Ruben I

Life

Ruben was a descendant of the Bagratids. He went alongside the Armenian king Gagik II to Constantinople to sign an allegedly permanent peace-treaty upon the Byzantine emperor Constantine IX's request. However, Gagik was forced by the emperor to hand over his Armenian territory and live in exile. Gagik was later assassinated by the Byzantine governors of Kyzistra.

In 1080, soon after this assassination, Ruben organized a band of Armenian troops and revolted against the Byzantine Empire. He was joined by many other Armenian lords and nobles. Thus, in 1080, the foundations of the independent Armenian princedom of Cilicia, and the future kingdom, were laid under Ruben's leadership. Through continuous military campaigns against the Byzantines, he managed to expand his territory to the entire plain of Cilicia, in one of which he captured the powerful Castle of Antirim and made it a military base for his family. His descendants are called Rubenids. File:The Barony of Cilician Armenia, 1080-1199.gif|Rubenid territory in 1080 marked in red File:Drapeau roupénide.png|Coat of arms of the Rubenids

Death

He was 70 when he died, buried at the monastery of Castalon.

Marriage and children

The name of Roupen’s wife is unknown. His recorded children are:

• Constantine I of Cilicia (1035/1055 – 24 February 1102 / 23 February 1103)
• (?) Thoros of Marash (according to Rüdt-Collenberg, he was the brother of Constantine I)

Notes

References

Bibliography

References

1. Greenwood, Tim W. (2008), "Armenian Neighbours (600-1045)," in ''The Cambridge History of The Byzantine Empire c. 500-1492'', ed. Jonathan Shepard. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 362-64.
2. Manuk-Khaloyan, Armen, "In the Cemetery of their Ancestors: The Royal Burial Tombs of the Bagratuni Kings of Greater Armenia (890-1073/79)," ''[[Revue des Études Arméniennes]]'' 35 (2013): pp. 152-53, 156.
3. Kurkdjian, Vahan. (1958). "History of Armenia". Armenian General Benevolent Union of America.
4. (1987). "The Fortifications of Armenian Cilicia, Dumbarton Oaks Studies No.23". Dumbarton Oaks, Trustees for Harvard University.
5. Ghazarian, Jacob G. The Armenian Kingdom in Cilicia during the Crusades: The Integration of Cilician Armenians with the Latins (1080–1093).
6. Dédéyan, Gérard. (2008). "Armenian Cilicia". Mazda Publishers.
7. (1958). "A History of Armenia". Armenian General Benevolent Union of America.