Memluks, Mongols & Cilicia

After 1260 the Memluks of Egypt expanded into Syria and began pressing on the Armenian states in Asia Minor. In 1293 they raided Cilician Armenia, destroying the seat of the catholicos. Like other Christians, Armenians found Mongols preferable to the Muslim. Thus Armenian forces joined the Mongols in their invasion of Syria in 1303. In 1375 the Memluk conquest of Cilicia ended the last independent Armenian kingdom and destroyed the ecclesiastical capital of Sis. The Turks changed the city’s name to Kozan.

After 1260 the Memluks of Egypt expanded into Syria and began pressing on the Armenian states in Asia Minor. In 1293 they raided Cilician Armenia, destroying the seat of the catholicos. Like other Christians, Armenians found Mongols preferable to the Muslim. Thus Armenian forces joined the Mongols in their invasion of Syria in 1303. In 1375 the Memluk conquest of Cilicia ended the last independent Armenian kingdom and destroyed the ecclesiastical capital of Sis. The Turks changed the city’s name to Kozan.