Ruben I

Ruben I, (Armenian: Ռուբեն Ա; 1025–1095) was the first lord of Armenian Cilicia from 1081 until his death.

Ruben I Ռուբեն Ա
Lord of Cilicia
Lord of Armenian Cilicia
Reign	c. 1081 – 1095
Predecessor	(none)
Successor	Constantine I
Born	1025 (1025) Armenia
Died	1095 (aged 69–70) Cilicia
Burial	Monastery of Castalon
Issue	Constantine I ? Thoros of Marash
House	Rubenids

Life

Ruben was a descendant of the Bagratids.^[1] 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.^[2] Gagik was later assassinated by the Byzantine governors of Kyzistra.^[3]

In 1080, soon after this assassination, Ruben organized a band of Armenian troops and revolted against the Byzantine Empire.^[4] 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.^[5] 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.^[6] His descendants are called Rubenids.^[7]

• 
  Rubenid territory in 1080 marked in red
• 
  Coat of arms of the Rubenids

Death

He was 70 when he died,^[8] buried at the monastery of Castalon.^[9]

Marriage and children

The name of Roupen’s wife is unknown. His recorded children are:^{[citation needed]}

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

Notes