“In Search of Armenian Cilicia” By Prof. Richard Hovannisian,

ARPA INSTITUTE

Presents: An Illustrated Lecture/Seminar on

“In Search of Armenian Cilicia”

by

Prof. Richard Hovannisian,

AEF Professor of Modern Armenian History, UCLA

Thursday, June 23, 2011 @ 7:30PM

Merdinian Auditorium: 13330 Riverside Dr. Sherman Oaks, CA 91403

Directions: On the 101 FY Exit on Woodman, Go North and Turn Right on Riverside Dr.

Abstract: After traveling through much of historic Western Armenia four years ago, Professor

Hovannisian journeyed to Caesarea and Cilicia two years later, this time as historian-guide of a

tour organized by NAASR. Beginning with the rock-hewn Orthodox cave churches of

Cappadocia, the group traveled to Caesarea/Gesaria, Talas, Evereg-Fenese, Chomakhlu, and over

the Taurus Mountains to Hadjin, Sis, Adana, Tarsus, Mersin, Selefke, Dortyol, Antioch, Musa

Dagh, Killis, Aintab, Zeitun, and Marash. Scenes from these former vibrant centers of Armenian

life will be shown and discussed by Professor Hovannisian.

Cilicia: During the time of the Crusaders, the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia was established and

thrived for almost three centuries. The Seljuk Turkish invasions of Armenia were followed by an

exodus of Armenians migrating westward into the Byzantine Empire, and in 1080 Ruben, a

relative of the last king of Ani, founded in the heart of the Cilician Taurus a small principality

which gradually expanded into the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. This Christian state, surrounded

by Muslim states hostile to its existence, had a stormy history, giving valuable support to the

crusaders, and trading with the great commercial cities of Italy. Levon II, Leo the Great (r. 1187-

1219)), extended the kingdom beyond the Taurus Mountains and e