Page "Hethum II, King of Armenia" Paragraph 15

The Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia's alignment with the Mongol Empire continued, motivated as much by the need for self-protection from the Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm on their western borders as self-interest in acquiring territory to the east, albeit short-lived.

Following the conversion of the Mongol Ilkhan Ghazan to Islam in 1295, his successor Öljaitü exercised less control over outlying countries under Mongol protection and reduced the military campaigns against the Mamluks in Syria.

According to contemporary Arabic and Persian accounts, one of his generals, Bilarghu, a devout Muslim, had indicated his intention to erect a mosque in the city of Sis, still part of the Christian Kingdom of Armenia, possibly as part of a wider plan to place the province under his own control.

Hethum conveyed his worries about these plans by letter to Öljaitü.

He was subsequently summoned by Bilarghu to a meeting on November 17, 1307, in an encampment beneath the walls of the royal stronghold of Anazarba ( Caesarea in the Roman province of Cilicia ), either to hold counsel or for a banquet.

Hethum attended with about 40 noblemen and his young nephew King Leon, for whom as Grand Baron he was acting as regent.

Bilarghu, however, had learnt of Hethum's letter and ordered his men to massacre the Armenian guests upon their arrival.

Following this assassination, Hethum's brother Oshin, heir to the throne, occupied Sis.

He sent another brother Alinakh to report on Bilarghu's treachery to Öljaitü, who ordered the immediate execution of Bilarghu and his soldiers and confirmed his support of Oshin as king.