Philippa of Armenia - Byzantine Empress

Byzantine Empress

On 24 November 1214, Philippa married Theodore I Laskaris of the Empire of Nicaea. Their marriage is recorded in the chronicle of George Acropolites. They had a son:

  • Constantine Laskaris (born 1215). Named Duke of Thrakesion in 1249.

However in 1216, Theodore had the marriage annulled. Philippa was returned to her uncle Levon and Constantine was disinherited. Although religious reasons were cited the exact causes are not known. It is possible that Levon may have misrepresented Philippa as one of his own daughters in the marriage negotiations, meaning that Theodore may have been looking to secure succession rights to the Armenian throne, while Philippa was only a niece of the monarch and not particularly close in the succession.

When Levon died in May, 1219, he was succeeded by his daughter Zabel. Philippa is not mentioned among his living relatives by Sempad. She had probably predeceased him between 1216 and early 1219.

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