Philippa of Armenia - Princess of Armenia

Princess of Armenia

She was a younger sister of Alice of Armenia, later wife of Raymond IV of Tripoli. Her father died in 1186 when Alice was four-years-old and Philippa was only three. He was succeeded by his younger brother of Levon I of Armenia who was initially the "Regent and Tutor" of his young nieces. Their uncle eventually set them aside and was succeeded by his own descendants.

According to the writings of Sempad the Constable, on 3 February 1189/1190, Philippa was betrothed to Schahenscah, second son of Tchordouanel, Lord of Sasun and an unnamed sister of Gregory IV the Younger, Armenian Catholicos of Cilicia. At the same time, Alice was betrothed to Hathum, Lord of Sasun, older brother of Schahenscah. The area of Sasun which the two brothers controlled was relatively significant for the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia at the time and Levon may have been attempting to secure their loyalty through the betrothals.

The marriages of Alice and Philippa occurred somewhere between their dates of betrothal and May, 1193. In May, 1193, Hathum and Schahenscah were both murdered. The sisters are mentioned by Sempad as their widows. Sempad also recorded contemporary rumors of Levon being behind both assassinations. Since Alice was only eleven-years-old and Philippa ten, the marriages were likely not consummated.

On 31 January 1198/1199, Philippa was betrothed to Oshin of Lampron, eldest son of Hathum, Lord of Lampron (c. 1145 - 1218). The marriage never occurred but Sempad does not state any particular reason. Oshin may have succeeded his father in 1218. But in 1220, he was already deceased and the Lord of Lampron was his younger brother Constantine.