Stephanie of Armenia
Encyclopedia
Stephanie of Armenia also known as Rita, was the only child of Leo I, King of Armenia by his first wife Isabelle, whose origins are uncertain. She was a member of the Rubenid dynasty.
Stephanie's maternal family is disputed. It is believe that Stephanie's mother was a niece of Sybille, wife of Bohemond III of Antioch. Others believe that her mother was of Austrian
and German
origins.
Stephanie's paternal grandparents were Stephen of Armenia
and the previously mentioned Rita. Stephen was son of Leo I, Prince of Armenia.
Around 1210 Stephanie's father remarried to Sibylla, daughter of Isabella I of Jerusalem. From this marriage Stephanie gained a half-sister, Isabelle.
. John had only recently lost his first wife Mary of Jerusalem
, who was a sister of Stephanie's stepmother Sibylla. Stephanie became stepmother to John's daughter who later became Isabella II of Jerusalem. Stephanie herself gave birth in 1216 to a son named John.
In May, 1219 Stephanie's father died. He had made the barons swear an oath of allegiance to his great-nephew Raymond-Roupen, who became his heir. However on his death bed King Leo changed the succession. He made his daughter Isabelle his heir and released the barons from their oath of allegiance. Stephanie was still alive at the time and would have had more right because she was the older daughter. Also, Stephanie had her son John.
Stephanie's husband, John pressed the claim on behalf of his wife. Raymond-Roupen also pressed his claim on the throne.
John left the Fifth Crusade
in February 1220 intending to visit Armenia to press Stephanie's and their son's claim. However, in June 1220 Stephanie died followed not long after by her four-year old son. John of Brienne had no longer a claim on the throne of Armenia.
Raymond-Roupen was captured and ended his days in prison in 1222. This left Isabelle as the sole heir of Armenia. She ruled from 1219–1252 and was succeeded by her son Leo II, King of Armenia.
Early Life and Family
Stephanie was brought up by her paternal grandmother Rita of Barbaron. Stephanie was around ten years old when her mother died, who had not born Leo any more children after Stephanie.Stephanie's maternal family is disputed. It is believe that Stephanie's mother was a niece of Sybille, wife of Bohemond III of Antioch. Others believe that her mother was of Austrian
Austrians
Austrians are a nation and ethnic group, consisting of the population of the Republic of Austria and its historical predecessor states who share a common Austrian culture and Austrian descent....
and German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
origins.
Stephanie's paternal grandparents were Stephen of Armenia
Stephen of Armenia
Stephen of Armenia was the Marshal of Armenia, the son of Leo I, Prince of Armenia and Beatrice de Rethel.His father made him Marshal in 1138, due to the invasion of John II Comnenus, and escaped capture by sheltering in Edessa...
and the previously mentioned Rita. Stephen was son of Leo I, Prince of Armenia.
Around 1210 Stephanie's father remarried to Sibylla, daughter of Isabella I of Jerusalem. From this marriage Stephanie gained a half-sister, Isabelle.
Later life
In April 1214, Stephanie married John of BrienneJohn of Brienne
John of Brienne was a French nobleman who became King of Jerusalem by marriage, and ruled the Latin Empire of Constantinople as regent.-Life:...
. John had only recently lost his first wife Mary of Jerusalem
Maria of Montferrat
Maria of Montferrat was Queen of Jerusalem, the daughter of Conrad of Montferrat and Isabella, Queen of Jerusalem...
, who was a sister of Stephanie's stepmother Sibylla. Stephanie became stepmother to John's daughter who later became Isabella II of Jerusalem. Stephanie herself gave birth in 1216 to a son named John.
In May, 1219 Stephanie's father died. He had made the barons swear an oath of allegiance to his great-nephew Raymond-Roupen, who became his heir. However on his death bed King Leo changed the succession. He made his daughter Isabelle his heir and released the barons from their oath of allegiance. Stephanie was still alive at the time and would have had more right because she was the older daughter. Also, Stephanie had her son John.
Stephanie's husband, John pressed the claim on behalf of his wife. Raymond-Roupen also pressed his claim on the throne.
John left the Fifth Crusade
Fifth Crusade
The Fifth Crusade was an attempt to reacquire Jerusalem and the rest of the Holy Land by first conquering the powerful Ayyubid state in Egypt....
in February 1220 intending to visit Armenia to press Stephanie's and their son's claim. However, in June 1220 Stephanie died followed not long after by her four-year old son. John of Brienne had no longer a claim on the throne of Armenia.
Raymond-Roupen was captured and ended his days in prison in 1222. This left Isabelle as the sole heir of Armenia. She ruled from 1219–1252 and was succeeded by her son Leo II, King of Armenia.