A truce had been forced on Armenia…

A truce had been forced on Armenia in 1281, following the defeat of the Mongols and the Armenians under Möngke Temur by the Mamluks at the Second Battle of Homs.

Further, following a powerful offensive push by Mamluk sultan Qalawun in 1285, the Armenians had had to sign a ten-year truce under harsh terms.

The Armenians were obligated to cede many fortresses to the Mamluks and were prohibited to rebuild their defensive fortifications.

Cilician Armenia was forced to trade with Egypt, thereby circumventing a trade embargo imposed by the pope.

Moreover, the Mamluks were to receive an annual tribute of one million dirhams from the Armenians.

The Mamluks, despite the above, continued to raid Cilician Armenia on numerous occasions.

It had been invaded in 1292 by Al-Ashraf Khalil, the Mamluk sultan of Egypt, who had conquered the remnants of the Kingdom of Jerusalem in Acre the year before.

Hromkla was also sacked, forcing the Catholicossate to move to Sis.

Hethum is forced to abandon Behesni, Marash, and Tel Hamdoun to the Turks.

In 1293, he had abdicated in favor of his brother T'oros III, and entered the monastery of Mamistra.

However, Thoros had recalled Hethum to the throne in 1295.

The two brought their sister Rita to Constantinople to marry Michael IX Palaiologos in 1296, but were imprisoned upon their return in Bardzrberd by their brother Sempad, who had usurped the throne in their absence.

In 1297, on a volitional journey to the court of Ghazan, Sempad had managed to receive recognition of his position as king from the Mongol ruler of Persia, which is necessary to legitimize his usurpation.

He had also received a bride from the Mongol khan in order to form a matrimonial alliance, perhaps a relative of the khan himself.

On Hethum's return, Sempad has Hethum blinded by cauterization and both brothers imprisoned at Partzerpert.

Thoros is murdered—strangled to death—on July 23, 1298 in Bardzrberd by Oshin, Marshal of Armenia, on Sempad's orders, but Constantine turns traitor again and helps Hethum overthrow Sempad, assuming the throne while Hethum heals.

Shortly after Hethum's resumption of the kingship in 1299, Constantine plots to restore Sempad again, and both are imprisoned for the rest of their lives.