. After two months of confinement, Leo I obtained his liberty by consenting to harsh terms.Kurkjian 1958, p. 220
Leo I took refuge in the Taurus Mountains, but at last found the situation hopeless, and surrendered himself to the conqueror; Thoros was kidnapped with his father and his youngest brother, Roupen. They were dragged away to Constantinople, where Leo I died in imprisonment in 1141. Roupen, after being blinded, was assassinated by the Greeks.
Lord of Armenian Cilicia
The liberation of Armenian Cilicia
The first Byzantine attack against Cilicia
Wars with the Seljuks and Antioch
Other view is that after the battle Raynald was forced to return home, covered with humiliation; and later on, Thoros voluntarily surrendered to the brethren the fortresses in question, and the Knights in turn took oath "to assist the Armenians on all occasions where they needed help."Kurkjian 1958, p. 225
The Armenians attacked the few remaining Byzantine fortresses in Cilicia.
The sack of Cyprus
Last years
After his abdication, he became a monk.
He died in 1169. He was buried in the monastery of Drazark.
Marriages and children c. 1149 An unnamed daughter of Simon of Raban (or, according to other views, Isabelle, daughter of Count Joscelin II of Edessa.) Rita (c. 1150 – after 1168/1169), the wife of Hethum III of Lampron Irene, the wife of Isaac Komnenus of Cyprus c. 1164 An unnamed daughter of the future regent Thomas Roupen II of Cilicia (c. 1165 – Hromgla, 1170)
In popular culture Real-time strategy video game Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition contains a five-scenario campaign centered around Thoros II and his rule of Cilician Armenia.
Footnotes
Sources Edwards, Robert W.: The Fortifications of Armenian Cilicia, Dumbarton Oaks Studies XXIII, Dumbarton Oaks: Trustees for Harvard University, 1987, Washington, D.C.; Ghazarian, Jacob G.: The Armenian Kingdom in Cilicia during the Crusades: The Integration of Cilician Armenians with the Latins (1080–1393); RoutledgeCurzon (Taylor & Francis Group), 2000, Abingdon;
External links Smbat Sparapet's Chronicle The Barony of Cilician Armenia (Kurkjian's History of Armenia, Ch. 27)