| Leo III | |
|---|---|
 A silvertagvorin of Levon III | |
| King of Armenian Cilicia | |
| Reign | 1303 or 1305 to 1307 |
| Predecessor | Hethum II |
| Successor | Oshin |
| Regent | Hethum II |
| Born | 1289 |
| Died | November 17, 1307(1307-11-17) (aged 17–18) Anazarbus |
| Spouse | Agnes (Marie) de Lusignan |
| Father | Thoros III |
| Mother | Margaret of Lusignan |
Leo III (orLeon III;Armenian:Լեւոն Գ,romanized: Levon III; occasionally numberedLeo IV; 1289–1307) was a young king of theArmenian Kingdom of Cilicia, reigning from 1303 or 1305 to 1307, along with his uncleHethum II. A member of theHouse of Lampron, he was the son ofThoros III of Armenia andMargaret of Lusignan, who was the daughter of KingHugh III of Cyprus.
In 1303, while still a minor, he was crowned King of Armenia upon the retirement of his uncleHethum II, who became regent.Cilician Armenia at the time was in a volatile situation, maintaining a fragile relationship as a vassal state of theMongol Empire, while defending from attacks by the MuslimMamluks from the south. The throne of Armenia had changed hands multiple times during Leo's brief lifetime, being held variously by his uncle Hethum II in 1295, passed peacefully to his fatherThoros III in 1296, then usurped by another uncleSempad, who was usurped by his brotherConstantine III, who himself was deposed by his brother Hethum II in 1299. Thoros III having been killed in 1298, Hethum then passed the crown to Thoros's son, Leo, in 1303.
In 1305, Hethum and Leo led the Armenian army to defeat aMamluk raiding force atBagras.
On November 17, 1307, Leo and Hethum were murdered with their retinue at abanquet while visiting the Mongol generalBilarghu atAnazarbus. Bilarghu, a Mongol who had converted to Islam, had sought to build a mosque in the capital city ofSis, but Hethum had blocked the move as he wanted Armenia to be a completely Christian kingdom and complained to the leader of the Mongol Ilkhanate,Oljeitu. Bilarghu invited Hethum, Leo, and many other important Armenian nobles to abanquet at the castle ofAnazarbus, presumably for discussions, but then his forces suddenly attacked and massacred the Armenians while they were having their meals and all of the Armenian nobles were killed along with Leo and his uncle Hethum II. Bilarghu was later executed by the Mongol ilkhanOljeitu for his actions.
Leo was succeeded as king by another of his uncles,Oshin.
He was married to his cousin Agnes (Marie) (died 1309), daughter ofIsabella of Armenia andAmalric of Tyre, without issue.
Leo III of Armenia | ||
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | King of Armenia 1303–1307 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
