Bohemond III of Antioch - Later Life and Death

Later Life and Death

In 1190 Bohemond met the remnants of the German contingent arriving on the Third Crusade; Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor, had died on the way and some of his remains were buried in Antioch. He otherwise played little role in the crusade, preferring to remain neutral to avoid provoking Saladin. In 1194 Bohemond was captured by Leo II of Armenia. Leo had seized the castle of Bagras, on the northern border of Antioch, which had been captured by Saladin in 1189. Bohemond and the Knights Templar, its original owners, demanded its return. Leo lured Bohemond to Bagras under pretense of a parley, captured him, and imprisoned him in Sis. Under duress, Bohemond was compelled to cede the Principality to Leo. Bohemond was subsequently released through the mediation of Henry II of Champagne, King of Jerusalem, but was forced to abandon all claims to the suzerainity of Armenia. In addition, the two entered into a marital alliance in 1195: Bohemond's son Raymond married Alice of Armenia, the daughter of Leo's brother Ruben III.

Bohemond died in 1201, and the succession was disputed between his son Bohemond IV and Raymond-Roupen, son of Raymond and Alice.