CILICIAN ARMENIA.Gosdantin IV.(1365-1373).Sis.Takvorin.

Obv : The king on horseback right, below a letter as field mark.

Rev : Lion walking Right, cross on his back, a letter below.

Condition : The coin displays a dark patina with shades of brown and reddish-orange patches, indicative of oxidation over time. The overall surface is slightly worn, yet the details of the design remain distinguishable. The patina gives the coin an aged, historical appearance while preserving much of its original artistry.Very fine.

Material : Billon.
Axis : 2h

Weight : 1.47 gr
Diameter : 19 mm

Gosdantin IV, also known as Constantine IV, was one of the last kings of the Kingdom of Cilician Armenia, a Christian Armenian state that existed from the 11th to the 14th centuries in the region of Cilicia, located in modern-day southern Turkey. His reign took place during a period of significant decline for the kingdom, which was struggling to maintain its independence and identity amid increasing threats from surrounding Muslim powers and internal divisions.

By the time Constantine IV ascended to the throne, the Kingdom of Cilician Armenia was facing overwhelming external pressure, particularly from the Mamluks of Egypt, who had become the dominant power in the eastern Mediterranean. The kingdom had also lost much of its strategic importance after the fall of the Crusader states, which had once been its allies. The Crusaders’ presence in the Levant had been a crucial factor in the kingdom’s early success, as it served as a buffer state between Christian Europe and the Muslim world.

Internally, Cilician Armenia was suffering from political instability. The Armenian nobility had become increasingly divided, and there were frequent disputes over the succession to the throne. The once-strong kingdom had been reduced in size, and its economic and military resources were severely depleted.

Constantine IV's reign began in 1362 and lasted until 1373, a period marked by attempts to stave off the decline of the kingdom. Like many of his predecessors, Constantine IV faced the daunting task of maintaining the kingdom’s independence against the powerful and expansionist Mamluk Sultanate, which had already captured many of the key cities and territories of Cilicia.

Constantine IV came to power during a time when Cilician Armenia’s kings were increasingly reliant on outside support to defend the kingdom. European powers, particularly the Pope and the Kingdom of Cyprus, offered intermittent assistance, but these efforts were not enough to reverse the kingdom’s fortunes. Constantine IV’s reign was largely defined by efforts to negotiate with both Western Christian powers and the Muslim rulers of Egypt in an attempt to secure the kingdom’s survival.

One of the key aspects of Constantine IV's reign was his focus on diplomacy. Recognizing the kingdom's vulnerable position, Constantine pursued alliances with European powers, especially with the Papacy, in hopes of receiving military aid to fend off the Mamluks. However, by this time, European interest in launching large-scale Crusades had waned, and while there were promises of support, they often amounted to little in practical terms.

Despite Constantine IV's best efforts, the situation continued to deteriorate. The Mamluks had been systematically conquering Cilician Armenian territories since the early 14th century, and by the time Constantine IV came to power, the kingdom had been reduced to a fraction of its former size. Many of the coastal cities and economically vital regions had already fallen into Mamluk hands, and what remained was a small, isolated region centered around the fortress city of Sis, the kingdom’s capital.

Constantine IV’s attempts to maintain the kingdom’s independence came to an end in 1373, when he was deposed by Leo V, a member of the Armenian nobility. Leo V was crowned as king and continued to fight for the survival of the kingdom for another two years, but by 1375, the Mamluks launched their final assault on Sis, capturing the city and ending the existence of the Kingdom of Cilician Armenia. The fall of Sis marked the collapse of the last independent Armenian state in the region, after more than three centuries of existence.

Legacy:
Constantine IV's reign, though brief and tumultuous, was a reflection of the broader struggles faced by Cilician Armenia during its final decades. The kingdom had once been a prosperous and influential Christian state, known for its close ties to the Crusader states and its role as a center of Armenian culture and political autonomy. However, by Constantine IV’s time, the kingdom’s decline had become irreversible due to the combined pressures of external invasions, internal divisions, and the broader geopolitical shifts in the region.

The loss of Cilician Armenia was a significant blow to the Armenian people, many of whom were forced into exile. After the kingdom’s fall, many Armenians fled to Europe or integrated into other parts of the Middle East. The Cilician Armenian royal family and nobility continued to play a role in Armenian diasporic communities, particularly in Cyprus and Western Europe.

In the context of Armenian history, Constantine IV is remembered as one of the last rulers of a once-great kingdom, whose reign was defined by his efforts to maintain the kingdom’s sovereignty in the face of overwhelming odds. His legacy, like that of the other late Cilician Armenian kings, is tied to the broader story of Armenian resilience and the preservation of Armenian identity, even as their statehood in Cilicia came to an end.

The fall of Cilician Armenia also marked the end of a significant chapter in medieval Christian and Crusader history, as it had been one of the last remaining Christian strongholds in the eastern Mediterranean following the fall of the Crusader states. Constantine IV's attempts to secure aid from the West, though ultimately unsuccessful, highlight the lingering connections between the Armenian kingdom and European Christendom, which had been a central theme throughout Cilician Armenia's history.